Forbes released the world’s most powerful lists in 2025, the United States has led the ranking, and China is second. Israel holds 10th place. This ranking is based on several important factors, but the prominent absence of India (its largest population, the fourth largest army, despite the fifth economy) has argued.
Forbes has revealed that the list is edited by the US news. The ranking was determined by five important parameters: leadership, economic impact, political power, powerful international alliance, and military power.
The ranking methodology is developed by BAV Group, a unit of the global marketing company WPP, and is associated with US News & World Report in cooperation with researchers led by Professor David Reibstein of the University of Pennsylvania.
As of February 2025, India is ranked 12th among the world’s most powerful countries. This position takes into account the robust economy of India, the influential international partnership, and military abilities. With regard to global GDP, India has the fifth position and is behind the United States, China, Germany and Japan.
