Hate is a heavy word. Honestly, it’s one of those things people whisper about but rarely look at through the cold lens of actual data. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering about the "most hated" group, you're likely seeing the ripple effects of a world that feels increasingly divided.
But here’s the thing: "most hated" isn't a simple trophy nobody wants to win. It’s a shifting metric based on where you live, what’s happening in the news, and how different cultures view "the other." In 2026, the statistics tell a story that's both complicated and, frankly, pretty sobering.
What is the most hated race in the world? Looking at the numbers
When we talk about which group faces the most hostility globally, the answer usually depends on whether you’re looking at violent hate crimes, systemic legal discrimination, or social prejudice surveys.
In the United States, the FBI’s 2024 and 2025 datasets—which are some of the most granular in the world—consistently show that Black or African American individuals are the most frequent targets of race-based hate crimes. According to recent reports, anti-Black incidents accounted for more than 50% of all hate crimes motivated by race, ethnicity, or ancestry. That’s over 3,200 reported incidents in a single year. It’s a staggering number that hasn't budged much in terms of its share of the total, even as other types of hate fluctuate.
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The global surge in Antisemitism
If we pivot to religious and ethnic identity, the data shifts toward Jewish communities. The ADL Global 100 Index, updated late in 2025, found something pretty shocking: nearly 46% of the world’s adult population—about 2.2 billion people—harbor what the study classifies as "deep-rooted anti-Semitic positions."
In places like the West Bank and Gaza, Kuwait, and Indonesia, these index scores hit the high 90s. Even in Western Europe, where you might expect more moderate views, the numbers are creeping up. The survey uses 11 specific negative stereotypes to measure this, and in 2026, it seems that beliefs about "Jewish control over global affairs" or "dual loyalty" are stickier than ever.
Regional "targets" and the impact of conflict
Global "hate" isn't evenly distributed. It’s often a byproduct of local wars or political scapegoating.
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- Anti-Asian Sentiment: While the peak of COVID-19-related hate has passed, the "residue" remains. In 2020, anti-Asian hate crimes in some regions rose by nearly 900%. By 2026, while the physical violence has dipped, social media monitoring still shows high levels of xenophobia directed toward East Asian populations, particularly in the context of economic competition between the West and China.
- The Roma in Europe: If you ask a human rights observer in the EU about the most marginalized group, they’ll almost certainly point to the Roma. A 2023 Eurobarometer survey—the effects of which are still very much felt in 2026—showed that 65% of Europeans believe discrimination against the Roma is widespread. It’s a quiet, systemic type of "hate" that keeps people in poverty and out of the classroom.
- Palestinians and State-Level Bias: A January 2026 UN Human Rights report highlighted what it calls "systemic asphyxiation" of rights for Palestinians in the West Bank. When a state’s legal system treats two groups differently based on their ethnicity—giving one group civil protections and the other military trials—you’re looking at a formalized version of institutionalized bias.
Why does the "most hated" title shift?
Basically, hate is reactive.
In the Middle East and North Africa, anti-Jewish sentiment is often tied directly to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the U.S. and UK, anti-Muslim hate crimes often spike following specific geopolitical events or domestic terror incidents. In 2024, anti-Muslim incidents recorded by the FBI rose significantly, though they still represented a smaller total volume compared to anti-Black or anti-Jewish crimes.
There's also the "intersectional" factor. UNESCO’s Global Outlook on Racism notes that race accounts for about 38% of reported discrimination, but it’s often mixed with gender or disability. A Black woman or a Jewish person with a disability faces a "double-up" of prejudice that statistics sometimes struggle to untangle.
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The role of the internet in 2026
We can’t talk about this without mentioning the "AI echo chamber." By 2026, the way we consume information has changed. Algorithms are better than ever at feeding us content that confirms our biases.
If you're already predisposed to dislike a certain group, your social media feed is going to keep serving you "proof" that you're right. This has led to a rise in what experts call "niche radicalization." You don't need a massive movement to foster hate; you just need a laptop and a community of 500 people who agree with you.
Actionable insights: What do we do with this info?
Knowing "who is hated" is only useful if it leads to something better than just a depressing stat.
- Check the source of your "outrage": When you see a viral video of a specific group behaving badly, look at who posted it. Is it a news org or an account dedicated to rage-bait?
- Support reporting systems: Most hate crimes (about 56% according to USAFacts) go unreported. If you see it, report it. Data is the only way governments are forced to allocate resources to protection.
- Broaden your "input": If your feed is a monoculture, change it. Follow people from the groups mentioned above—Black creators, Jewish historians, Roma activists—to see the human side of the data.
Hate might be a global constant, but the groups it targets aren't fixed in stone. They change with the tide of politics and power. Understanding the numbers is just the first step in making sure the 2027 reports look a little less bleak.