According to the list of Top 10 powerful countries in the world 2025 released by an american business magazine Forbes, the United States of America (USA) secured the top spot as the most powerful country in the world with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of USD 30.34 trillion.
- The USA was followed by China in the 2nd spot with a GDP of USD 19.53 trillion and Russia in the 3rd position with a GDP of USD 2.2 trillion respectively.
- India secured the 12th position with a GDP of USD 4.27 trillion in the list as of February 2025.
Note: In terms of global GDP, India is positioned at the 5th spot behind the USA, China, Germany, and Japan.
Methodology:
i.The rankings of the top 10 most powerful countries list out of 195 in the world in 2025 was compiled by US News and World Report on the basis of score obtained from 5 parameters that denote a country’s power –
- A leader
- Economical influence
- Political influence
- Strong international alliances
- A strong military
ii.The ranking methodology was developed by Brand Asset Valuator (BAV) Group, which is a unit of global marketing communications company WPP, and researchers led by Professor David Reibstein from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania(Pennsylvania, USA) in association with US News and World Report.
Key Highlights:
i.The USA is a leading power in various sectors such as technology, finance, and entertainment.
ii.China excels in itsBelt and Road Initiative and technological contributions particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) and 5G.
iii.Russia has a strong geopolitical influence supported by its vast natural resources and military strength.
iv.The United Kingdom (UK) leads in making new trade agreements and economic partnerships with London being a hub for numerous startups.
v.Germany leads in the Renewable Energy(RE) initiatives.
vi.India’s rank is a result of its improving economic conditions, strong international alliances and military strength.
Top 5 Powerful Countries in 2025:
| Rank | Country | GDP | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The United States of America | USD 30.34 trillion | North America |
| 2 | China | USD 19.53 trillion | Asia |
| 3 | Russia | USD 2.2 trillion | Asia |
| 4 | The United Kingdom | USD 3.73 trillion | Europe |
| 5 | Germany | USD 4.92 trillion | Europe |
| 12 | India | USD 4.27 trillion | Asia |
About Forbes:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Sherry Phillips
Headquarters – New Jersey, the United States of America (USA)
Founded – 1917
