Stronger chess country

For about 50 years USSR was the best nation of the chess world. In some jokes they say they were the first, second and third best. Probably they were... And now? Russia, China, India, USA? I'm talking from a IM/GM strenght point of view aswell from the popularity/number of players the country have. Who deserves the gold medal?

ahah! not even a bit biased opinion ecaterina! 

it may be naveenjain. To be true, the ussr was so good with the help of some nowadays independent countries like ukraine, estonia, latvia, lithuania, armenia, azerbaijan. But Ukraine alone stronger than China nowadays?

I can be saying something stupid, but besides Magnus, Norway has someone else at top level, or a legion of average players of chess in the country? He probably is making this game more popular than ever in norway, but i think it is out of top 10. If we considered EU as one, it may be a challanger for the medals, but all european countries isolated, maybe france or germany, in top 10?

didn't knew that @NAVEENJAIN108 , but it makes sense, ukraine has been always strong at chess and their people really like the game

I tend to think the next great powers being China and India, with USA being there with foreign GM and Russia... well it's Russia, always strong. Ukraine must be in the lot, without question

Armenia too, maybe top 5.

yes, China has the population number advantage. Even not being widely popular, they are so many that great GM's pop up in number. But i agree, ukraine is far most chess lover than china

when i thought about this topic i thought too in the baltic states, but missed ukraine... probably in soviet influence sphere countries, like yugoslavia, hungary, romania or bulgaria chess is played more widespreadly than china, even india

I may have a distorced view of China, even now with the USA economic war, i thought they were richer and stronger than ever (at last centuries at least). Same with India. You don't think that?

this is complex times, that's for sure. The countries are far more dependent from other countries than ever. Can't imagine the colapse in EU or USA if southeast asia stop trade from one day to next, but the development motor in southeast asia is the EU and USA purchases. An hard balance...

Now that's efficient transport.   Shame on private jets.  Luckily the cows should make up for the remaining emission. 

Eheh, everybody knows that india have a very efficient transport system! The trains are even worst, i think. But my point is that they are at a economic peak compared to their own past, i'm not saying that they are at the same level as USA or EU. In fact their growth is possible because they are so poor and it was profitable to move the american and european factories to there.

so, @Savage47 what are your top 4? USA, Russia. Ukraine, Armenia, France, Germany? And by the way, there is any country in latin america and africa that may be, let's say (top 10)?

Argentina had it's time, also Cuba, not now i think. (Perez Dominguez is american now). Some decent players also from Peru.

Ukraine also is a strong chess nation but the last years they are not on top. Ivanchuk is still nr1 from Ukraine.

You forgot to mention Azerbaijan. They have Radjabov and Mamedyarov. Plus other players, so i would put on top even before Ukraine or Armenia. Historically do not forget Kasparov and other players that are considered Russian because they were from the Soviet Union.

France was quite strong but they had this cheating issue. and now it is Vachier-Lagrave.

I think still in Europe Poland is better than Germany. Bartel Mateusz, Wojtaszek and Duda.

If i am not mistaken the country with more GMs per capita is Iceland. i heard some story like this. But that does not make them a top chess country because i don't even know one GM from there. I guess it is the result of having a small number of habitants, good economy, education, and cold weather that makes them spend too much time at home ahahah

top 4 is easy.. not in order: Russia USA India China. i think there is no need for discussion, just watch results and statistics. If you want to add more then it deppends which years you consider, etc.

Liechtenstein!