Top 10 most powerful countries in the world – Know most powerful military and economies in the World

Gone are the days when a country with just a strong military is considered powerful. Now, the perspective has changed drastically. Today, along with the military there are many other factors that make a country powerful. We can say that in today’s world, powerful countries are those that dominate news headlines and shape the world. The policies of these countries impact the world up to a large extent. In this post, we will discuss what are the most powerful countries in the world in 2024.

We are going to list the 10 most powerful countries based on variety of factors like Military strength, Economic Stability, Manpower available, GDP, etc. So, if you are also wondering what are the strongest countries in the world.

Country Power Ranking of the World 2024

Let’s go through the top 10 powerful countries in the world.

10. India

India is the 7th largest country in the world by area and the largest country in the world by population. It is also one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. 

With its average annual GDP growth rate of 5.8% over the past two decades, India has become an economic giant. Due to its intense relations with neighbours like Pakistan and China, India also maintains a huge army. As per the data of global firepower, India has the 4th strongest military in the world.

9. Saudi Arabia 

Saudi Arabia is the largest country by area in the middle-east. Apart from this, it is the largest economy in the middle east and the 18th largest in the world. Saudi’s economy is boosted by oil. It is  the largest exporter of petroleum. 

In addition to this, it has the 5th largest proven natural gas reserves in the world. That’s why we can say Saudi Arabia is the “energy superpower” of the world. Saudi Arabia is increasingly activating its ports in order to participate in trade between Europe and China in addition to oil transport. 

Saudi Arabia also has “Mecca” and “Medina” the two most important places in the religion of Islam. These are the reasons why a change in the policies of Saudi Arabia impacts the whole world. This is the reason why it is on our list of the most powerful countries in the world.

8. South Korea

South Korea is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern part of the Korean peninsula and shares the land border with North Korea. 

It is a developed country with a high-income economy and is the most industrialized member country of the OECD. South Korea is home to many internationally renowned brands like LG Electronics, Samsung, Hyundai, Kia, etc. 

The country’s economy is boosted by its highly skilled workforce and educated population.

7. France

With the largest exclusive economic zone in the world, France is one of the most powerful countries in Europe and the world. Apart from the mainland country, France also has several overseas regions across the world. 

This is the reason why it has 12 time zones i.e. most in the world. The French Armed Forces are ranked as the world’s sixth-most powerful military and the most powerful in Europe, only behind Russia as per the data of Global Fire Power Index. 

In addition to this, France is also one of the most industrialized countries and economic power

6. United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is a combined country of the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland, and many smaller islands within the British Isles. 

On the basis of market exchange rates, the UK is today the fifth-largest economy in the world and the second-largest in Europe after Germany. 

It is often said that the UK’s military is not as strong as it used to be. But, it is also a fact that it is an active and regular participant in NATO. The capital of the UK is London which is one of the world’s largest financial centers, ranking 2nd in the world, just behind New York City.

5. Germany

Germany is the second-most populous country in Europe just after Russia. The main reason why Germany is on the list of most powerful countries is that it has a great economy. 

If we talk in terms of GDP (PPP), it has the largest economy in Europe and is the fourth largest in terms of Nominal GDP. The economy of Germany is flourishing due to its highly skilled labour force, a low level of corruption, and a high level of innovation. 

Out of Fortune 500 companies in the world, 29 are headquartered in Germany.

4. Japan

Japan is one of the most densely populated and urbanized civilizations in the world. It is one of the most literate and technically advanced nations. The culture of Japan is well known for its state-of-the-art comics, animation and video games. 

We have listed Japan in this list because it is the third-largest national economy in the world, after the United States and China, in terms of nominal GDP. At the same time, it ranks 4th in terms of  purchasing power parity after the United States, China, and India.

3. Russia

Russia is the largest country in the world in terms of area. It is also the hub of natural gas in the world. Apart from this, Russia is also a military powerhouse. It has the world’s second-most powerful military as per Global Fire Power Index.

In addition to this, Russia has the most nuclear weapons in the world. The decisions of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin impact the world up to a great extent.

2. China

China is one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Both militarily and economically, China is developing at a rapid pace. In terms of nominal GDP, China is the world’s second largest economy. In the past few decades, the economic growth of China has been exemplary. 

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It has been the world’s No. 1 manufacturer since 2010, after overtaking the US, which had been No. 1 for the previous hundred years. Additionally, China is home to the highest number of people who have a net personal wealth of at least $110,000, according to the global wealth report by Credit Suisse. In many aspects, China is giving the US very tough competition.

1. United States of America (USA)

By far, still the most powerful country in the World is the United States of America (USA). Its military is the strongest in the world as per all the surveys. In addition to this, the US dominates the world economically as well. 

According to the IMF, the U.S. GDP of $22.7 trillion constitutes 24% of the gross world product at market exchange rates. 

The military budget of the US is the largest in the world. The United States is the largest importer of goods and second-largest exporter.

Frequently Asked Questions

That’s it, guys. This was our list of the 10 most powerful countries in the world. If you think we missed out on any country then do let us know through the comment section. You can also use the comment box to share your view, feedback, and suggestions.