As the world marks United Nations Day on Oct. 24 – the anniversary of the day in 1945 when the intergovernmental organization’s charter was entered into force – polling data shows that a strong majority of respondents around the world are supportive of multinational bodies like it and the benefits that come with membership.
In a survey of more than 17,000 people across the world, more than 4 in 5 respondents agreed with the statement, “My country does or would benefit from membership in multilateral organizations.” The survey, fielded from April 30 to July 13 of this year, is part of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Countries package – an annual, perception-based rankings of countries that was released in September.
The statement’s inclusion in the 2022 version of the yearly survey was inspired by the Russia-Ukraine war, a conflict in which the North Atlantic Treaty Organization plays a central role. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly invoked NATO – which was founded at least in part to deter the expansion of the Soviet Union – and the possibility that it might someday grow to include Ukraine, as one of the reasons why he ordered the invasion of the country eight months ago.
While nearly 82% of respondents overall agreed that their country would benefit from membership in multilateral organizations, those surveyed in many countries – including China, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Poland, Romania, Spain and the United Kingdom – had above-average percentages, with some nearing or eclipsing 90%.
There weren’t any major splits between different demographics. Women were slightly more likely than men to agree on the benefits of multilateral organization membership, while younger people (ages 18-24) were less likely to concur compared to older respondents (aged over 55).
Israel and Sweden had the lowest percentages of agreement among countries surveyed, but both were still significantly supportive, at around 70%. In fact, Sweden and Finland were extended official invitations to join NATO over the summer, and recent polling suggests that Swedes are in favor of the move.
