The world's 10 most admired nations

The United States has been ranked as the world's most admired country. With the best overall brand ranking, the US has moved up to the top slot, up from seventh last year, states a survey by GFK Roper Public Affairs & Media.

While India has been ranked at 30, China's position has risen to 22 among the 50 nations surveyed.

The Anholt-GfK Roper Nation Brands Index measures the power and quality of each country's 'brand image' by combining the following six dimensions:

• Exports: Determines the public's image of products and services from each country and the extent to which consumers proactively seek or avoid products from each country-of-origin.
• Investment and Immigration: Determines the power to attract people to live, work or study in each country and reveals how people perceive a country's economic and social
• Tourism: Captures the level of interest in visiting a country and the draw of natural and man-made tourist attractions.
• People: Measures the population's reputation for competence, education, openness and friendliness, etc.
• Governance: Measures public opinion regarding the level of national government competency and fairness.
• Culture and Heritage: Reveals global perceptions of each nation's heritage and appreciation for its culture.

1. USA

The US economy is the largest in the world, with an estimated 2008 gross domestic product (GDP) of $14.3 trillion (a quarter of nominal global GDP and a fifth of global GDP at purchasing power parity).

"What's really remarkable is that in all my years studying national reputation, I have never seen any country experience such a dramatic change in its standing as we see for the United States in 2009," explains Simon Anholt, NBI founder and an independent advisor to over a dozen national governments around the world.

"Despite recent economic turmoil, the US actually gained significant ground. The results suggest that the new US administration has been well received abroad and the American electorate's decision to vote in President Obama has given the United States the status of the world's most admired country."

Check out the world's most admired countries...

2. France

France is the second most admired country according to the survey. France is the largest country in the European Union. It is the fifth largest economy by nominal GDP and eighth largest economy by purchasing power parity. It is the most visited country in the world, with 82 million foreign tourists visiting the country annually.

While most nations' reputation does not undergo major change from year to year, the US has clearly bucked the trend.

What's key for the US and other world's leading nations is to strike while the iron is hot and develop focused policies and communication that draw businesses, financial investors and tourists -- in order to help lift their national economies and their global credibility, the report states.

GDP (PPP): $2.130 trillion
Population: 65,073,482

3. Germany

Germany, which was ranked first last year has moved to the third position this year. It is a major economic power with the world's fourth largest economy by nominal GDP and the fifth largest in purchasing power parity.

Germany allocates the second biggest annual budget of development aid in the world. The country has a high standard of living.

The global survey, conducted by GFK Roper Public Affairs & Media, involved 20,000 people in 20 rich and developing countries around the globe. They were asked to rate 50 nations in categories such as culture, governance, people, exports, tourism, landscape and education.

GDP (PPP): $2.910 trillion
Population: 82,060,000

4. United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is ranked fourth among the world's most admired nations. It was ranked third last year. The UK has the world's sixth largest economy by nominal GDP and the seventh largest by purchasing power parity.

The world's first industrialised country, it is major power with strong economic, cultural, military, scientific and political influence.

GDP (PPP): $2.228 trillion
Population: 61,113,205

5. Japan

Japan has retained his position at the fifth position. The 'Land of the Rising Sun', is a major economic power with world's second-largest economy by nominal GDP and the third largest in purchasing power parity.

It is also the world's fourth largest exporter and sixth largest importer. It is also the only Asian country in the G-8.

GDP (PPP): $4.356 trillion
Population: 127,590,000

6. Italy

Italy has maintained its position at 6th place. Italy is developed country with the eighth-highest quality of life index rating in the world. It is the seventh-largest economy in the world and the fourth-largest in Europe.

GDP (PPP): $1.817 trillion
Population: 60,114,021

7. Canada

Canada took the biggest hit in the survey, falling to seventh from fourth place. Canada is one of the world's richest nations, with a high per capita income. It is one of the world's top ten trading nations.

GDP (PPP): $342.682 billion 
Population: 9,263,872 

8. Switzerland

Switzerland comes eighth in the list of most admired nations. Switzerland is one of the richest countries in the world. Zurich and Geneva have been ranked as having the second and third highest quality of life in the world.

GDP (PPP): $315.768 billion
Population: 7,739,100

9. Australia

Australia is the 9th most admired country in the world. Australia is a developed country with a good record on health care, life expectancy, quality of life, human development, public education, economic freedom.

GDP (PPP): $799.054 billion
Population: 22,008,225

10. Spain, Sweden

Spain, Sweden share the tenth position. Sweden was at the tenth place last year also. Sweden is the third largest country in the European Union in terms of area, and it has a total population of over 9.2 million.

Spain is the second largest country in Western Europe and the European Union after France.

Spain
GDP (PPP): $1.395 trillion
Population: 46,661,950

Sweden
GDP (PPP): $342.682 billion