Money
Visualizing the $94 Trillion World Economy in One Chart
View the expanded version of this infographic to see all countries.
The $94 Trillion World Economy in One Chart
View the expanded version of this infographic.
Just four countries—the U.S., China, Japan, and Germany—make up over half of the world’s economic output by gross domestic product (GDP) in nominal terms. In fact, the GDP of the U.S. alone is greater than the combined GDP of 170 countries.
How do the different economies of the world compare? In this visualization we look at GDP by country in 2021, using data and estimates from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
An Overview of GDP
GDP serves as a broad indicator for a country’s economic output. It measures the total market value of final goods and services produced in a country in a specific timeframe, such as a quarter or year. In addition, GDP also takes into consideration the output of services provided by the government, such as money spent on defense, healthcare, or education.
Generally speaking, when GDP is increasing in a country, it is a sign of greater economic activity that benefits workers and businesses (while the reverse is true for a decline).
The World Economy: Top 50 Countries
Who are the biggest contributors to the global economy? Here is the ranking of the 50 largest countries by GDP in 2021:
Rank | Country | GDP ($T) | % of Global GDP |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 🇺🇸 U.S. | $22.9 | 24.4% |
2 | 🇨🇳 China | $16.9 | 17.9% |
3 | 🇯🇵 Japan | $5.1 | 5.4% |
4 | 🇩🇪 Germany | $4.2 | 4.5% |
5 | 🇬🇧 UK | $3.1 | 3.3% |
6 | 🇮🇳 India | $2.9 | 3.1% |
7 | 🇫🇷 France | $2.9 | 3.1% |
8 | 🇮🇹 Italy | $2.1 | 2.3% |
9 | 🇨🇦 Canada | $2.0 | 2.1% |
10 | 🇰🇷 Korea | $1.8 | 1.9% |
11 | 🇷🇺 Russia | $1.6 | 1.7% |
12 | 🇧🇷 Brazil | $1.6 | 1.7% |
13 | 🇦🇺 Australia | $1.6 | 1.7% |
14 | 🇪🇸 Spain | $1.4 | 1.5% |
15 | 🇲🇽 Mexico | $1.3 | 1.4% |
16 | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | $1.2 | 1.2% |
17 | 🇮🇷 Iran | $1.1 | 1.1% |
18 | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | $1.0 | 1.1% |
19 | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | $0.8 | 0.9% |
20 | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | $0.8 | 0.9% |
21 | 🇹🇷 Turkey | $0.8 | 0.8% |
22 | 🇹🇼 Taiwan | $0.8 | 0.8% |
23 | 🇵🇱 Poland | $0.7 | 0.7% |
24 | 🇸🇪 Sweden | $0.6 | 0.7% |
25 | 🇧🇪 Belgium | $0.6 | 0.6% |
26 | 🇹🇭 Thailand | $0.5 | 0.6% |
27 | 🇮🇪 Ireland | $0.5 | 0.5% |
28 | 🇦🇹 Austria | $0.5 | 0.5% |
29 | 🇳🇬 Nigeria | $0.5 | 0.5% |
30 | 🇮🇱 Israel | $0.5 | 0.5% |
31 | 🇦🇷 Argentina | $0.5 | 0.5% |
32 | 🇳🇴 Norway | $0.4 | 0.5% |
33 | 🇿🇦 South Africa | $0.4 | 0.4% |
34 | 🇦🇪 UAE | $0.4 | 0.4% |
35 | 🇩🇰 Denmark | $0.4 | 0.4% |
36 | 🇪🇬 Egypt | $0.4 | 0.4% |
37 | 🇵🇭 Philippines | $0.4 | 0.4% |
38 | 🇸🇬 Singapore | $0.4 | 0.4% |
39 | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | $0.4 | 0.4% |
40 | 🇭🇰 Hong Kong SAR | $0.4 | 0.4% |
41 | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | $0.4 | 0.4% |
42 | 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | $0.4 | 0.4% |
43 | 🇨🇱 Chile | $0.3 | 0.4% |
44 | 🇨🇴 Colombia | $0.3 | 0.3% |
45 | 🇫🇮 Finland | $0.3 | 0.3% |
46 | 🇷🇴 Romania | $0.3 | 0.3% |
47 | 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | $0.3 | 0.3% |
48 | 🇵🇹 Portugal | $0.3 | 0.3% |
49 | 🇵🇰 Pakistan | $0.3* | 0.3% |
50 | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | $0.2 | 0.3% |
*2020 GDP (latest available) used where IMF estimates for 2021 were unavailable.
At $22.9 trillion, the U.S. GDP accounts for roughly 25% of the global economy, a share that has actually changed significantly over the last 60 years. The finance, insurance, and real estate ($4.7 trillion) industries add the most to the country’s economy, followed by professional and business services ($2.7 trillion) and government ($2.6 trillion).
China’s economy is second in nominal terms, hovering at near $17 trillion in GDP. It remains the largest manufacturer worldwide based on output with extensive production of steel, electronics, and robotics, among others.
The largest economy in Europe is Germany, which exports roughly 20% of the world’s motor vehicles. In 2019, overall trade equaled nearly 90% of the country’s GDP.
The World Economy: 50 Smallest Countries
On the other end of the spectrum are the world’s smallest economies by GDP, primarily developing and island nations.
With a GDP of $70 million, Tuvalu is the smallest economy in the world. Situated between Hawaii and Australia, the largest industry of this volcanic archipelago relies on territorial fishing rights.
In addition, the country earns significant revenue from its “.tv” web domain. Between 2011 and 2019, it earned $5 million annually from companies—including Amazon-owned Twitch to license the Twitch.tv domain name—equivalent to roughly 7% of the country’s GDP.
Countries | Region | GDP (B) |
---|---|---|
🇹🇻 Tuvalu | Oceania | $0.07 |
🇳🇷 Nauru | Oceania | $0.1 |
🇵🇼 Palau | Oceania | $0.2 |
🇰🇮 Kiribati | Oceania | $0.2 |
🇲🇭 Marshall Islands | Oceania | $0.2 |
🇫🇲 Micronesia | Oceania | $0.4 |
🇨🇰 Cook Islands | Oceania | $0.4* |
🇹🇴 Tonga | Oceania | $0.5 |
🇸🇹 São Tomé and Príncipe | Africa | $0.5 |
🇩🇲 Dominica | Caribbean | $0.6 |
🇻🇨 St. Vincent and the Grenadines | Caribbean | $0.8 |
🇼🇸 Samoa | Oceania | $0.8 |
🇰🇳 St. Kitts and Nevis | Caribbean | $1.0 |
🇻🇺 Vanuatu | Oceania | $1.0 |
🇬🇩 Grenada | Caribbean | $1.1 |
🇰🇲 Comoros | Africa | $1.3 |
🇸🇨 Seychelles | Africa | $1.3 |
🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda | Caribbean | $1.4 |
🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | Africa | $1.6 |
🇸🇧 Solomon Islands | Oceania | $1.7 |
🇹🇱 Timor-Leste | Asia | $1.7 |
🇱🇨 St. Lucia | Caribbean | $1.7 |
🇸🇲 San Marino | Europe | $1.7 |
🇨🇻 Cabo Verde | Africa | $1.9 |
🇧🇿 Belize | Central America | $1.9 |
🇬🇲 Gambia | Africa | $2.0 |
🇪🇷 Eritrea | Africa | $2.3 |
🇱🇸 Lesotho | Africa | $2.5 |
🇧🇹 Bhutan | Asia | $2.5 |
🇨🇫 Central African Republic | Africa | $2.6 |
🇸🇷 Suriname | South America | $2.8 |
🇦🇼 Aruba | Caribbean | $2.9 |
🇧🇮 Burundi | Africa | $3.2 |
🇦🇩 Andorra | Europe | $3.2 |
🇸🇸 South Sudan | Africa | $3.3 |
🇱🇷 Liberia | Africa | $3.4 |
🇩🇯 Djibouti | Africa | $3.7 |
🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | Africa | $4.4 |
🇸🇿 Eswatini | Africa | $4.5 |
🇲🇻 Maldives | Asia | $4.6 |
🇫🇯 Fiji | Oceania | $4.6 |
🇧🇧 Barbados | Caribbean | $4.7 |
🇸🇴 Somalia | Africa | $5.4 |
🇲🇪 Montenegro | Europe | $5.5 |
🇱🇮 Liechtenstein | Europe | $6.8* |
🇬🇾 Guyana | South America | $7.4 |
🇲🇨 Monaco | Europe | $7.4* |
🇹🇯 Tajikistan | Asia | $8.1 |
🇰🇬 Kyrgyz Republic | Asia | $8.2 |
🇹🇬 Togo | Africa | $8.5 |
*2019 GDP (latest available) used where IMF estimates for 2021 were unavailable.
Like Tuvalu, many of the world’s smallest economies are in Oceania, including Nauru, Palau, and Kiribati. Additionally, several countries above rely on the tourism industry for over one-third of their employment.
The Fastest Growing Economies in the World in 2021
With 123% projected GDP growth, Libya’s economy is estimated to have the sharpest rise.
Oil is propelling its growth, with 1.2 million barrels being pumped in the country daily. Along with this, exports and a depressed currency are among the primary factors behind its recovery.
Rank | Country | Region | 2021 Real GDP Growth (Annual % Change) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 🇱🇾 Libya | Africa | 123.2% |
2 | 🇬🇾 Guyana | South America | 20.4% |
3 | 🇲🇴 Macao | Asia | 20.4% |
4 | 🇲🇻 Maldives | Asia | 18.9% |
5 | 🇮🇪 Ireland | Europe | 13.0% |
6 | 🇦🇼 Aruba | Caribbean | 12.8% |
7 | 🇵🇦 Panama | Central America | 12.0% |
8 | 🇨🇱 Chile | South America | 11.0% |
9 | 🇵🇪 Peru | South America | 10.0% |
10 | 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic | Caribbean | 9.5% |
Ireland’s economy, with a projected 13% real GDP growth, is being supported by the largest multinational corporations in the world. Facebook, TikTok, Google, Apple, and Pfizer all have their European headquarters in the country, which has a 12.5% corporate tax rate—or about half the global average. But these rates are set to change soon, as Ireland joined the OECD 15% minimum corporate tax rate agreement which was finalized in October 2021.
Macao’s economy bounced back after COVID-19 restrictions began to lift, but more storm clouds are on the horizon for the Chinese district. The CCP’s anti-corruption campaign and recent arrests could signal a more strained relationship between Mainland China and the world’s largest gambling hub.
Looking Ahead at the World’s GDP
The global GDP figure of $94 trillion may seem massive to us today, but such a total might seem much more modest in the future.
In 1970, the world economy was only about $3 trillion in GDP—or 30 times smaller than it is today. Over the next thirty years, the global economy is expected to more or less double again. By 2050, global GDP could total close to $180 trillion.
Correction: In earlier versions of this graphic, countries such as Vietnam and Pakistan were inadvertently not included in the visualization. They have now been added. In cases where the IMF has no data for 2021 (specifically Pakistan, Syria, Afghanistan, and Lebanon), the latest available data is used.
Economy
The $16 Trillion European Union Economy
This chart shows the contributors to the EU economy through a percentage-wise distribution of country-level GDP.

The $16 Trillion European Union Economy
The European Union has the third-largest economy in the world, accounting for one-sixth of global trade. All together, 27 member countries make up one internal market allowing free movement of goods, services, capital and people.
But how did this sui generis (a class by itself) political entity come into being?
A Brief History of the EU
After the devastating aftermath of the World War II, Western Europe saw a concerted move towards regional peace and security by promoting democracy and protecting human rights.
Crucially, the Schuman Declaration was presented in 1950. The coal and steel industries of Western Europe were integrated under common management, preventing countries from turning on each other and creating weapons of war. Six countries signed on — the eventual founders of the EU.
Here’s a list of all 27 members of the EU and the year they joined.
Country | Year of entry |
---|---|
🇧🇪 Belgium | 1958 |
🇫🇷 France | 1958 |
🇩🇪 Germany | 1958 |
🇮🇹 Italy | 1958 |
🇱🇺 Luxembourg | 1958 |
🇳🇱 Netherlands | 1958 |
🇩🇰 Denmark | 1973 |
🇮🇪 Ireland | 1973 |
🇬🇷 Greece | 1981 |
🇵🇹 Portugal | 1986 |
🇪🇸 Spain | 1986 |
🇦🇹 Austria | 1995 |
🇫🇮 Finland | 1995 |
🇸🇪 Sweden | 1995 |
🇨🇾 Cyprus | 2004 |
🇨🇿 Czechia | 2004 |
🇪🇪 Estonia | 2004 |
🇭🇺 Hungary | 2004 |
🇱🇻 Latvia | 2004 |
🇱🇹 Lithuania | 2004 |
🇲🇹 Malta | 2004 |
🇵🇱 Poland | 2004 |
🇸🇰 Slovakia | 2004 |
🇸🇮 Slovenia | 2004 |
🇧🇬 Bulgaria | 2007 |
🇷🇴 Romania | 2007 |
🇭🇷 Croatia | 2013 |
Greater economic and security cooperation followed over the next four decades, along with the addition of new members. These tighter relationships disincentivized conflict, and Western Europe—after centuries of constant war—has seen unprecedented peace for the last 80 years.
The modern version of the EU can trace its origin to 1993, with the adoption of the name, ‘the European Union,’ the birth of a single market, and the promise to use a single currency—the euro.
Since then the EU has become an economic and political force to reckon with. Its combined gross domestic product (GDP) stood at $16.6 trillion in 2022, after the U.S. ($26 trillion) and China ($19 trillion.)
Front Loading the EU Economy
For the impressive numbers it shows however, the European Union’s economic might is held up by three economic giants, per data from the International Monetary Fund. Put together, the GDPs of Germany ($4 trillion), France ($2.7 trillion) and Italy ($1.9 trillion) make up more than half of the EU’s entire economic output.
These three countries are also the most populous in the EU, and together with Spain and Poland, account for 66% of the total population of the EU.
Here’s a table of all 27 member states and the percentage they contribute to the EU’s gross domestic product.
Rank | Country | GDP (Billion USD) | % of the EU Economy |
---|---|---|---|
1. | 🇩🇪 Germany | 4,031.1 | 24.26% |
2. | 🇫🇷 France | 2,778.1 | 16.72% |
3. | 🇮🇹 Italy | 1,997.0 | 12.02% |
4. | 🇪🇸 Spain | 1,390.0 | 8.37% |
5. | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 990.6 | 5.96% |
6. | 🇵🇱 Poland | 716.3 | 4.31% |
7. | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 603.9 | 3.64% |
8. | 🇧🇪 Belgium | 589.5 | 3.55% |
9. | 🇮🇪 Ireland | 519.8 | 3.13% |
10. | 🇦🇹 Austria | 468.0 | 2.82% |
11. | 🇩🇰 Denmark | 386.7 | 2.33% |
12. | 🇷🇴 Romania | 299.9 | 1.81% |
13. | 🇨🇿 Czechia | 295.6 | 1.78% |
14. | 🇫🇮 Finland | 281.4 | 1.69% |
15. | 🇵🇹 Portugal | 255.9 | 1.54% |
16. | 🇬🇷 Greece | 222.0 | 1.34% |
17. | 🇭🇺 Hungary | 184.7 | 1.11% |
18. | 🇸🇰 Slovakia | 112.4 | 0.68% |
19. | 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | 85.0 | 0.51% |
20. | 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | 82.2 | 0.49% |
21. | 🇭🇷 Croatia | 69.4 | 0.42% |
22. | 🇱🇹 Lithuania | 68.0 | 0.41% |
23. | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | 62.2 | 0.37% |
24. | 🇱🇻 Latvia | 40.6 | 0.24% |
25. | 🇪🇪 Estonia | 39.1 | 0.24% |
26. | 🇨🇾 Cyprus | 26.7 | 0.16% |
27. | 🇲🇹 Malta | 17.2 | 0.10% |
Total | 16,613.1 | 100% |
The top-heaviness continues. By adding Spain ($1.3 trillion) and the Netherlands ($990 billion), the top five make up nearly 70% of the EU’s GDP. That goes up to 85% when the top 10 countries are included.
That means less than half of the 27 member states make up $14 trillion of the $16 trillion EU economy.
Older Members, Larger Share
Aside from the most populous members having bigger economies, another pattern emerges, with the time the country has spent in the EU.
Five of the six founders of the EU—Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium—are in the top 10 biggest economies of the EU. Ireland and Denmark, the next entrants into the union (1973) are ranked 9th and 11th respectively. The bottom 10 countries all joined the EU post-2004.
The UK—which joined the bloc in 1973 and formally left in 2020—would have been the second-largest economy in the region at $3.4 trillion.
Sectoral Analysis of the EU
The EU has four primary sectors of economic output: services, industry, construction, and agriculture (including fishing and forestry.) Below is an analysis of some of these sectors and the countries which contribute the most to it. All figures are from Eurostat.
Services and Tourism
The EU economy relies heavily on the services sector, accounting for more than 70% of the value added to the economy in 2020. It also is the sector with the highest share of employment in the EU, at 73%.
In Luxembourg, which has a large financial services sector, 87% of the country’s gross domestic product came from the services sector.
Tourism economies like Malta and Cyprus also had an above 80% share of services in their GDP.
Industry
Meanwhile 20% of the EU’s gross domestic product came from industry, with Ireland’s economy having the most share (40%) in its GDP. Czechia, Slovenia and Poland also had a significant share of industry output.
Mining coal and lignite in the EU saw a brief rebound in output in 2021, though levels continued to be subdued.
Rank | Sector | % of the EU Economy |
---|---|---|
1. | Services | 72.4% |
2. | Industry | 20.1% |
3. | Construction | 5.6% |
4. | Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 1.8% |
Agriculture
Less than 2% of the EU’s economy relies on agriculture, forestry and fishing. Romania, Latvia, and Greece feature as contributors to this sector, however the share in total output in each country is less than 5%. Bulgaria has the highest employment (16%) in this sector compared to other EU members.
Energy
The EU imports nearly 60% of its energy requirements. Until the end of 2021, Russia was the biggest exporter of petroleum and natural gas to the region. After the war in Ukraine that share has steadily decreased from nearly 25% to 15% for petroleum liquids and from nearly 40% to 15% for natural gas, per Eurostat.
Headwinds, High Seas
The IMF has a gloomy outlook for Europe heading into 2023. War in Ukraine, spiraling energy costs, high inflation, and stagnant wage growth means that EU leaders are facing “severe trade-offs and tough policy decisions.”
Reforms—to relieve supply constraints in the labor and energy markets—are key to increasing growth and relieving price pressures, according to the international body. The IMF projects that the EU will grow 0.7% in 2023.
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