Will China replace the U.S. as the world's superpower?

Many people think so, according to data from the Pew Research Center. Worldwide, a median of 55 percent of people say they have a favorable opinion of China, compared with 34 percent who have a negative opinion.

For the United States, a median of 69 percent had favorable opinions and 24 percent had unfavorable opinions.



Courtesy Pew Research Center

Despite those positive opinions, a median of 48 percent globally thought China either has or will replace the U.S. as the world's superpower, compared to 35 percent who said China would never replace the U.S. The attitude was prevalent even among countries usually considered U.S. allies, such as France where 66 percent of people believed China will or has replaced the U.S. Japan was the greatest U.S. supporter with 77 percent of Japanese saying China will never replace the U.S.

Courtesy Pew Research Center

The attitude that China is overtaking the U.S. was more prevalent among the young. In Canada, for example, a 19 percentage point gap separated Canadians aged 18-29 and those older than 50.

Worldwide, the use of torture by the U.S. after 9/11 was seen as unjustified, with a median of 50 percent feeling it wasn't justified and 35 percent saying it was. America's use of enhanced interrogation techniques was detailed recently in a Senate report released in December. In contrast to the median opinion in other countries, 58 percent of Americans said the techniques were justified.

