Top 10 Most Powerful Asian Countries

The Top Ten
1 India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country (with over 1.2 billion people), and the most populous democracy in the world. Its capital is New Delhi. Some other major cities are Mumbai, Chennai, and Ahemdabad... read more

India is a superpower due to its huge human resources. However, bad politics, discrimination based on religion and caste are slowing down the growth. India's federal system and laws are good, but bad politicians and big business people are above any law of this country. Cash and politics are more powerful here. Above 80% of the total population is still under poverty, where we can see 3 of the richest people in the world out of the top 10.

The philosophy of India is "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam". The unity that exists among so many diversified cultures living together itself makes India a great power. India is like a rainbow of amazing cultures.

Secondly, India is on its way to becoming a superpower with remarkable progress in almost all areas. May it be economy, firepower, or exports in various sectors, India is among the top five in all these vital sectors and its true potential is even bigger than that.

2 China China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of more than 1.4 billion. China spans five geographical time zones and borders 14 countries, the second most of any country in the world after Russia. Covering an area... read more

India? Sure, India is the 3rd most powerful country in Asia, ranked on military and government. China is the 2nd, while Russia is the 1st. I am voting for this because I like China. However, Pakistan and Iran above China? What? According to multiple professional scientist-made encyclopedias (not Wikipedia, which is made by people who put fake info), Pakistan is 10th while Iran is 23rd as of 2016. Also, Japan is 9th, South Korea is 7th, and Vietnam is 21st. Yes, very inaccurate. But, what can I say when most people voting are from India and Pakistan?

3 Pakistan Pakistan was established in 1947 and is located in South Asia. Islamabad is the capital city of Pakistan. Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar are other major cities of Pakistan. Urdu and English are official languages of Pakistan. World's second highest peak (K-2) and ninth highest peak (Nanga Parbat) are... read more

Pakistan has the number one intelligence agency (ISI) in the world. Pakistan also possesses one of the strongest nuclear arsenals in the world. In addition, Pakistan has some of the most intelligent students in the world. One of Pakistan's most notable figures is Dr. Abdul Salaam, a world-renowned scientist. Pakistan is also known for having one of the strongest and most honest religions in the world, Islam.

However, some people dislike Pakistani individuals because of terrorism. It is important to note that terrorism is not allowed in Islam. In fact, Islam states that "if you kill one innocent person, it is as if you have killed all of mankind." Those who claim to be Muslim terrorists are not true Muslims because Islam is a religion of peace, not terrorism. Anyone, regardless of their religion, who kills an innocent person has no religion.

4 Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation (RF), is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world by area, covering over 17,125,191 square kilometres (6,612,073 sq mi), and encompassing one-eighth of Earth's inhabitable landmass. Russia extends across... read more

Russia is a very old country that has existed for a long time. I am not sure whether to classify it as a European country or an Asian country since its capital is in Europe, yet most of its land is in Asia, and it shares parts of both the European and Asian tectonic plates. However, it is undoubtedly a very powerful country in military and economic terms. It has lots of manpower and has survived many challenges. It has a pretty good GDP of 1.7 trillion USD in 2019. It has the most artillery pieces and tanks in the entire world, along with a gigantic navy.

5 Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia. It is situated on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea, and shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan to the east, and Egypt to the southwest; it is also... read more

Israel is a completely badass country. All neighboring countries went to war with Israel, but they have never lost a battle. If the war gets out of hand, the United States is a huge ally to Israel and would come to its aid. The United States has the best missile defense system in the world stationed in Israel. It can shoot down 90% of all missiles by using its own missiles to shoot down incoming missiles. Israel also has a pretty strong army. Both men and women are required to serve in the military for a decent amount of time.

6 South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its eastern border is defined by the Sea of Japan. South Korea claims... read more

South Korea is and remains an economic and military powerhouse in the Asian world. Japan got the better of them only once. Trust and believe that history will not be repeated.

Korea is in 11th place in the world's strongest countries and also getting stronger. Many people say China is getting bigger, but so is Korea, so I am voting for South Korea.

It is the strongest and very smart. Imagine Korea had a land of US, haha, they would literally rule the place. Imagine right now, South Korea is very strong. Imagine combining with North Korea. It will double the power. North Korea has nukes, and we have money and wealth.

7 Iran Iran, also known as Persia, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a sovereign state in Western Asia. The capital city is Teheran and the major city is also Tehran. The country's official language is Persian... read more

All the world helped Iraq to overcome Iran in 8 years, but Iran overcame all of them. Iran is the best because the people of it believe in Allah, and God is with Muslim peoples.

Iran is my country. It isn't just a country. It's a world.

It should be first. Take it from me.

8 Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia in the Pacific Ocean. It lies off the eastern coast of the Asia Mainland (east of China, Korea, Russia) and stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and near Taiwan in the southwest... read more

Ah yes, Japan. The 3rd largest country in economy that has a very powerful military, population, and GDP per capita along with some very interesting ads. Japan is an island nation in Asia that is famous for many things and has some of the best companies in the world along with a good economy. The total economy of Japan is around 5 trillion. Compared to their population of 126 million, they have a pretty good GDP per capita of 40,000.

Japan has one problem though, they are in severe financial debt to lots of countries and companies. This was caused by their aging population that required healthcare, so they had to borrow some money (a lot of money). Their debt is 2X their economy, totalling to 12 trillion USD.

Now, if we start talking about military power, they have very good military leaders and disciplined and well-trained soldiers. They have a decent air force, but their navy is what gives them power. Also, why in the world is Vietnam above Japan on this list?

9 Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Turkey, is a transcontinental country in Eurasia, mainly in Anatolia in Western Asia, with a smaller portion on the Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. Turkey is bordered by eight countries with Greece and Bulgaria to the northwest; Georgia to the northeast; Armenia,... read more

Turkey is absolutely one of the strongest in Asia. Turkey, Pakistan, India, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, and Israel are the powers in Asia.

The Ottoman Empire will rise again in 2023. Turkey will have its own fighter jets, fifth-generation fighter jets, warships, tanks, drones, rockets, defense systems, transport, and even DLCs. ASELSAN, Otokar, and TAI are developing this. By 2023, it will be ready for use. The Turkish economy will become one of the best. The infrastructure will become better than that of the EU. The number of physicians will increase. Cities will become very modern like Istanbul and Ankara. Turkey will have the world's greatest airport. Beko and Vestel are the greatest electronic producers in the EU.

10 Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia. Ruled by the Dutch for over 300 years and Japan for 3 years and 6 months, the country gained independence in 1945, or exactly in 17th August 1945. Jakarta is the capital city, located in the island of Java. Major languages... read more

Indonesia is definitely one of the strongest nations out there. Though, it does lack so much in terms of weaponry, considering that they are old and we need to get new ones. But in terms of the strength and power of the army itself, we should be proud of our military force.

According to the Global Firepower list, Indonesia ranks 14th out of 126 countries, making Indonesia the strongest South East Asian nation. And that itself is quite an achievement. Indonesia has recently won 1st place at the AASAM shooting competition in Australia back in May, beating countries that are considered to have a stronger military, such as the UK and the US, among many more.

By those examples, we can all conclude that Indonesia is in no way, shape, or form, inferior to other countries in military terms. We may lack in terms of weaponry and technology, but when it comes to the strength of our brave soldiers, we should be very proud to have such amazing men and women to serve for our beloved country.

As an Indonesian myself, you can say that I am very proud to be an Indonesian. I hope this country will improve into a better and stronger country in the future. Because I am definitely looking forward to that.

The Contenders
11 Malaysia Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country occupying the Malaysian Peninsula and part of the island of Borneo. It's known for its beaches, rain forests and mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and European influences. The sprawling capital, Kuala Lumpur, is home to colonial buildings, busy shopping districts such... read more
12 Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. It is situated in the western Pacific Ocean and consists of around 7,641 islands that are broadly categorized under three main geographical divisions from north to south: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao... read more

Even though the Philippines has a lack of weapons and fighting equipment like navy ships, fighter planes, and tanks, our Armed Forces of the Philippines soldiers are well-trained, experts, most experienced, and most feared forces, not only by Southeast Asian nations but also by terrorists in Mindanao. The Armed Forces of the Philippines soldiers are very expert in the jungle. They can operate even in small groups versus a large group of terrorists like Abusayaf, MILF, BIFF, and especially the longest revolutionary group - the NPA!

13 North Korea The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, also known as North Korea, is a country in Eastern Asia. Its capital is Pyongyang. It is currently ruled by the Juche leader Kim Jong-Un, after inheriting the title from his father, Kim Jong-Il, who in turn inherited it from his father, Kim Il-Sung... read more

North Korea better than India & Pakistan? Very good comedy. India & China are Newly Industrialized Countries. You can't go near to them, NK.

14 Singapore Singapore, officially known as the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It is situated approximately one degree of latitude (137 kilometers or 85 miles) north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. It borders the Strait of Malacca... read more

Singapore is one of the countries that has a high currency. It is one of the most expensive cities in the world and a top-leading country for the best airports in the world, including airlines. It is a leading country for domestic growth products and investments. Singapore provides the best education at the primary school level, secondary level, junior colleges, and world-leading universities. It is one of the busiest countries in the world, a rich country that has a good government, economy, and great education system. Singapore is also a multiracial country.

15 Vietnam Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia.

Vietnam has the best military and battles until the end of the war and succeeds. I don't think Vietnam has ever lost a war in history, which is pretty amazing for how small the country is, but with so many people. This country is, in fact, the toughest Asian country ever. It has defeated bigger countries in the past and they succeeded. This is mind-blowing!

Vietnam won against four Chinese dominations, three Mongol invasions, the French, and the U.S. Vietnam should be at least top three in Asia.

Vietnam is the most powerful country because look, the flag has a star.

16 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country on the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It has a land area of about 2,150,000 km2 (830,000 sq mi), making it the fifth-largest country in Asia, the second-largest in the Arab world, and the largest in Western Asia. It is bordered... read more

Really powerful Asian country in the Middle East.

A very big Muslim country and Pakistan is proud of you because it is Allah's home.

17 United Arab Emirates
18 Thailand Thailand, historically known as Siam and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of Mainland Southeast Asia, spanning 513,120 square kilometres (198,120 sq mi), with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bordered to the north by Myanmar and... read more

Thailand is the safest, though not entirely. The amazing thing is that I never heard of any snatch theft before, or even any report of it. Most of the issues involve foreigners trying to abuse the Thai, but authorities are quick to act.

19 Bangladesh Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 163 million people in an area of either 148,460 square kilometres (57,320 sq mi) or 147,570 square kilometres (56,980 sq mi), making... read more

Bangladesh does not invest much in its military, but it has a huge military-ready population. The government is currently modernizing the military. With about 30 million military-ready individuals, Bangladesh does pack a punch.

It has a functional navy and air force too. The Bangladesh army serves as a peacekeeper in Africa, so they are being constantly tested. A large division of the army is stationed in the terrorist-prone hilly areas of Bangladesh as well. Thus, the armed forces are battle-ready. Not to mention, Bangladesh beat Pakistan with almost bare hands to win its liberation war. If we go back in history, during the British and Mughal era, the Bengal province was the most coup-prone area, so people are very much against occupation. Bangladesh has never or will ever strike a foreign force. However, it is certainly more than a capable defensive force.

20 Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and known from the beginning of British colonial rule until 1972 as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia near south-east India.

The ancient Kandyan army had the potential to defeat the British with absolutely no strain on their resources. Sri Lanka is only in this state today because the king was a tyrant, and the people wanted the British to rule instead.

After 2030, Sri Lanka will be one of the best countries in the world, not only in Asia.

21 Myanmar Myanmar (formerly Burma) is a Southeast Asian nation of more than 100 ethnic groups, bordering India, Bangladesh, China, Laos and Thailand. Yangon (formerly Rangoon), the country's largest city, is home to bustling markets, numerous parks and lakes, and the towering, gilded Shwedagon Pagoda, which contains... read more

Myanmar has a great army, air force, and navy that are developing and becoming more powerful currently.

22 Mongolia Mongolia is a landlocked unitary sovereign state in East Asia. Its area is roughly equivalent with the historical territory of Outer Mongolia, and that term is sometimes used to refer to the current state.
23 Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in Western Asia.

Iraq is currently led by President Fuad Masum and Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. It is currently ranked 160th in the Institute for Economics & Peace's Global Peace Index, making it one of the most dangerous countries in the... read more

When Saddam was in charge, Iraq was the best, but now it's just a puppet of the USA.

24 Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordered by Pakistan to the east and south, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, Tajikistan... read more
25 Syria Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a Western Asian country located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It is a unitary republic that consists of 14 governorates (subdivisions), and is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east and southeast,... read more
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