There are only few politicians in the world that are influential. These politicians wield powerful weapons. Their decisions have a huge impact on global economy and on the lives billions worldwide. Curious to know who they are?

Here are the top 10 most powerful politicians in the world as of 2015, according to Forbes list.

10) Shinzo Abe

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was reelected in December 2012. His “Abenomics” have pumped billions of dollars into the nation’s economy. He continues to support the country’s alliance with the USA. In May 2014 he conveyed his intention of playing a major role in maintaining regional security. He has been described Abe as “far more right wing than most of his predecessors.”

9) Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan

Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan is the President of the UAE. He controls 97.8 billion barrels of proved oil reserves. He is one of the world’s richest monarchs. His sovereign wealth fund reported assets of $773 billion. Currently the nation has gone to the mat in the war against ISIS.

8) Dilma Rousseff

Dilma Rousseff was sworn-in to the Office of the President of Brazil on January 1 2011. She is the first woman to hold the office. On September 21 she became the first woman to open a session of the UN General Assembly. Currently she is embroiled in a bribery scandal.

7) Benjamin Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu has been serving Israel as its prime minister since March 31 2009. This year he led the biggest military engagement of his three terms in office during a 50-day war against Hamas in Gaza. This resulted in 2,000 deaths.

6) Narendra Modi

Modi was sworn in as the fifteenth Prime Minister of India on 26 May 2014. Since then he has worked relentlessly on modernizing the nation’s infrastructure and increasing FDI. This tech savvy politician has speeded up the efficiency of India’s economy.

5) David Cameron

United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron won the reelection in May. He has been serving his nation as its prime minister since 11 May 2010. In 2011 he became the first British Prime Minister to veto an EU treaty. His government met the UN target of spending at least 0.7 percent of GNI on aid to developing nations.

4) Xi Jinping

Xi Jinping is the most powerful man in China. He holds all the three offices required to be the undisputed leader in China. He is rightly called the most powerful Chinese ruler since Mao Zedong. He has an assertive public profile. He is in favor of economic and security alliances.

3) Barack Obama

The first African American to hold the Office of the President of the United States of America. His term comes to an end in 2016. Obama’s influence is shrinking; he is currently struggling to get things done. At home his approval rating is less than 50 percent. Abroad leaders like Putin and Merkel are outshining him.

2) Angela Merkel

Politician and former research scientist Angela Merkel is the first woman to hold the Office of the Chancellor of Germany. In May 1915, she was named the most powerful woman in the world for a record ninth time by Forbes. Currently she is facing many challenges like Europe’s refugees crisis.

1) Vladimir Putin

During Putin’s premiership and presidency, real income has increased in Russia. Since the time he was sworn in as the President of Russia in 2000, he has grown from strength to strength. Today he asserts his authority inside Russia and in the international stage.