Bangladesh in the List of Most Powerful Countries: What’s True and What’s Viral Misinformation?

In the age of social media, news travels fast—especially when it concerns national pride. Recently, claims about Bangladesh’s position in the list of the world’s most powerful countries in 2025 went viral on Facebook and other platforms. While many took this news with excitement and pride, a closer inspection reveals that the story is more complex. Let’s explore the facts, the sources, and the reality behind these viral claims.

The 2025 Power Ranking Claims: Two Contradictory Versions

Two major claims spread widely on social media regarding Bangladesh’s position in the global power ranking:

• Claim 1: Bangladesh jumped 76 spots in just seven months—from 123rd to 47th in 2025.
• Claim 2: Bangladesh dropped from 40th to 47th place within eight months.

Both of these claims cite different sources and have misinterpreted data.

What the US News Ranking Really Says

The truth is, the US News & World Report published their most recent power ranking in September 2024, based on a global survey conducted between March and May of the same year. The list featured 89 countries and used responses from over 17,000 people worldwide. In this ranking:

• Bangladesh ranked 47th in Power Rankings
• Overall position for Bangladesh: 71st

The ranking was based on six core metrics:

1. Leadership influence
2. Economic impact
3. Strong export sector
4. Political influence
5. Global alliances
6. Military strength

Importantly, the ranking was NOT labeled as a 2025 edition. Rather, it was based on data from 2024, but released later in the year.

What About the CEOWORLD Ranking?

The second viral claim used a different source: CEOWORLD.biz. This site released a power list in April 2024, covering 142 countries, where Bangladesh ranked 40th. However, their methodology and ranking criteria are distinct from those of US News. Comparing these two lists side by side is misleading, as they serve different purposes and use different data sets.

Bangladesh’s Standing: A Reason to Be Proud

Despite the confusion, Bangladesh’s 47th position in the US News ranking is noteworthy. Among South Asian countries, only India (12th) ranks higher. Countries like Pakistan, Bhutan, and the Maldives do not even appear in the list. Bangladesh is ahead of several European countries, including Ireland.

So, while viral claims might exaggerate or misinterpret facts, the verified data still provides a reason for national pride. We should celebrate this accomplishment but do so with clarity and accuracy.

False narratives often gain traction on platforms like Facebook, especially when backed by selective sources or taken out of context. Fact-checking organizations like Rumor Scanner and FactWatch have debunked both claims about Bangladesh’s ranking. Misleading data not only distorts reality but can also damage credibility and public trust.

Top 50 Most Powerful Countries (According to 2024 US News Data)

Below is the full list of the top 50 countries based on the latest US News ranking. Bangladesh is bolded for emphasis:

United States, China, Russia, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, Israel, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, India, Italy, Iran, Canada, Turkey, Australia, Brazil, Ukraine, Switzerland, Spain, Sweden, Qatar, Norway, Singapore, Netherlands, Egypt, Pakistan, Poland, Indonesia, Iraq, Belgium, Mexico, Denmark, Greece, Argentina, Czech Republic, Malaysia, Vietnam, South Africa, Jordan, Thailand, Colombia, Kuwait, Nigeria, Portugal, Romania, Algeria, Hungary, Bangladesh, Ireland.

Bangladesh’s inclusion in the world’s most powerful countries list is a significant milestone, but spreading misinformation only takes away from the authenticity of that achievement. Let us all take responsibility to verify information before sharing and focus on national progress with integrity and truth.

Source: US News & World Report