"France is one of the world's oldest countries, and its reach extends around the globe through science, politics, economics and perhaps above all, culture," US News said. China has the world's largest population and the world's second-largest economy. China and Russia are the second and third most powerful countries, known for their military spending and vast physical expanse. Chancellor Angela Merkel faced challenges to her power, and resigned as the leader of her party, but Germany continues to play a leading role in the EU and other international organizations. These last five nations are in constant competition to rank as the most powerful country in the world in 2022. France has 450,000 people in its military, with 270,000 in active service. Canada regularly tops passport rankings, but its ranking fell this year because of a loss of points in two categories: perception and personal freedoms, caused by incidents such as jailing protestors involved in the "Freedom Convoy" protests, Vojinovic said. Nevertheless, it has strong technological prowess, a strong economy, and a significant cultural influence, making it a global middle power. Guterres . Despite the prospects for growth, Spain might be reaching its global power limit due to its looming demographic crisis and poor economic performance. First develop your nation. South Africa is the second most powerful country in the Sub-Saharan region. The French Empire in 1812 1535-1789 France was a dominant empire possessing many colonies in various locations around the world. The nation has 319,000 people in its military, 250,000 of which are in active service. Germany, the most populous nation in the European Union, possesses one of the largest economies in the world and has seen its role in the international community grow steadily since reunification. Yeah sure. More often than not, Spain is overlooked when looking for the most powerful country in Europe. Next on the list are India, France, and Germany. The country is now receiving huge political and military support from nations including the US, as well as the EU and NATO, and has been widely celebrated for its resistance to Russia. For more information on how we rank, read the Best Countries methodology. China has 3.4 million people in its military with 2.1 million of those being in active service. It noted that the headquarters of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court are in The Netherlands, and that the country was a founding member of the EU and NATO. Egypt has 3,735 tanks and a budget of $10 billion. However, its status might not go higher because of its relatively weak geographic, political and military power. America has the most powerful military on the planet, according to the index, with a full score of 0.0718. China's steadily increasing power is evident in its influence globally. Given all that has taken place around the world over the past four years, we thought that it was time to update our Country Power Rankings. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Ukraine rose by 19 places in the rankings compared to last year. Israel has a strong economy but its boundaries are seriously disputed and it faces ongoing conflict with Palestine. Military might varies wildly across the globe, with dozens of countries having no military whatsoever. The country has a total of 643,000 military personnel, with 170,000 of those being in active service. Their foreign policies and military budgets are tracked religiously. Its strong economy and its significance for Jewish people around the world were also cited. US News notes its history in building maritime culture, and the impact of the Vikings on nearby countries. Download the BRIEFLY NEWS app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news! This list debunks the criteria used to evaluate the power and the most powerful countries. The most populous country in the world is also the second-largest economy and is heavily controlled by the Communist Party. Russia - Foreign Affairs Capability: 4 - Energy Security: 4 - Technology Capability: 11 - Population Capability: 11 - Military Capability: 2 If anything, despite renewed geopolitical challenges from countries like Russia and Iran, and the continuing economic development of China, America's place at the top of the global pecking order seems more secure at the end of 2014 than at the beginning. The US, China, and Russia were the planet's most powerful countries in 2022, a year marked by war and turbulent geopolitics. LinkedIn and 3rd parties use essential and non-essential cookies to provide, secure, analyze and improve our Services, and to show you relevant ads (including professional and job ads) on and off LinkedIn. Meanwhile, China has emerged as the unquestioned second-leading power in the world and as its economy and military continue to be modernized, it will gradually move into a position to challenge the United States for the top spot in these Country Power Rankings at some point later this century. "For its relatively small size, the country has played a large role inglobal affairs. Turkey, as well as being a NATO member, is a founding member of the UN and OECD, US News added. US News also cited the "leading role" the US often takes in international organizations, such as the UN and NATO. Located in Western Europe, France is one of the worlds oldest countries, and its reach extends around the globe through science, politics, economics and perhaps above all, culture. The nation has 332 tanks and a budget of $9.2 billion. The United Kingdom is two places down from Germany, just behind Japan at 8 and ahead of South Korea at 9. Canada is in the same position it was last year. Apart from these two factors, technology continues to play a major role as well, as we have seen many times throughout history how technologically-advanced states are able to overcome deficiencies in terms of population or territory. ", The United Arab Emirates "added 106 new visa-free countries in the last decade, which is an amazing number," she said. It was listed as 24th last year. France's position is unchanged compared to last year. Its diversified technological power also plays a significant role in its status. They then used that information to compare the worlds most powerful countries. US News and World Report ranked the world's most-powerful countries for 2022. It was a founding member of the EU, the eurozone, the World Trade Organization, NATO, and the OECD, US News noted. 9. It is also home to the headquarters of NATO and EU institutions like the European Council, US News added. Yet another global index has ranked the UAE passport as the most powerful in the world. A Division of NBCUniversal. Environmental and demographic constraints might hinder the UAE's rise to the top. "Health care, as well as a college education, are free, and its people boast one of the longest life expectancies in the world," it added. With a score of 110.50, the Emirati document has entered the top 10 list by Nomad Capitalist for the first . Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. Some countries and territories were not included in the official statistics for various reasons, primarily due to the lack of necessary data. Overall, the United States remains the worlds clear number one power by a healthy margin, as there is no aspect of power in which it is deficient. India is far far far better than your nation. Although, it should be noted that its total military size is only 0.4 percent of its total population. It has a total of 3.5 million people in its military, about 1 million of which are in active service. But it also said that Turkey faces terrorism and political instability. Saudi Arabia stands a chance at becoming the most powerful country in the world, thanks to its easily accessible hydrocarbon resources. The lasting influence of the Soviet Union, the economic boost that come from its oil and coal reserves, and its emphasis on military might explain the country's power. Aid from the United Nations helped end the three-year war and support the south on its path to democracy. The scale of Russia is difficult to imagine," US News said. Brazil shot up this year's rankings: in 2019, it was ranked 30th in the world. Singapore is one of the world's wealthiest nations, with high employment. "The film industry based in Mumbai, nicknamed Bollywood, makes more feature-length films than any other nation in the world," US News said. Australia stands a great at rising the ranks thanks to its massive territory and resources. Israel, the only Jewish nation in the world, is a small country on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is a nation in eastern Asia that occupies the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula and has a long history of conflict. US News says it is "home to one of the world's oldest civilizations" and says it is "the world's most populous" and is one of the world's largest countries. It is one of the world's most geographically powerful countries and is home to one of the world's most successful economies. Portugal's lax entrance policies haven't been as welcome with residents. Soldiers take part in a drill on the eve of Pakistan's Defence Day, which marks the anniversary of the country's second war with India between August and September 1965 with both sides claiming victory after it ended in a stalemate, in Peshawar on September 5, 2019. According to US News, Iran "has long been of interest to global powers because of its strategic location within the Middle East and its abundant supply of oil and other natural resources.". Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. However, its ties with Latin America and the modern economy have significantly impacted its status. Italy has a large cultural influence, from its famous artists to its fashion houses. The report describes the U.S. as the "most dominant economic and military power in the world." But a lot of foreigners came in the country. Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia this year, is a member of major international organizations like the UN and World Trade Organization, US News noted. US News says it is "home to a unique intersection of culture as the nation bridges Asia with Europe. China also has a large economy with a GDP of $14.3 trillion. The French economy is one of the world's largest, though US News noted that it faces domestic challenges including how it deals with terrorism and attitudes to Islam. Its dynamic and high-tech economies have been significant in their status. US News noted how the UAE transformed with the discovery of oil in the 20th century. With a full score of 0.1599, Japan makes it into the top 5. Italy's economy is the fourth-largest in the Eurozone, it noted. South Korea was ranked 10th, one place lower, last year. Here's how they pay for it on a budget, Citizen-based tax: where passport holders pay no matter where they live score of 10, Resident-based tax: where residents are taxed on worldwide income score of 20 (if rates exceed 50%) or 30 (if they don't), Territorial tax: where income made within the country is taxed score 40. While Covid-19 has united countries against a common cause, let's not forget that the moment this pandemic subsides, the 10 most powerful militaries in the world in 2020 can cause absolute chaos . Qatar was ranked 20th in 2018, four places higher than in 2019. Canada is the second-largest country in the world by landmass, and US News says its "expansive wilderness to the north plays a large role in Canadian identity, as does the country's reputation of welcoming immigrants.". South Korea has entered the world's top 10 most powerful countries, having been listed as 11th in 2018. However, the country in the 21st century confronts serious questions touching on poverty, inequality, governance and the environment.". The UAE is now offering citizenship to foreigners, and the economic gains could be 'transformative', though this is still its lowest category overall, Emirati citizenship is attainable for select foreigners, one of the most difficult passports to obtain, jailing protestors involved in the "Freedom Convoy" protests, Being a digital nomad isn't just for singles. It has a defense budget of $56 billion and has 109 tanks in its forces. US News described Japan as one of the world's "most literate and technically advanced nations. The country has a strong economy, landmarks of significance to several religions and strained relationships with many of its Arab neighbors. Japan, one of the worlds most literate and technically advanced nations, is an East Asian country made up of four main islands. Being home to Islam's holiest sites, Saudi Arabia has a significant cultural influence, which is impactful to its status. These are the world's 25 most powerful nations, according to the 2020 rankings: 25. In addition to that, it has 244 tanks at its disposal. "Canada ranks third in the world in proven oil reserves and is the world's fourth-largest oil producer," it said. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. It also noted that Sweden is one of the biggest EU countries by landmass. Israel is one of the countries with the smallest population. ", It also noted the country's vote to leave the European Union, and said this "ushered in anxiety about the country's role on the global stage.". One of the major factors that have contributed to the superpower status of the nation is its military might. In 1971, six of these states merged to form the UAE; a seventh joined in 1972. It was ranked 14th in 2018, two places higher. You can update your choices at any time in your settings. It also cited the Amazon rainforest and the country's membership in international bodies, but noted that it battles poverty and allegations of corruption. It noted that Germany has one of the world's biggest populations and "is one of the globe's leading importers and exporters," as well as having culturally significant figures and membership of global bodies. It's worth noting that that large number is only 0.2 percent of its total population. As Iran has a full score of 0.2511, coming in slightly above Germany. It also noted that Canada is the world's second-largest country in the world by mass, even though it is not densely populated, and is a member of NATO and other international alliances. The Indian military involves 5.1 million people, with 1.4 million in active service. While Pakistan's demographics might project potential for its economic status, it might pose a challenge caused by widespread poverty. Australia ranked the same position last year. US News described the UK as "a highly developed nation that exerts considerable international economic, political, scientific and cultural influence. Public demands to address racial inequality in the country, expressed in institutions such as the criminal justice system and health care, spurred similar movements in countries around the world. Home to 1.4 billion people, India "is the world's second most-populous nation after China, and has roughly one-sixth of the world's population.". Swiss citizens have won more Nobel Prizes and registered more patents per capita than many other nations.". The Netherlands also rose this year, having been ranked 26th in 2019. Therefore, we have focused on seven main factors that combine to determine a countrys overall level of power. Singapore fell from 20th place last year. India has a full score of 0.1207 on this indexand it is easy to see why. Spot on: Theory is one thing but can you imagine dysfunctional India taking on nuclear France or nuclear (US puppet) England? It complied the rankings as part of its annual "Best Countries" study, which evaluates 85 countries based on responses from 17,000 people. Learn more in our Cookie Policy. South Korea rose compared to last year, when it was ranked eighth. It rose four places compared to the 2018 ranking. According to Statista, the most powerful military in the world is the United States military. Egypt has a full score of 0.2216 and has a lot of manpower with 1,330,000 personnel in its military. US News also notes that the policy decisions by President Donald Trump have "have raised questions around the world, including from the country's closest allies, about the nations future course on the global stage.". This helps a country to make strategic decisions in a number of fields, decisions that will impact that countrys future security, stability and long-term well-being. As we know, measuring a countrys power is a controversial undertaking, as the factors that contribute to a countrys power can be debated ad nauseam. The Top 10 Most Powerful Countries in the World (2021 Best Countries report): United States China Russia Germany United Kingdom Japan France South Korea Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates According to the 2020 survey (released in 2021), the United States is the world's most powerful country.