United States gains back its popularity across the globe due to Barack Obama

According to the Nation Brand Index people around the globe ranked the United States as the most admired country which ascribed to the Presidency of Barack Obama and his administration. The reports shows that the US jumped from the 7th place followed by France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan that completed the top five nations in the list.

"What's really remarkable is that in all my years studying national reputation, I have never seen any country experience such a dramatic change in its standing as we see for the United States for 2009," said Simon Anholt, the founder of NBI, which measured the global image of 50 countries each year.

Anholt shared his opinion saying that it was due to the aggressive administration of George Bush the nation lost its position as a leader. But when Obama was elected, and despite the recent economic turmoil, the country's status has risen globally.

"There is no other explanation," Anholt said in an interview, referring to the impact of Obama.

The survey conducted by GFK Roper Public Affairs & Media has polled 20,000 people in 20 rich and developing countries around the world. Respondents ranked 50 states in categories like culture, governance, people, exports, tourism, landscape and education.

Canada took the biggest hit in the latest survey, falling to seventh from fourth place, while China climbed several spots to 22nd, which Anholt believes in due in part to the successful staging of the Olympics.

Italy maintained the sixth spot in the survey for the second year, while Switzerland came in eight, followed by Australia in 9th place and Spain and Sweden, which tied for 10th place.

At the opposite end of the survey Colombia and Kenya tied for 47th place. Angola was number 49 and Iran came in last at number 50.