National power PCA and entropy measures: A 69-country study

National power stems from a combination of capabilities, not a single dominant resource. Analyzing data from 69 countries across nine dimensions, we map this structure without relying on an aggregate index. Principal component analysis shows that the main variation in the data does not follow a single axis: the first component is driven mainly by the political dimension, while the second reflects a broader contrast involving transboundary, economic, territorial, military, and spatial factors. Using entropy measures, we identify distinct national profiles, from more concentrated to more diversified power portfolios. Finally, a country–dimension bipartite network and its projections onto the dimension layer show how these capabilities co-occur across countries. • Nine dimensions of national capability form clear structural patterns. • PCA shows that variation is not organized along a single dimension. • Entropy distinguishes concentrated and more balanced profiles. • Bipartite projections show how dimensions co-occur across countries. • The approach studies national power without a single summary index.