The most powerful countries on earth in 2022, ranked
Sinéad Baker
Dec 31, 2022, 2:22 AM
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Paris in November 2018. Yoan Valat, Pool via AP
- US News and World Report ranked the world's most-powerful countries for 2022.
- The US remains number one, but global instability saw many other nations change positions.
- Ukraine rose by 19 places in the rankings compared to last year.
The US, China, and Russia were the planet's most powerful countries in 2022, a year marked by war and turbulent geopolitics.
The rankings, published by US News and World Report, look at how much influence countries have, as well as their political, economic, and military power.
It complied the rankings as part of its annual "Best Countries" study, which evaluates 85 countries based on responses from 17,000 people.
These are the world's 25 most powerful nations, according to the 2022 rankings:
10. Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid. Sebastian Scheiner/AP Images
US News said that for "its relatively small size, the country has played a large role in global affairs."
Its strong economy and its significance for Jewish people around the world were also cited.
The country has ongoing boundary disputes around the occupied Palestinian territories and is accused of human-rights abuses, US News noted.
It added that Israel "has a technologically advanced market economy with cut diamonds, high-technology equipment and pharmaceuticals among its major exports."
It was ranked 11th in last year's list.
9. United Arab Emirates
The Dubai Marina. Jumana Jolie for Getty Images
US News noted how the UAE transformed with the discovery of oil in the 20th century.
"Today, the UAE's per capita gross domestic product is on par with those of leading Western European nations, according to the CIA's World Factbook," it said.
"And the World Economic Forum has named the country the most competitive economy in the Arab world."
US News also noted the popularity of the cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi with tourists, despite its poor human-rights record.
The UAE rose one place from last year's ranking.
8. Japan
Tokyo, Japan. Jackyenjoyphotography/ Getty Images
US News described Japan as one of the world's "most literate and technically advanced nations."
It also noted Japan's economy is the world's third-largest, and said Japan is "among the world's largest producers of motor vehicles, electronic equipment and steel."
Japan fell two places compared to last year, when it was ranked sixth.
7. France
French President Emmanuel Macron. Thierry Monasse/Getty Images
US News said that France is a "wealthy, high-income nation" and that its global influence is "difficult to overstate."
"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.
The country is also one of the most-visited countries in the world, and one of the biggest weapons exporters, it added.
6. South Korea
Seoul, South Korea. Time, Life, Enjoy.../ Getty Images
US News noted the country's large, "high-tech, service-based economy," adding that it has "one of the world's largest gross national savings and reserves of foreign investment."
South Korea rose compared to last year, when it was ranked eighth.
5. United Kingdom
City of London financial district: the Bank of England and Royal Exchange Jeff Overs / Contributor/Getty Images
US News described the UK as "a highly developed nation that exerts considerable international economic, political, scientific and cultural influence."
It noted that the UK is part of the world's political and trade alliances, but that its decision to leave the EU means "the country's role on the global stage faces new questions."
US News cited London's major role in the global financial system, and the UK's "long history of major contributions to the arts and sciences."
It said that the legacy of the British Empire still boost's the UK's global influence today.
4. Germany
Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz at an EU summit in Brussels on December 15, 2022. AP Photo/Virginia Mayo
US News said Germany is the "most populous nation in the European Union" and "possesses one of the largest economies in the world and has seen its role in the international community grow steadily since reunification" in 1990.
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.
3. Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets soldiers during a visit at a military training centre outside the town of Ryazan on October 20, 2022. Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images
The way that Russia is perceived globally has been dented by its invasion of Ukraine, and Western backlash has included global sanctions on the country's leaders and businesses.
But US News still noted how the country is "the world's largest country by land mass" and how it has one of the world's largest economies thanks to its oil and gas production.
It also noted how the Russia is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and is part of other major international groups including the G20.
2. China
Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, China, in October 2022. Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
US News noted China's huge size, that its economy is the second-largest in the world, and the dominance of the ruling Communist Party.
The outlet said the country has domestic struggles that come with its growing population and noted its deepening inequality and poor human-rights record.
However, it said, the country is hugely influential, is part of large international organizations, and has nuclear weapons.
1. United States
US President Joe Biden. Susan Walsh/AP
The US stays on top of the ranking for 2022.
US News called it "the world's most dominant economic and military power" and noted that its "cultural imprint spans the world, led in large part by its popular culture expressed in music, movies and television."
It noted economic woes and unrest in the country, including racial equality protests after the murder of George Floyd.
US News also cited the "leading role" the US often takes in international organizations, such as the UN and NATO.
The most powerful countries on earth in 2022, ranked
US News & World Report ranked nations by their level of power, and a turbulent year meant many countries' positions shifted.
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