25 Countries that Don’t Like Americans

The dreamland. Everyone wants to live in America, right? Oh, at least everybody thinks Americans are awesome? Probably not. Guess it’s hard to satisfy everyone.

When nations dislike Americans for whatever reason, it can cause conflict and problems. American values, leaders, behaviors, beliefs, and a host of other issues can contribute to members of a foreign country aiding and abetting America’s deep hate or mistrust, and actually, a few of those sentiments are justified.

Today, we’re looking at those nations that can’t bear Americans. Maybe there shouldn’t be next to your holiday travel list!

Remember: All the figures in this article are from the Pew Research Center, a non-partisan public opinion research organization, and many other sources—all listed throughout.

Egypt

Hosni Mubarak’s U.S. backing and inability to do anything to overthrow the Muslim Brotherhood cause 85% of those surveyed by Pew Research with a negative American opinion.

This, combined with cuts to Egypt’s foreign assistance, has contributed to this huge US disapproval.

Greece

Debt-ridden Greece feels it hard to accept any American message of optimism, as seen in Pew Research’s 63 percent unfavorable ranking.

One recurrent problem among Greek natives concerns drinking in public. They appear to criticize people who really let go in public—which is precisely what many young American tourists do when they travel.

Germany

Germans have a love/hate connection with the U.S. Despite an unpleasant 47 percent rating, many Germans continuously want American admiration.

Like many nations, Germany thinks that Americans appear to be lazy, dirty, and too nationalist. This is valid too, but notably coming rich from a country with its own background of intense patriotism…

Jordan

Neighboring Egypt seems to represent a similar opinion in the same survey—American favorability scores have fallen 13 points since 2009, leaving 85 percent with a negative U.S. view.

Oddly enough, popular opinion contradicts the official government stance. Jordan is regarded as one of America’s strongest Middle East allies, and Jordan’s government is specifically pro-American.

Iran

After 1979, when Iran took the U.S. embassy in Tehran, no affection was lost between Iranians and Americans, resulting in MarketWatch’s 61% disapproval rating.

Recently, Iran’s leadership (cynically, some suggest) pointed to our latest demonstrations and civil unrest as further evidence of our evilness. Strangely, they have nothing to say about their own humanitarian problems…

Turkey

A huge influx of Syrian refugees without substantial U.S. assistance may lead to America’s 73% unfavorable view reported in a Pew Research survey.

When former President Barack Obama arrived in the country in 2009, demonstrators welcomed him declaring America the world’s people’s enemy and asking him to go home.

Russia

Russia and the West have never been on the best of terms. A negative stance against US involvement in Ukraine could lead to a 71% unfavorable rating in the Pew survey.

We can expect a good relationship between Russia and the US under the new administration of President Trump.

Palestinian Territories

The U.S. is viewed as actively supporting Israel, which is not well with Palestinians—as expressed in an unfavorable ranking of 66% to 72% across several polls.

While this is more or less a drop from an all high 80% disapproval rating, it is unlikely to drop much further as long as the US is viewed as Israel’s ally.

Belarus

Belarus is friendly with Russia, and it does not look confident of an alliance with the United States. In the public, 70% disapprove of Americans.

However, Belarus’ poor financial prospects may also contribute. Economically weak nations are less likely to approve of America.

Argentina

A lot of Argentineans have a pessimistic outlook on the United States, giving America a 57 percent unfavorable rating.

This offense has to do with people from the United States because they widely refer to themselves as Americans. Argentinians are a group of South Americans as well.

Lebanon

Since 2007, Congress has placed conditions on financing for Lebanon. Unfortunately, such decisions result in unfavorable ratings of Americans throughout the country.

Like some of the other countries on this list, the United States is not the only object of disapproval by Lebanon. The European Union is increasingly less popular and Germany is really bad as well.

Austria

According to MarketWatch, 55 percent of Austrians have unfavorable views of the US.

A lot of it has to do with fast food, it’s become part of American culture. It seems that many Americans are not adventurous enough when it comes to trying new foods from Austria.

Tunisia

There has been an anti-Islam message in the propaganda film Innocence of Muslims posted online by a U.S. resident which contributes to the 47 percent unfavorable view of America in Tunisia.

American ties with Tunisia have been warming in the past. There is no reason why this warming will fall again.

Slovenia

The people of Slovenia have a 54% negative view of the U.S because they do not approve of its leadership. This will probably change with Melania Trump as the First Lady, who was born in the country.

American public opinion of Slovenia could be colored by its close relationship with the Soviet Union.

Pakistan

The U.S. has a heavy military presence in Pakistan and many citizens of that country feel animosity towards Americans.

Bad feelings towards the US reached their peak once Osama Bin Laden was killed in the country.

Chile

A little around half of this South American country does not view the U.S. in a favorable light.

This act has international implications. The State Department perceives Chile as one of the U.S.’s “strongest partners in Latin America.”

Canada

Our northern neighbors’ 51 percent disapproval rating emerges mostly because of their dislike of Donald Trump and his practices that cause problems with the country’s own.

But that is not the whole story. Antipathy towards the United States, particularly by Canadian politicians, has been a rhetorical tactic that Canadian politicians have been using since at least 1891. How much of this hate is genuine and how much is just for the sake of prestige?

Australia

Australia’s poor approval ratings can mainly be linked to their dislike of George W. Bush and Donald Trump.

Most Australian citizens believe that there are many causes that lead Americans to choose wars and conflicts for dominance.

Netherlands

The majority of the Dutch public, 59 percent, views Americans as ignorant, fat, racist, and paranoid extremists. But they have a bit more faith that the U.S. can be a positive place by eradicating racial stereotypes.

Many Dutch citizens hope that negative aspects of Trump will be eradicated or thrown out once he leaves office.

Tajikistan

This country has seen a serious deterioration in its perception over time, with a 53 percent disapproval rating.

That being said, it seems this small country doesn’t have a positive opinion of many places. China and Europe have experienced similar approval numbers in Tajikistan.

Mexico

The Mexican government has a very negative opinion of America. Again, because of Donald Trump, and his xenophobic tendencies.

Blaming it all on Trump would give him too much credit. There has always been tension between the United States and Mexico since the border fights of the 1800s.

Iraq

Arising mostly from the wars that have destroyed this country, Iraq’s 67 percent disapproval rating isn’t difficult to comprehend.

Spain

Major controversies within the Bush administration, as well as many other international issues, have greatly hurt Spain’s approval ratings.

Not to mention it taints their faith and confidence in Trump, adding further disillusionment to his presidency.

Sweden

Along with Canada, right down to the disapproval score of 51 percent. Swedish people have a tradition to view liberal Americans as having a “Sweden fetish”.

Donald Trump was also the cause of alienation among Americans. He’s contributed to intensifying many rifts on this list.

China

Over the past several years, there has been a significant increase in resistance to American foreign relations with China.

There has been no improvement in relations between the two countries because of the recent trade war and the eruption of the virus in Wuhan.