Background <p>Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite being preventable and treatable, poor awareness and knowledge of COPD pose a critical barrier to disease prevention and early diagnosis. Previous research has confirmed a paucity of disease awareness in healthcare professionals and patients, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This systematic review assessed awareness and knowledge of COPD in the broader general population internationally.</p> Methods <p>Seven databases were searched for studies involving adults from the general public without a COPD diagnosis or clinical expertise. Eligible studies assessed awareness of COPD (existence of the condition), with a secondary aim of synthesizing data on disease-pertinent knowledge (e.g., symptoms and risk factors).</p> Results <p>Nineteen studies from ten countries across low-, middle-, and high-income settings were included. Awareness of COPD was consistently poor, regardless of the socioeconomic status of the country of study. There was similarly suboptimal knowledge of symptoms, signs, and most risk factors of the disease, apart from smoking, which was consistently recognized as a key risk factor for COPD. Younger age was the only factor frequently associated with greater disease awareness, but results should be interpreted with caution. Social media and television were the main sources of COPD information, followed by clinician and family/friend sources.</p> Conclusion <p>Public awareness and knowledge of COPD remain suboptimal globally and should be prioritized to support disease prevention and early intervention. Policymakers should harness social media and television fora to disseminate key information about COPD to the general public and vulnerable groups therein.</p>