The World’s Largest Economy
This article will highlight the largest economies in the world according to GDP. The countries featured include Germany, China, Nigeria, and the United States. You can select the year you wish to view and the number of countries you’d like to view. This will help you understand the relative importance of each country’s economy.
China
China is the world’s largest economy, and it is also one of the fastest growing. In fact, China’s economy has grown by almost 10% annually for the past 30 years. However, when the global economy started to face problems in 2008, China’s growth rate dropped precipitously. China’s leaders, however, took steps to combat this problem by increasing investment and persuading banks to lend more money. The Chinese government’s efforts paid off. Today, Chinese investment is up to 50% of its GDP, a level that it has never achieved before.
However, China is facing structural headwinds that have the potential to undermine its economic growth. Adverse demographics, tepid productivity growth, and excessive borrowing have led to imbalances that will require structural reforms. In particular, the government is looking to reduce inequality of economic opportunities. A more progressive taxation system and a strengthened social protection system are two measures that can help reduce inequality and boost private consumption.
Several politicians have speculated that China will pass the US economy in the next decade. But, it is important to understand that China is already one of the world’s largest economies. Currently, China is more than 20% larger than the US economy, and growing at a rapid pace. It is projected to be more than a third bigger than the US economy by the end of the decade.
United States
The United States is one of the world’s leading economic powers. According to the Pew Research Center, the U.S. produced 25% of the world’s GDP in 2018. Despite the fact that the US has only 4% of the world’s population, four of its states produced more than $1 trillion in output last year. If those four states were separate countries, they would have ranked among the world’s top 17 economies.
While the United States is one of the largest economies in the world, it has some issues to face domestically. These problems include racial tensions, income inequality, and a polarized electorate. The United States also leads the world in death rates caused by firearms. The United States also plays a leading role in international organizations, such as NATO and the World Bank.
Many key trading partners and allies see the U.S. as one of the world’s leading economies, but perceptions of the country have been shifting. For example, a quarter of Germans cite the EU as the world’s leading economic power. However, a recent survey indicates that perceptions of the U.S. as a leading economic power have been changing over the past several years. Despite the rise of BRIC economies, the U.S. economy will remain the world’s largest economy until 2024, while BRIC countries will be over 10% larger by that year.
America is a culturally diverse country. It has been shaped by many waves of immigration from Europe and beyond. Consequently, the country’s literature and culture reflect its rich heritage. Jazz, for example, was born in the U.S., and African American Louis Armstrong remains one of the country’s best-known performers. Moreover, Jewish writers Philip Roth and Saul Bellow are world-renowned literary figures. Furthermore, the United States is home to some of the world’s best universities, which have an international audience.
Germany
Germany is one of the world’s largest industrialized countries. In 2017, the country’s gross domestic product was worth $26 trillion, with industry accounting for nearly two-thirds of that figure. The country’s largest industries include vehicle construction, electrical equipment, and chemicals. In addition to its industrial output, Germany is one of the world’s top exporters. In 2017, Germany shipped 1.278 trillion euros abroad. Its automotive sector is a leading exporter, with nearly 90% of all global sales.
Germany is a key economic player within the European Union. Its central bank is located in Frankfurt, and its monetary policy is determined by European agreements. The German government is a champion of a sustainable global economic system. The European Union has a strong influence on German business, and it has adopted the common European currency, the euro, since 1 January 1999.
Germany has a population of 83.2 million. It is the largest consumer market in the European Union, with an incredible amount of trade taking place every year. In fact, despite the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the German economy actually recorded its highest trade surplus ever last year – $310 billion. Its central location makes it an important global trading country.
The German economy is heavily reliant on exports of industrial products. Its major industries include car manufacture and machinery, household equipment, and chemicals. While the country’s exports of capital goods are essential to its economy, it is also at the cusp of a fourth industrial revolution thanks to the Internet and digital age. The German economy is also home to the European Central Bank, which is tasked with protecting the euro from financial instability.
Nigeria
Oil is one of the most important sectors of Nigeria’s economy, contributing about 36% of GDP and generating 75% of government revenues. Petroleum and other mineral deposits contribute most of the country’s foreign exchange earnings. The country has estimated oil reserves of 22.5 billion barrels, making it the sixth largest producer in OPEC.
Nigeria’s economy is in need of reform, especially with regards to tax collection and bureaucracy. President Goodluck Jonathan has made little progress with reforms and has sacked the central bank governor over uncollected oil revenue. The country’s tax collection is inefficient, and barriers to doing business are high. Other problems include murky land rights and delays at ports.
While oil is a major source of income for the country, Nigeria also has a wide variety of natural resources. A significant part of the country’s economy is agriculture. The country has a vast variety of plant and animal life, including banana, rubber, and oil palms. Palm oil is used extensively in personal care products.
Nigeria has a complicated history and struggles with poverty and terrorism, but its economy has shown solid progress since the late 2000s. The country’s GDP grew 8.6 percent annually under civilian rule, compared to just 1.5 percent under military rule (1983-99). While oil and gas are still a large part of the Nigerian economy, the country’s other industries are growing much faster.
Egypt
The rapid growth of Egypt’s economy can be attributed to the huge amount of investment made in the country’s infrastructure, which has increased from a mere 10 billion USD in 2013 to 200 billion USD in 2019. However, this growth has created two major problems. The first is the high level of debt, which has jumped from 80 percent of GDP in 2013 to 88 percent in 2020. In addition, the country is facing high interest rates.
The country is classified as a developing country by many international organizations. However, the term “developing” is not firmly defined and no clear consensus exists on which nations are in this category. This term is accompanied by negative connotations that imply a country’s inferiority and that the only way to progress is to follow the Western model.
The Egyptian economy has become increasingly indebted to foreign countries. Egypt’s debt to foreigners has ballooned to $370 billion, with the total national debt extending to almost one-third of its GDP. This debt is making the Egyptian economy increasingly dependent on foreign credit, with repayments of both the national and foreign debt consuming one-third of the country’s budget.
Egypt is a strategic partner of the United States and has many shared interests. Egypt’s population is over 103 million and its GDP is $402.8 billion. The country’s geographic location makes it an ideal platform for Middle East and African trade.
South Africa
South Africa has a diverse economy with many sectors. While it is known for its diamonds and gold, the country is also rich in iron ore, manganese, copper, uranium, silver, beryllium, and titanium. It also has a large black middle class, which is increasing its purchasing power. With an extensive infrastructure and a relatively new democracy, South Africa is an attractive destination for foreign companies.
The South African economy is the second largest in Africa, after Nigeria. It has seen rapid growth over the past decade and is classified as an upper middle-income country by the World Bank. More than 400 South African companies earn more than $1bn annually. This includes half of the continent’s top companies. Despite the rapid growth, a large segment of the population lives in poverty. Still, South Africa’s economy is a fascinating one.
The country’s economy has enjoyed relative macroeconomic stability, though it faces strong headwinds due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In 2018, the economy expanded by 0.8 percent, adding about $30 billion to its GDP. By 2020, the economy is expected to contract by seven percent and reach $302 billion. Despite this, the country’s economy is experiencing relatively low inflation and record-low interest rates.
The country’s manufacturing sector has recovered from its 2009 recession with a 5.5% growth, with the automotive, basic chemicals, iron and steel, and food and beverage industries being the mainstay. The country also has an emerging space industry, which is expected to generate many jobs. In addition, the domestic telecommunications network has modern and efficient service to urban and rural areas. It offers cellular services as well as internet services ranging from 5G to Gigaband.