A recent opinion survey reveals that Bangladeshis hold a significantly more positive view of India than Indians do of Bangladesh.
While 42% of Bangladeshi adults view India favorably, only 25% of Indian adults share a positive view of Bangladesh, according to Washington-based organization, the Pew Research Center.
Despite this gap, favorable ratings in both neighboring nations have dropped over the last two years.
In 2024, India's favorability in Bangladesh stood at 57%, while Bangladesh's favorability in India was 35%.
While the drops are mutual, a greater percentage of Bangladeshis continue to hold favorable views on India than Indian’s viewing Bangladesh positively.
The survey, conducted from February 8 to May 7, 2026, across Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, examined how people in the four countries view one another.
The survey interviewed 1,044 people in Bangladesh, 3,566 in India, 1,039 in Pakistan and 2,513 in Sri Lanka.
Views of Bangladesh
Most adults in Pakistan (66%) and Sri Lanka (56%) have positive views of Bangladesh, while a quarter of Indian adults hold this view.
Views of Pakistan
Many people express a favorable view of Pakistan in Sri Lanka (57%) and Bangladesh (54%), while very few in India do the same (8%).
When asked what country poses the greatest threat to their own, Indians also most often name Pakistan.
Views of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is the only South Asian country Pew asked about viewed more favorably than unfavorably in the three others surveyed. Around half of adults in each of the other nations see Sri Lanka positively, while a third or fewer see it negatively.
Views of India
Of the four countries Pew asked about, India has the broadest range in favorability. An overwhelming majority of Sri Lankans express a positive view of India, compared with 42% of Bangladeshis and 7% of Pakistanis.