5 Most Politically Influential Countries in the World

1. United States

Political-Influence Score: 84.61

The United States is overwhelmingly the most politically influential country in the world. There are several reasons for this. It is the world’s foremost military power, the biggest economy and the most culturally influential country in the world. 

It is the nuclear-armed leader of NATO and is also a permanent member of the UN Security Council. It is the only country with the real capability to project military power across the entire world, thanks to its fleet of 11 aircraft carriers.

Moreover, the US is also the largest voting bloc in the IMF, with 16% voting share, making the country the most important member of the world’s leading lender. However, the country has been gradually receding from world affairs, primarily due to domestic problems.

In terms of global investments, US equity in Africa has grown from $12 billion to $45 billion in 2020. The investment peaked in 2014, at $69 billion and has been declining since, reflecting the US’s overall receding trend from world affairs. 

However, the country is still significantly invested in Asia. Its investment in the continent has increased from $207 billion in 2000 to nearly $1 trillion in 2020. 

Insider Monkey focuses on uncovering the best investment ideas of hedge funds and insiders. Please subscribe to our free daily enewsletter to get the latest investment ideas from hedge funds’ investor letters by entering your email address below. You can also take a peek at 50 Poorest Countries in the World and 25 Smartest Countries in the World.