Perceptions on Bangladesh vary sharply across South Asia, with 66 percent of Pakistanis and 56 percent of Sri Lankans holding a favourable view of the country, compared with about one in four Indians, a new Pew Research Center survey has found.
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.
Sri Lanka was the only country in the survey to receive more favourable than unfavourable views from all three of its neighbours. India recorded the widest variation, ranging from near-universal favourability in Sri Lanka to a small minority in Pakistan.
Views of Bangladesh shift in India, Sri Lanka
Compared with Pew’s 2024 survey, favourability towards Bangladesh rose by nine percentage points in Sri Lanka but fell by 10 points in India.
In both countries, the proportion of respondents who did not express an opinion also declined by about 10 percentage points.
Pakistan was not included in the 2024 survey, so there is no comparable data on how Pakistani views of Bangladesh have changed.
Religious identity also appears to influence Indian views of Bangladesh. About 41 percent of Indian Muslims expressed a favourable view, compared with 23 percent of Indian Hindus.
Bangladeshis’ views of neighbours
Views among Bangladeshis have also shifted since 2024.
Favourability towards India fell by 15 percentage points, although 42 percent of Bangladeshis still expressed a positive view of the country.
Meanwhile, favourable views of Pakistan rose from 40 percent in 2024 to 54 percent. The proportion of Bangladeshis who declined to answer the question fell by 17 percentage points.
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