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China has become the world's most powerful country, displacing the US to second place

China topped the list of the world's most powerful countries, pushing the US into second place

China took first place in the ranking of the world's most powerful countries for 2026, overtaking the US, which settled in the second position. The top five also included India, Germany, and Japan. South Korea took sixth place, France seventh, and the UK eighth.

Uzbekistan ranked 71st among 100 nations on this list. The ranking was presented by the World Population Review based on the U.S. News ranking.

In Central Asia, only Kazakhstan ranked higher than Uzbekistan, taking 34th place. At the same time, the ranking assesses the combined influence of countries, rather than just their military power or economic indicators.

Compared to 2024, China and the US swapped places: back then, the US was in first place, while China held the second spot. However, in 2026, U.S. News updated the ranking methodology, making it more focused on measurable indicators.

Earlier, Uzbekistan ranked 77th among 139 countries in the Global Innovation Index, climbing two positions over the year. By 2030, the country plans to enter the ranks of the world's top 60 innovative nations.

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