Russia. The Russian Federation, the world's largest state by land mass, is home to over 30% of the world's natural resources according to some sources, thus being identified as an energy superpower. Since its imperial times, it has been both a great power and a regional power.
India is expected to overtake Germany in terms of GDP in 2025 and Japan in 2027 to become the third largest economy after the U.S. and China.
These states include veto-wielding members of the United Nations Security Council (United States, United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia), as well as economic powerhouses such as Germany, Italy and Japan.
During the Cold War, the British Empire dissolved, leaving the United States and the Soviet Union to dominate world affairs. At the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States became the world's sole superpower and a hyperpower.
Looking ahead, China is expected to pass the U.S. as the world's largest economy in 2030.
The world's 12th largest economy
Strong growth in 2021 solidified Australia's position as the world's 12th largest economy in 2021. Nominal GDP was around A$2.2 trillion (US$1.6 trillion) in 2021. Australia is home to just 0.3% of the world's population, but accounts for 1.7% of the global economy.
Nevertheless, the United Kingdom today has retained global soft power, including a formidable military. The United Kingdom continues to have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council alongside only 4 other powers, and is one of the nine nuclear powers.
United States. The United States of America is a North American nation that is the world's most dominant economic and military power.
While challenges remain, most experts believe that China will be the new superpower by 2050. China GDP in 2050 is expected to be around $58.5 trillion.
United States. The United States of America is a North American nation that is the world's most dominant economic and military power.
According to a recent report by Harvard University, “From economic complexity growth estimates, India is growing at the annual list at the rate of 7.9 percent as the fastest growing country for the coming decade.
Africa and the Arab World will shape our future, while Europe and Asia will recede in their influence. By the end of the century, the world will be multipolar, with India, Nigeria, China, and the US the dominant powers. This will truly be a new world and one we should be preparing for today.”
According to the 2021 Asia Power Index, within Asia, the United States still took the lead on military capacity, cultural influence, resilience, future resources, diplomatic influence, and defense networks, but fell behind China in two parameters: economic capability and economic relationships.
There are almost certainly a number of factors that contribute to Russia's relatively low budget and high military power – since it now spends less in absolute terms than the UK, but is more militarily powerful – although exchange rates may be part of the story.
Researchers at European Geostrategy broke global powers down into four categories: Super Power, Global Power, Regional Power and Local Power. The United States took the top slot as the world's super power, while Britain took the only Global Power slot, bringing her in second behind America.
However, many historians argue that the British Empire was more powerful than Germany. The British Empire was more populous, had a stronger economy, and was more militarily powerful. Additionally, the British Empire was more geographically diverse and had a longer history.
The nation holds a PwrIndx* score of 0.2567 (a score of 0.0000 is considered 'perfect'). This entry last reviewed on 01/05/2023.
Australia is a highly developed country with a mixed economy. As of 2023, Australia was the 13th-largest national economy by nominal GDP (gross domestic product), the 19th-largest by PPP-adjusted GDP, and was the 20th-largest goods exporter and 24th-largest goods importer.
Australia has plentiful supplies of natural resources, including the second largest accessible reserves of iron ore in the world, the fifth largest reserves of coal and significant gas resources. For a long time, commodities have made up a sizeable share of our exports.
Luxembourg: USD 143,203 per capita in 2025
We forecast Luxembourg to be the world's wealthiest economy in 2025 in nominal GDP terms (at market exchange rates).
In the univariate model, China will be the largest economy in the world in 2100, producing some 27% of global output. India will be the second largest economy accounting for 16.2% of global output and the US will be third with 12.3% of global output.