With over 195 countries in the world, global rankings are a way of determining where a nation stands against the nation of communities. The countries are often divided into three classes; first world countries, second world countries, and third world countries. To devise this ranking, there are several factors to consider, such as per capita income which is a measure of the amount of money a person earns in a particular country. Per capita income measures the quality of life of a person in a country. The next factor to consider is military strength which is measured by the budget a country spends on its military and military capabilities. The superpower countries of the world are always in a competition to be ranked the best in terms of these factors.
The United States has the most significant budget allocated to the military so far with the country spending a whopping figure of 738 billion US dollars ranking it the superpower military-wise( Jaffe & Paletta, 2018) . After world war two, the United States and the Soviet Union were both superpowers, but the Soviet Union crumbled in 1991, leaving the United States with the highest GDP and military. With this monopoly, the USA was able to apply influence all over the world and set the rules for international trade which benefitted the entrepreneurs in the country. Therefore, jobs were adequate, raising the per capita income of individuals in the country.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
In the 19 th century arguably, continent Europe had the highest number of superpower countries, including Britain, France, and Spain. The British Empire had great military strength which enabled it to protect its protectorates in Africa and India. The royal navy was a strong military asset to the Britons, enabling them to protect goods from attacks and also maintaining their trade routes. During the industrial revolution, Britain was able to break out first. It had access to cotton from its colonies, and the slaves were used to collect it and with inventions of new technology, the cotton industry boomed making Britain GDP rise as a result of market domination and cheap labor from slaves. Presence of energy sources such as coal are used to power industries thus increasing the scales of production still making the country’s GDP rise. Britain had established trade routes in the 19 th century. Transport and communication were accessible due to Britain's proximity to the sea. Canals were also constructed as a waterway link from the sea and the mainland thus making transport of goods around the country. Railroads were also built to allow more efficient trade and goods mobility. As a result of the established trade routes, Britain's economy grew, therefore improving the quality of life to the British people.
Education in Britain in the 19 th century was an essential factor to help with the industrial revolution. Most citizens attending schools were literate meaning they could read and write. People were able to read and understand manuals on how to use the machines being developed. Education also sparked the interest of people to do industrial inventions (Mitch, 2018) . A stable government also enabled Britain to rank against other countries. Good governance paved the way for developments in the country.
Spain was ranked a superpower during the 16 th century due to its vast wealth and military advancements. Spain had American colonies and an empire stretching across the east of Europe to the Philippines and also India. The Americas had a lot of treasures that were shipped to Spain. There were vast goldmines in the empire, which resulted in Spain's currency being strong at that time making importation of goods to Spain relatively cheap while making exports expensive. This strengthened the country's GDP. The gold from the Americas was abundant that it led to a decline in the value of money for other countries. The Spanish army was the strongest in Europe during the 16 th century, and her troops fought in Spain itself, Oran and Tripoli, Italy, Ireland, France, Central and South America, and above all, in the Low Countries, which were under Spanish control from 1519. The army was influential in the administration of the colonies. The capable military made Spain to be ranked among the best in the 1500s.
France ranked 2 nd in Europe during the early stages of the 19 th century. It was known as the Napoleonic Empire which lasted from 1804 to 1814. Under the leadership of Napoleon, the empire was able to conquer and expand its colonial protectorates. France had an able army that was well equipped in terms of personnel and advanced armory. During industrialization in Europe, France was at a pace too to develop industries for manufacturing and processing. With industrialization, France's GDP was able to rise due to increased production. Per capita income also steadily increased due to entrepreneurship and job availability. Dominance in the world market made France's economy grow as more goods were exported oversees than imported into France. Peasants were able to own more lands, and the products they got from their farms had a ready market in the industrialized urban centers. France also improved its transportation means as a result of technological advancements. The improved transportation sector improved trade in the empire.
By the end of the 21 st century, the United Nations estimates the global population will be ten billion plus. World rankings will weigh on GDP per income, economic stability, science and technology, demographics, military power, and good international relations. India has the most considerable potential of being a superpower by the end of the 21 st century. By 2050 it is estimated India will rank 4 th on a global scale. India’s economy is based on the local economic sector, which is more stable than foreign investment . (Kumar & Pandey,2016) . India’s GDP has always had a steady rise of 7+ due to the stable economy, and if it maintains this steady increase, it just might have the strongest economy in the world by 2099. India's military spending is enormous, as of now the budget is at 54 billion USD ranking it the 4 th globally. In six decades if India increases its military spending, it will have an able army that can ponder any threats. India is heavily relying on science and technology, and space exploration has always been a way of ranking a country's technology, and India has heavily invested in that.
Chinas also expected to be a top player come 2099. Its military spending comes second after the United States. China spent 178 billion USD, and if it continues spending on its military, its projected China will have the strongest military as by the end of the century. China's GDP is expected to grow because of technology and cheap labor in the country.
In conclusion, world rankings of nations are expected to change over time. The United States stills exert influence globally and are still the major player in terms of nuclear weapons, military, and high standards of living. China has significant potential, but the economy is based on foreign investments which can prove to be unstable sometimes. China's lack of free speech can also be a factor to hinder economic growth as people lack expressiveness. Global pandemics such as the coronavirus can impact major world economies leading to recessions, therefore impacting the rankings of countries.
References
Jaffe, G., & Paletta, D. (2018). Trump plans to ask for $716 billion for national defense in 2019—a major increase. Washington Post. January , 26 .
Kumar, A., & Pandey, A. (2016). Economic power shift: Competition between India and China to become Superpower. International Journal in Management & Social Science , 4 (9), 319-326.
Mitch, D. (2018). The role of education and skill in the British industrial revolution. The British Industrial Revolution (pp. 241-279). Routledge.
