Nov 30 – India has secured third place in the 2025 Asia Power Index, with the United States and China taking first and second positions respectively, according to a globally reputed think tank.
The Australia-based Lowy Institute this week released its latest Asia Power Index, which assesses the ability of countries, particularly in the Asian continent, to influence their external environment.
According to the rankings, India is placed well ahead of its peers but still trails China by a significant margin. Both India and China have improved their performance across several indicators compared to previous years, but the wide gap between the two remains. Russia, meanwhile, is reported to have increased its overall power in Asia for the first time since 2019.
Another key finding of the report is India’s steadily rising influence, with the country in 2025 crossing the threshold set by the Asia Power Index for “major power” status.
Now in its seventh edition, the Asia Power Index evaluates the power of 27 countries and territories across Asia using 131 indicators spread across eight thematic measures. These include Military Capability and Defence Networks, Economic Capability and Economic Relationships, Diplomatic and Cultural Influence, as well as Resilience and Future Resources.
The United States tops the index with a score of 81.7, maintaining its position as the undisputed leader. China ranks second out of 27, with an overall score of 73.7 out of 100, representing a gain of one percentage point in 2025.
India is ranked third for comprehensive power, with an overall score of 40 out of 100, reflecting a two-percentage-point gain. The report attributes India’s growing clout to a robust post-Covid economic recovery and its expanding geopolitical influence.
“India’s economic and military capability have both increased in the 2025 edition of the Asia Power Index. Its economy has continued to grow strongly and made small gains in terms of its geopolitical relevance — defined in terms of international leverage, connectivity, and technology. India’s military capability has also improved steadily,” the Lowy Institute said in its report.
Among other Asian powers, Russia’s influence is described as rebounding, supported by strengthened defence and economic partnerships with countries such as North Korea and China. Japan’s power is assessed as broadly stable, despite weaker scores on several indicators, while South-East Asian states recorded modest improvements in their overall power profiles in 2025.
The report notes that Australia faces a long-term challenge in maintaining its relative power in the region, while China continues to gain ground and further closes the gap with the United States, reducing the margin between them to only a few points.
