WASHINGTON: The United States was voted the biggest threat to world peace in a new international survey while Pakistan was a distant second, followed by China and Afghanistan.

The surveyors — who interviewed 66,000 people across 68 countries — concluded that 24 per cent people saw the United States as the biggest threat.

Eight per cent of respondents to the WIN/Gallup International gave Pakistan this unenviable status, followed by China, 6pc. Afghanistan, Iran, Israel and North Korea came in joint fourth place with 5pc of the vote.

The Americans, however, had a slightly different perception of world threats, naming Iran as the top troublemaker in the world. Afghanistan was second. But 13pc Americans also agreed with the suggestion that their country was a threat to world peace. American voters placed the US third on the threat-list, a tie with North Korea.

The US was most unpopular – although not as a destination – in the Middle East and North America. Latin Americans expressed mixed feelings towards their northerly neighbour as some saw it as a threat while others disagreed.

The survey covered a wide range of subjects, from global economy to politics and living conditions.

Despite a year of economic difficulty, almost 50pc of people surveyed were more positive about 2014 than they were for 2013.

Seeing the US as the biggest threat to world peace, however, does not prevent people from wanting to live and work in this country. It was top on the list of the countries where most people would like to live and work if they could. Canada was second, followed closely by Australia.

Over a third of those surveyed believe the world would be a better place if there were more female politicians.

Now in its 37th year, WIN/Gallup International End of Year Survey found that since 1989 people in general have a more positive outlook on economic prosperity for the coming year.