India Achieves Third Position in Asia Power Index 2025, Following US and China

India has achieved the third position in the Asia Power Index 2025, following the United States and China in the top two spots, according to findings from a globally respected think tank.

The Australia-based Lowy Institute recently published its annual Asia Power Index, which evaluates nations' capabilities to influence their external environment, particularly within the Asian continent.

According to the rankings, India stands significantly ahead of other regional peers but remains considerably behind China. Both India and China have improved their scores across various metrics and strengthened their positions, though a substantial gap persists between them. The report notes that Russia is enhancing its overall power in Asia for the first time since 2019.

A notable highlight of the report is India's continuously growing influence, with 2025 marking the year India crosses the threshold defined by the Asia Power Index for "major power" status.

The seventh edition of this index evaluates 27 countries and territories across Asia using 131 indicators grouped into eight thematic measures, including Military Capability and Defence Networks, Economic Capability and Relationships, Diplomatic and Cultural Influence, as well as Resilience and Future Resources.

The United States maintains its position at the top with a score of 81.7, remaining the undisputed leader. China ranks second with an overall score of 73.7 out of 100, showing a gain of 1 percentage point in its overall score for 2025.

India secured third place out of the 27 nations for comprehensive power, achieving an overall score of 40 out of 100, reflecting a 2 percent increase in its overall score. India's growing dominance stems from robust economic recovery in the post-Covid period and its increasing 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 stated in its report.

Among other Asian nations, Russia's power appears to be rebounding, having secured defense and economic partnerships with countries like North Korea and China. Japan's power remains stable despite recording negative results under various metrics, while other Southeast Asian countries show slight improvements in their comprehensive power in 2025.

While Australia faces long-term challenges to maintain its relative power in the continent, China is gaining advantage and narrowing the gap with the US, reducing the margin by several points.