India has achieved the third position in the Asia Power Index 2025, marking a significant step in its growing strategic and economic influence across the region. The latest edition of the Index, seventh edition, evaluates how effectively Asian nations shape their external environment and exert regional power. The United States and China retained the top two positions.
Key points
- According to the report, both India and China have improved their performance across several parameters, though a substantial gap continues to separate the two Asian giants.
- A notable insight from the findings is India’s consistent upward trajectory, by 2025, the country is projected to surpass the threshold set by the Index to qualify as a major power, signalling deeper regional integration and strengthened external engagement.
About Asia Power Index
- The Asia Power Index, published annually by Australia’s Lowy Institute, is a comprehensive assessment of how countries in the Indo-Pacific exercise and project power.
- First launched in 2018, the Index evaluates 27 countries and territories using 131 indicators across eight key measures—Military Capability, Defence Networks, Economic Capability, Economic Relationships, Diplomatic Influence, Cultural Influence, Resilience, and Future Resources.
- It goes beyond economic and military strength to capture how nations shape regional rules, partnerships, and perceptions.
- The Index is widely regarded as a benchmark for understanding strategic shifts in Asia, offering data-driven insights into the balance of power, emerging trends, and long-term trajectories.
- By tracking performance over time, it helps policymakers, scholars, and analysts assess each country’s influence, vulnerabilities, and potential, making it an important tool for understanding Asia’s geopolitical landscape.
