Forbes has released its list of the world’s most powerful countries for 2025, and India has been left out of the top 10.

This decision has sparked debates among experts and the public, as India possesses the fourth-largest military and fifth-largest economy globally.

How Was the Ranking Determined?

Forbes stated that the list was compiled by US News, based on five key criteria:

Leadership Capability

Economic Influence

Political Influence

Strong International Alliances

Military Strength

This ranking model was developed by BAV Group, a unit of WPP, with research led by Professor David Reibstein and his team from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Why Was India Left Out?

Despite India’s large population, military strength, and economic growth, it did not secure a spot on the list. This has led many to question whether the ranking methodology failed to accurately assess India's global influence.

The exclusion of India from the list has drawn significant criticism, while the United States, China, and Russia have maintained their strong positions. It remains to be seen how India strengthens its global standing in the coming years and whether it secures a place in future rankings.