Russia is a gas station masquerading as a country. It is Mexico with nukes. Nuclear weapons is not the sole metric of what constitutes a superpower.
Russia's GDP per capita is $27,900, which makes it 72nd in the world, just ahead of Greece. The US is $59,500, which makes it 19th.
In terms of GDP (purchasing power parity)or value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. A nation's GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) exchange rates is the sum value of all goods and services produced in the country valued at prices prevailing in the United States in the year noted. This is the measure most economists prefer when looking at per-capita welfare and when comparing living conditions or use of resources across countries, Russia is 7th with $4 trillion compared to $19.3 trillion for the US. China has $23.1 trillion.
Russia has a population of 142 million compared to US with 330 million. Russia's population growth rate is a negative .08% making it 207th in the world. Its infant mortality rate is 163rd in the world. The fertility rate is 1.61 (replacement level is 2.1) making it 179th in the world.
The life expectancy at birth is 71 years (154th in the world) and for males it is 65.3 years.
Russia is in decline in so many ways. I have visited Russia about a dozen times, albeit before 2000. In the State Department we used to describe Russia either as the most developed underdeveloped country in the world or the least developed developed country in the world.
Calling Russia a superpower is laughable.
“Calling Russia a superpower is laughable.”
It was laughable to compare the economy and the military of Russia to that of Nazi Germany but we all know how that turned out. Push comes to shove the Russians can and will spend enough of their blood to win regardless of the cost. Russia, armed with over 7k nuclear weapons, a highly educated and savage populace, and being led by some of the most remorseless and violent leaders is not to be dismissed lightly.
If Hitler and Napoleon were alive the would tell you to your face that you are delusional.