The United States have moved to the top of the World Baseball Softball Confederation's women's softball rankings ©Facebook

The United States have moved to the top of the World Baseball Softball Confederation's (WBSC) women's softball rankings for the first time since they were introduced in 2015.

It means the Americans, who have knocked Japan off the top spot, will end 2017 at the summit of the standings.

American sides are the reigning world champions in the senior women's and under-19s categories with all age-group events counting to the rankings which are presented by oil giant ENEOS.

The US now have 4,054 ranking points which is 255 more than Japan, the runners-up at both the women's and under-19's World Championships.

Canada sit in third place on 3,253 points with four of the five Olympic continents - the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania - all represented in the top ten.

Four Olympic continents are represented in the top 10 ©WBSC
Four Olympic continents are represented in the top 10 ©WBSC

Of the 62 nations currently ranked, only six remained in the same position from 2016.

In addition, 24 nations from three continents earned ranking points for the first-time ever: Aruba, The Bahamas, Belgium, British Virgin Islands, Bulgaria, Croatia, Curacao, Denmark, El Salvador, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iran, Lithuania, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey and Ukraine.

Ireland was the biggest gainer as they climbed 11 spots into 20th place. 

The biggest event of next year is the Women's World Championships in Chiba in Japan.