Global Geopolitical Power Model
What are the Most Important Countries in the World?
Mid 2025 Ratings

The “Global Geopolitical Power Model” (GGPM) scores each geopolitical power according to its relative importance globally. It uses fifty regularly updated data sources across five dimensions (economic, military, political, cultural, and demographic) to calculate importance, with economic and military strength comprising the largest scoring factors.

The numerical scores are then divided into five peer groups, or “tiers”, based on the importance of the powers within the tiers:

• Tier 1-Global Power
• Tier 2-Major Power
• Tier 3-Regional Power
• Tier 4-Middle Power
• Tier 5-Minor Power

Each tier is further divided into three groups or “ratings” (“A”, “B”, “C”), with similar scoring powers receiving the same rating. A special rating (“1-S”) is also created to clearly delineate the top scoring power.

Here are the most important geopolitical powers according to the 2025 Model:

According to the Mid 2025 GGPM, the United States is currently the world’s most important geopolitical power—followed by China. Together, these two powers are classified as the world’s “Tier 1” or “Global” powers—with outsized impact on the rest of the world.

The European Union, India, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany are the next most important geopolitical powers. Together, these seven powers are classified as the world’s “Tier 2” or “Major” powers—with very high importance globally.

Here’s a look at the most important powers across each of the world’s major geographical and cultural regions:

According to the Mid 2025 GGPM, the United States is Northern America’s most important power; the European Union is the dominant power across Europe; and China is currently East & Southeast Asia’s leading power.

In Latin America, Brazil is the region’s top power. In the MENA region, both Saudi Arabia and Turkey compete as the region’s most important power—with Saudi Arabia slightly ahead. And in South Asia, India dominates the region.

Nigeria and South Africa are the current top powers in Sub-Saharan Africa, while Russia is the dominant power in the former Soviet Union’s territory. Meanwhile, Australia is the top power in Oceania.