Politics, by its very nature, is a complex and ever changing game. With the evolution of global politics in recent years, it is now more important than ever to keep tabs on the strength of various political parties around the world.
This blog post will look at the current rankings for the largest political parties in 2024, spanning across different countries and systems of governance to draw an interesting comparison between them. We’ll explore things like membership size and regional influence to uncover which forces dominate today’s landscape on a global scale. Let’s dive into what exactly makes these parties great international players.
Top 10 Largest Political Party in the World 2024
Choosing the right political party is essential in determining which policies will be enacted and what kind of world we will live in.
Thus, understanding the largest political parties in the world is a great way to gain some insight into the pulse of global politics. In 2024, some of the most prominent political parties worldwide include India’s Bharatiya Janata Party, China’s Communist Party, United States’ Democratic Party, Russian Federation’s United Russia and Brazil’s Socialist Party.
These five parties control millions of votes and wield a massive amount of power both domestically and abroad. This list serves as an interesting snapshot into what is politically possible in 2024 and paints a vivid picture of our current geopolitical atmosphere.
1.Bharatiya Janata Party
2024 may be the defining year for the world’s largest political party. As of now, India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in a strong position to hold that title by then. Already the biggest single political force in India with about ten crore members, the BJP looks set to continue its juggernaut into the future. It has won a comfortable majority in two elections during Narendra Modi’s tenure as Prime Minister, and with his immense popularity still going strong, it seems likely they will make gains over the coming years as well.
The BJP’s success could also have major implications for international politics if it continues in this trend. Indian foreign policy is clearly taking an expansionist bent and could begin to challenge Western powers if their power expands further. In any case, 2024 may herald a new dawn for both India and politics on an international level.
The BJP has grown dramatically since India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014, sweeping up elections quickly and decisively by appealing to grassroots support from both urban and rural areas. Coupled with a burgeoning economy and stunning improvements to infrastructure, Modi’s popularity has given the ruling party an indisputable advantage in at least 18 out of 29 Indian states. As a result, it seems only logical that by the end of 2024, when India goes back to the polls yet again, the Bharatiya Janata Party will have emerged as the largest political party on earth.
2.Communist Party of China
By 2024, the Communist Party of China is expected to be the world’s largest political party with roughly 89 million members. Founded in 1921 by Chen Duxiu, Li Dazhao and a number of other revolutionaries, this ideological party believes in socialism and communism.
Over the years, it has been largely responsible for transforming China into one of the leading economic powers in the world. The headquarters at Zhongnanhai, Xicheng District in Beijing is where all major decisions take place and People’s Daily serves as its mouthpiece for news dissemination to its large pool of members.
Its Youth League provides youth-oriented activities while its armed wing ensures that its principles are protected from any external threats. Together, these three core departments make the Communist Party of China a formidable force both within China and outside its borders.
3.Democratic Party
The Democratic Party of the United States, founded in 1828 by Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren, is the largest political party in the world. Representing liberal and progressive ideas, this powerful organization has a membership of over 47 million and is renowned for its social and economic policies that have continued to shape the US.
While its modern headquarters are established in Maryland, it boasts various student and youth wings such as High School Democrats of America, College Democrats of America and Young Democrats of America, who form an integral part of party activities. It’s clear that the Democratic Party will continue to be a major political player with far-reaching impact on American politics.
4.Indian National Congress
Founded in 1885 by Allan Octavian Hume, the Indian National Congress is one of the oldest political parties in India. It stands as the symbol of India’s struggle for independence and acts on liberal and secular ideologies. With over 2 crore members, it is today the largest political party in the world. Headquartered at New Delhi, INRC has several wings such as the National Students’ Union of India, Indian Youth Congress, All India Mahila Congress, Indian National Trade Union Congress and Kisan and Khet Mazdoor Congress to extend its reach and identity across stakeholders.
5.Republican Party
The Republican Party is the oldest and largest political party in the world, which traces its inception to a historic meeting of prominent leaders in Ripon, Wisconsin in 1854. Among those credited with the founding of the party are some illustrious names such as U.S President Abraham Lincoln and former businessman Horace Greeley.
Over time, it has undergone several mergers and power shifts and has evolved significantly since its earliest days. Today, it boasts over 36 million members scattered not only throughout the United States but also reaching overseas into countries where Republicans Overseas operates as an affiliate barter. It organizes auxiliary divisions like National Federation of Republican Women, College Republicans, Young Republicans, Teen Age Republicans and Log Cabin Republicans targeted specifically towards youth, women and LGBTQ population respectively to bring about inclusive representation within its ranks.
6.Justice and Development Party
The Justice and Development Party (AKP) is the largest political party in the world, founded by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on August 14th 2001. With 11,241,230 members in 2024, the AKP is continuing to grow at a rapid rate. Since its formation twenty-one years ago, it has become one of the most dominant political parties of Turkey. Its headquarters are based in Ankara at Söğütözü Caddesi No 6 with its youth wing being AK Youth. With a strength that continuously grows as well as influential leaders taking charge of different roles within the party, it looks certain that the AKP will remain a major force in Turkish politics for many years to come.
7.Prosperity Party
The Prosperity Party is a formation of different political parties in Ethiopia, created and founded by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on December 1st, 2019. He subsequently appointed Demeke Mekonnen as its Vice-President. The party was created through the merger of 11 other smaller Ethiopian parties and succeeded EPRDF in size, membership, and influence. It is currently the largest political party in the world with a total estimated membership of 11 million people to date.
This grand coalition seeks to unify across ethnic divides and bridge collective differences among all those who inhabit the nation’s historically diverse regions. The party’s official newspaper, New Vision, serves as an important source of communication between the various members as they strive to develop a unified vision for Ethiopia’s future prosperity.
8.Aam Aadmi Party
Established in 2012, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is one of the world’s largest political parties with a current membership of 10.05 million members. It currently operates from its headquarters located in the ITO area of New Delhi and has various wings dedicated to specific purposes such as youth welfare and women’s empowerment.
For example, its student wing, Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS), engages in activities that benefit students while AAP Mahila Shakti (AMS) works towards empowering women across India. The AAP also works closely with workers and labourers via their Shramik Vikas Sangathan (SVS) arm which aims at providing support for those working hard at their respective occupations. Aam Aadmi Party is an undoubtedly successful political party that has managed to create a vast impact on millions of Indians due to its progressive agenda.
9.Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
Since its establishment 1996, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has grown to become the world’s largest political party. Serving as its Chairman is Imran Khan, founder and leader of the party. He is joined by Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as President, Asad Umar as Secretary-General, and Shah Mehmood Qureshi as Vice Chairman. For representation in the senate they have Shahzad Waseem while who will serve as Leader in The National Assembly is yet to be announced. Student interests are ensured by Insaf Student Federation(ISF), with Insaf Women Wing representing female members and Insaf Youth Wingfor those aged 18–35 years old.
PTI even has a research wing to facilitate internal projects, further advancing their policy objectives which now enjoy the support of over 10 million people around the globe.
10.Chama Cha Mapinduzi
Chama Cha Mapinduzi, or CCM, is the largest political party in the world, with an historic 25.8 million members in 2020. The recognition of CCM’s size and strength is rooted in its founding by Julius Nyerere and Aboud Jumbe on February 5, 1977.
A merger between TANU and ASP, CCM was and continues to be a progressive force for social change in Tanzania. CCM not only runs for legislative and governmental offices but also engages citizens through their newspaper Uhuru and through UONGOZI institute, a think tank promoting research and advocacy initiatives.
Moreover, there is a powerful youth wing Umoja wa Vijana wa CCM (UVCCM) that specifically works on mobilising young people towards sustainable development plans, while space is also given to particular sectors such as women’s rights (UWT) or farmer welfare (Wakulima). CCM’s considerable success classifies it as one of the most successful political entities worldwide with its commitment to social activism!
Conclusion:
To conclude, it is interesting to note that the political landscape changes from year to year, and therefore the rankings of the world’s largest political parties can be subject to fluctuations. This can make for an ever-dynamic field for those interested in studying or discussing politics on a global scale. It is evident that many of the top political parties possess significant ideological tendencies, although individual countries may have dramatically different internal politics.
Thus, these worldwide rankings provide insight not only into core policies, but also cultural undertones and regional feelings towards certain issues. So much can be gleaned simply from a ranking of the largest political parties on earth, making this data essential for anyone looking to better understand how government works around the globe.