Egypt and South Africa are the only African countries to feature in the latest global ranking of the world's most powerful nations, underscoring their enduring influence on the international stage.
Egypt and South Africa are the only African countries to feature in the latest global ranking of the world's most powerful nations, reflecting their enduring influence on the international stage.
According to the 2026 Best Countries Index, produced by the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School in partnership with U.S. News & World Report, Egypt ranked 29th globally with a perceived power score of 14.3, while South Africa placed 31st with a score of 13.7.
The ranking is based on a survey of 15,131 respondents across 33 countries and measures how people perceive a nation's global influence rather than its actual military or economic capabilities. Factors such as economic strength, political influence, leadership, technological advancement and international standing all contribute to the perception of power.
While perception shaped the Wharton rankings, both countries also perform strongly in measures of military capability.
