Pardee’s National Power Indices measure the potential for a state to realize desired outcomes in the international system. Rather than relying on a single measure such as GDP, the indices combine multiple dimensions of capability and interaction to compare national power across countries and over time.

The index family includes the Global Power Index, the Hillebrand-Herman-Moyer Index, the Hillebrand-Herman Index, and the Diplomacy, Military, Economy capabilities index.

Many quantitative studies use either the Composite Index of National Capability from the Correlates of War project or economic size, such as GDP at market exchange rates, GDP at purchasing power parity, or GNP at market exchange rates, as proxies for national power.

Pardee’s National Power Indices extend that approach by incorporating additional dimensions of power, including nuclear weapons, technology, diplomatic networks, and alliance networks. These additions help users compare national capabilities in ways that are not captured by GDP or traditional material-capability measures alone.

The Global Power Index, Hillebrand-Herman-Moyer Index, Hillebrand-Herman Index, and DiME capabilities index are integrated into the International Futures modeling platform. This allows users to compare historical patterns and build scenarios that examine how the distribution of power could change across 188 countries through 2150.

IFs does not predict the future. It helps users explore plausible futures under different assumptions, using transparent, integrated modeling.

Measures of national power shape how researchers and analysts study competition, cooperation, alliance behavior, power transitions, and the relative position of countries in the international system. A multidimensional index helps users compare power beyond economic size alone and examine how military, diplomatic, economic, technological, and networked capabilities interact over time.

Use the National Power Indices to compare state power across countries and time. The codebook provides index definitions, source notes, and guidance for interpretation.