How Mexicans and Americans view each other and their governments’ handling of the border

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Mexicans hold generally positive views of the United States. In contrast, Americans hold typically negative views of Mexico – a reversal from 2017 – according to Pew Research Center surveys conducted in both countries earlier this year.

In this analysis, we’ll take a closer look at how Mexicans and Americans view the other country, as well as their attitudes about how each government is handling the large number of migrants seeking to cross the border from Mexico in the U.S.

Mexicans and Americans view the other country in opposite ways: Most Mexicans (61%) have a favorable view of the U.S., compared with 33% who hold an unfavorable view.

By contrast, 60% of Americans have an unfavorable view of Mexico, while 37% have a favorable view of their southern neighbor.

These attitudes have changed markedly over time. As recently as 2017 – when Donald Trump was the president of the U.S. – only 29% of Mexicans had a favorable opinion of their northern neighbor. And 65% of Americans had a favorable opinion of Mexico.

(It’s important to note that our U.S. surveys are now conducted online. Prior to 2020, we conducted U.S. surveys by telephone, which means that findings before and after the change in survey mode may not be directly comparable.)

Differences by age, race and ethnicity, and party In Mexico and the U.S. Likewise, views of the other country differ by age and other factors. For example, 71% of Mexican adults under 30 have a positive view of the U.S., compared with only half of Mexicans ages 65 and older. Similarly, younger Americans are more positive toward Mexico than older Americans are. Around half of U.S. adults under 30 (48%) have a favorable view of Mexico, compared with just 25% of those ages 65 and older.

Americans’ attitudes toward Mexico also differ by race and ethnicity. Around half of Hispanic Americans (53%) see Mexico positively, compared with only 30% of White, non-Hispanic Americans. Other racial and ethnic groups are more evenly divided in their feelings.

There are also large partisan differences in the U.S.: 52% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents have a favorable view of Mexico, compared with only 22% of Republicans and Republican leaners.

When we first asked this question in 2007, Democrats and Republicans were about equally favorable toward the country (49% and 45%, respectively). Notably, views of Mexico have become more negative among Americans in both parties since 2017.