Forbes Powerful Country List 2025: India out of top 10, ranks 5th in Economy

By Prateeksha Thakur | 03/02/2025 | Categories: India, World

Forbes has released the list of the world’s 10 most powerful countries for 2025, and India has not been included. The list ranks countries like the USA, China, Russia, the UK, and Germany higher, but India, which holds the position of the world’s fifth-largest economy, did not make it to the list.

India Out of Top 10, but Strong in Economy

India is currently the fifth-largest economy in the world, with a GDP reaching $3.73 trillion in 2025. Additionally, India possesses the fourth-largest military and plays a crucial role in global diplomacy. Despite these factors, its exclusion from the Forbes list raises many questions.

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How is the Forbes List Prepared?

The Forbes list is based on a report by US News, which evaluates a country’s power using five key parameters:

Leadership

Economic influence

Political influence

International alliances

Military strength

Rank	Country	GDP (Trillion USD)	Population (Billion)	Continent
1.	USA	30.34	0.345	North America
2.	China	19.53	1.419	Asia
3.	Russia	2.2	0.144	Europe
4.	UK	3.73	0.069	Europe
5.	Germany	4.92	0.084	Europe
6.	South Korea	1.95	0.051	Asia
7.	France	3.28	0.066	Europe
8.	Japan	4.39	0.123	Asia
9.	Saudi Arabia	1.14	0.033	Asia
10.	Israel	0.55	0.009	Asia

The ranking model is developed by BAV Group (a unit of WPP) and a research team led by Professor David Reibstein from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Despite its vast population, economic growth, and military strength, India’s absence from this list has surprised many experts. Critics argue that the ranking does not accurately reflect India’s true global influence.

Top 5 Largest Economies in 2025

USA – $30.34 trillion

China – $19.53 trillion

Germany – $4.92 trillion

Japan – $4.39 trillion

India – $3.73 trillion

India’s exclusion from the top 10 most powerful countries list is surprising, especially given its position as the world’s fifth-largest economy. This raises questions about the accuracy of the ranking system. As India’s global standing continues to strengthen, it will become increasingly difficult to overlook it in such rankings in the future.