simple
higher literacy rates than the rest of europe
highest agricultural productivity in europe
high levels of urbanization
tariffs
solid focus on manufacturing
island nation
large navy
political stability post glorious revolution
ease of access to coal and iron
well developed transportation system eg toll roads
high levels of gdp per capita
most advanced railroad system in europe
solid banking industry
colonies
initially sought south afruca, suez, etc for access to trade routes. Then due to paranoia and wanting to protect said provinces begin to use divide, conquer. Took Egyt for said reason by extension Sudan. South Africa to Boers.
At the same time out looking for resource to fuel british industries. Said resources found in India, Egypt, and Sub Saharan Africa.
These were pretty much the reasons why Britain became so powerful by Victoria's era.
edit: Problems for spain and portugal
low literacy, low agriculutral productivity, lack of manufacting industires, lack of finantial centers, lack of railrods, lack of access to cheap coal, and instability, low levels of urbanization.
Ditto for Italy overall.
Russia same reasons as above compounded by serfdom.
same reasons eastern europe
Northern europe sans britain: Demographics
Netherlands: Industries destroyed by France and HRE
Belgium: Too small
France: Lack of experienced navy post revolution. reasons as above though slightly better off than other european nations, lower Agricultural productivity, same reasons as above though slightly better off.
Germany late to the game, lack of navy had too focus on land and sea.
HRE/Austria Hungary: Same issues as Spain though slightly better off.
These are the reasons why Britain became so big and the rest of europe sans Germany and Belgium post 1870s fell behind
edit 2: Here is an appendix with all the stats you need to draw these conclusion:
http://www.ggdc.net/maddison/other_books/appendix_B.pdf
by Maddison