9. United Arab Emirates (Rose one place from last year’s ranking)
US News noted how the UAE transformed with the discovery of oil in the 20th century.
8. Japan (Fell two places compared to last year’s ranking)
US News described Japan as one of the world’s ‘most literate and technically advanced nations.’
7. France
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 (Rose two places compared to last year)
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.’
5. United Kingdom
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
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.
3. Russia
Despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and Western backlash that has included global sanctions on the country’s leaders and businesses.
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
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
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. READ PAGE 1 BELOW FOR MORE CITIES, UKRAINE, RUSSIA AND MORE
