Germany

This roundup of findings shows public views about science-related issues and the role of science in German society.

2020 has been a year unlike any in recent memory. Here's what people in 14 countries say about the state of the world amid the pandemic.

Americans give their country comparatively low marks for its handling of the pandemic – and people in other nations tend to agree.

The United Nations is broadly credited with promoting peace and human rights as younger adults are more supportive of cooperation with other countries.

In several countries, favorable views of the U.S. are at their lowest point since the Center began polling on this topic two decades ago.

A median of 80% across 10 countries now say their country’s economy is faring badly, compared with a median of 72% who said this in 2008-2009.

The spread of infectious diseases is the top concern in the U.S., UK, Japan and South Korea as global economic concerns grow.

Assessments of national economies have seen swift downturns in many countries, and few see improvements anytime soon.

The pandemic has had a divisive effect on a sense of national unity in many of the countries surveyed: A median of 46% feel more national unity now than before the coronavirus outbreak, while 48% think divisions have grown.

Across 34 countries, a median of 65% said in 2019 they felt pessimistic about reducing the gap between the rich and poor in their country.