Countries with the largest economies in the world. Countries with the largest economies in the world The most developed countries in Europe ranking

How to identify countries with strong economies among the huge number of countries in the world? To identify highly developed states, let's pay attention to ratings - the results of comparative studies done by international experts and organizations to rank countries according to various indicators. Every year, studies are published demonstrating which countries have risen to the TOP and which have fallen down. Let's look at the main indicators that determine which countries became the most influential in 2019. economic field, have the most high level life, prosperity and freedom.

Level of economic development

By level economic development assess the efficiency and maturity of the country's economy. It is not for nothing that only countries with a high level of economic development are included in the developed group, while the rest are called developing. This level is determined by various ratings.

Rating of countries by GDP

The key indicator is the level of internal gross product(GDP). This is the name given to the total value of goods, services and other results of the activities of enterprises, firms, companies, institutions, organizations, and individuals. This is the result of the work of all residents of the country in question during the year. It is calculated in two ways. The first is when all income received during the year is added up: interest, profit, salary, and so on. The second is when expenses are summed up (government purchases, investments, consumption, exports minus imports). The official source of such information is the World Bank database. Statistics are updated every year and published in the fall. The indicator is also recorded by the International Monetary Fund and the UN.

The backbone of the world's GDP is produced by only a few countries, mostly large in territory and population.

If all goods and services produced in monetary terms (GDP) are an absolute value, then by comparing the gross domestic product with the population size, we obtain a relative indicator indicating the well-being of citizens.

According to the World Bank and the IMF, the United States of America has the best GDP indicators. Based on countries, the first places in this indicator are occupied by:

A country2016 2017
1 USA18624 19391
2 China11222 12015
3 Japan4949 4872
4 Germany3479 3685
5 Great Britain2661 2625
6 India2274 2611
7 France2466 2584
8 Brazil1793 2055
9 Italy1860 1938
10 Canada1536 1652
11 Russia1285 1578
12 The Republic of Korea1411 1538
13 Australia1265 1380
14 Spain1238 1314
15 Mexico1077 1149
16 Indonesia864 932
17 Türkiye859 857
18 Netherlands751 771
19 Switzerland671 660
20 Saudi Arabia652 640

The presented table with indicators is an actual value, which does not take into account the difference in prices for similar goods and services. As a consequence of this omission, the GDP of developed countries is often overstated, while developing countries have lower figures.

Since parity purchasing power is a more important value because it gives an idea of ​​the quality of life in countries around the world, another rating based on PPP is more credible.

According to the International Bank, the GDP level at PPP for the countries of the world is:

A country2017 2018 2018
1 China23190 25270 18,69
2 USA19485 20494 15,16
3 India9597 10505 7,77
4 Japan5427 5594 4,14
5 Germany4199 4356 3,22
6 Russia4027 4213 3,12
7 Indonesia3250 3495 2,59
8 Brazil3255 3365 2,49
9 Great Britain2930 3038 2,25
10 France2854 2963 2,19
11 Mexico2464 2570 1,90
12 Italy2324 2397 1,77
13 Türkiye2186 2293 1,70
14 The Republic of Korea2035 2136 1,58
15 Spain1778 1864 1,38
16 Saudi Arabia1777 1858 1,37
17 Canada1764 1837 1,36
18 Iran1640 1611 1,19
19 Thailand1240 1320 0,98
20 Australia1254 1318 0,98

The International Bank evaluates all the economies of the world with the exception of Syria (due to active hostilities), Somalia (since the state has actually broken up into several separate parts) and Venezuela ( domestic politics extremely closed, it is impossible to reliably estimate the level of GDP based on PPP).

Economic freedom

The most important indicator of a country’s development is the level (or index) economic freedom. It has been determined by the American think tank The Heritage Foundation since 1995 and published annually on its website and in the Wall Street Journal.

Experts from the Heritage Foundation center, based on the theories of Adam Smith, define economic freedom as the level of non-interference by the state in the process of production, distribution and consumption, except in situations where it is necessary to protect citizens.

The index is calculated based on the arithmetic average of ten freedom criteria - property, absence of corruption, government share in regulating the economy, freedom of trade, investment, labor, entrepreneurship, monetary, fiscal, financial. For each of them, a rating scale is developed from 0 to 100 points, which are ultimately summed up. The higher the score, the higher the level of economic freedom.

Available
1. Hong Kong90,2
2. Singapore89,4
3. New Zealand 84,4
4. Switzerland81,9
5. Australia80,9
6 Ireland80,5
Mostly free
7. Great Britain78,9
8. Canada77,7
9. UAE77,6
10. Republic of China77,3
11. Iceland77,1
12. USA76,8
13. Netherlands76,8
14. Denmark76,7
15. Estonia76,6
16. Georgia75,9
17. Luxembourg75,9
18. Chile75,4
19. Sweden75,2
20. Finland74,9
21. Lithuania74,2
22. Malaysia74,0
23. Czech73,7
24. Germany73,5
25. Mauritius73,0
26. Norway73,0
27. Israel72,8
28. Qatar72,6
29. The Republic of Korea72,3
30. Japan72,1
31. Austria72,0
32. Rwanda71,1
33. North Macedonia71,1
34. Macau71,0
35. Latvia70,4

Thus, countries with a free economy (from 80 points and above) in 2019 are considered to be Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland and Switzerland.

As for the countries former USSR, then in most cases the level of economic freedom in them is weak. Most states are characterized by active influence of the state on all spheres of life, which often creates some inconveniences and hinders the free development of the economy.

As an example, we present data from 2 studies conducted in 2016 and 2019 for comparison:

2016
Countries with predominantly

free economy

9. Estonia77,2
14. Lithuania75,2
23. Georgia72,6
36. Latvia70,4
Countries with moderate

free economy

54. Armenia67
68. Kazakhstan63,3
91. Azerbaijan60,2
Countries with predominantly

unfree economy

96. Kyrgyzstan59,6
117. Moldova57,4
149. Tajikistan51,3
153. Russia50,6
Countries with unfree economies
157. Belarus48,8
162. Ukraine46,8
166. Uzbekistan46,0
2019
Countries with predominantly

free economy

15. Estonia76,6
16. Georgia75,9
21. Lithuania74,2
35. Latvia70,4
Countries with moderate

free economy

47. Armenia67,7
59. Kazakhstan65,4
60. Azerbaijan65,4
79. Kyrgyzstan62,3
Countries with predominantly

unfree economy

97. Moldova59,1
98. Russia58,9
104. Belarus57,9
122. Tajikistan55,6
140. Uzbekistan53,3
147. Ukraine52,3

Prosperity Rating

The economic achievements of countries around the world are also measured by their level of prosperity. This indicator is offered by the English analytical center Legatum Institute. He has been calculating it since 2006. This index is determined by the level of social well-being of countries in the areas of economic development, entrepreneurship, governance, health, safety, education, personal freedoms and social capital. Each of the eight criteria is calculated on the basis of statistical studies by the UN, the World Bank, sociological data from the Gallup Institute and other authoritative centers. Based on the results of comparative studies, a ranking of states is published annually. In 2019, such results were published for 142 countries.

RATINGA COUNTRYINDEX
1 Norway80.98
2 New Zealand80.90
3 Finland80.58
4 Switzerland79.71
5 Denmark79.33
6 Sweden79.15
7 UK79.12
8 Canada79.02
9 Netherlands78.99
10 Ireland78.95
11 Iceland78.47
12 Luxembourg78.15
13 Australia78.10
14 Germany77.72
15 Austria76.64
16 Belgium76.00
17 United States of America76.00
18 Slovenia74.65
19 Malta74.10
20 France74.06
21 Singapore73.73
22 Hong Kong72.93
23 Japan72.79
24 Portugal72.61
25 Spain72.49
26 Estonia72.44
27 Czech72.08
28 Cyprus70.53
29 Mauritius69.76
30 Uruguay69.72
31 Costa Rica69.33
32 Slovakia68.84
33 Poland68.33
34 Italy68.27
35 South Korea67.82
36 Lithuania67.72
37 Israel67.66
38 Chile67.59
39 United Arab Emirates67.01
40 Latvia66.71

The best indicators on the prosperity index are in Norway, Switzerland, Denmark, New Zealand, Sweden, Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands.

Other indicators

There are other indicators by which the rating of a country's economic development is measured. This is the level of GDP per capita. It is not considered a strict characteristic, but is considered an important indicator.

Recent studies of GDP per capita (nominal) according to World Bank estimates show the following results:

A country$
1 Luxembourg104103
- Macau80893
2 Switzerland80190
3 Norway75505
4 Iceland70057
5 Ireland69331
6 Qatar63506
7 USA59532
8 Singapore57714
9 Denmark56307
10 Australia53800
11 Sweden53442
12 San Marino49664
13 Netherlands48223
14 Austria47291
- Hong Kong46194
15 Finland46703
16 Canada45032
17 Germany44470
18 Belgium43324
19 New Zealand42941
20 UAE40699
60 Russia10743
- World10714

A more accurate characteristic is the level of the same indicator in terms of parity (ratio of several currencies) of purchasing power per capita for a certain set of services or goods.

Here the first places are occupied by:

A country2017 2018
1 Qatar127755 130475
- Macau (PRC)110592 116808
2 Luxembourg103298 106705
3 Singapore95508 10345
4 Brunei78971 79530
5 Ireland73215 78785
6 Norway72170 74356
7 UAE68639 69382
8 Kuwait66197 67000
9 Switzerland62131 64649
- Hong Kong (PRC)61529 64216
10 USA59895 62606
11 San Marino68624 60313
12 Netherlands53933 56383
13 Saudi Arabia54595 55944
14 Iceland53834 55917
- Taiwan (PRC)50593 53023
15 Sweden51180 52984
16 Germany50804 52559
17 Australia50609 52373
18 Austria50035 52137
19 Denmark50643 52121
20 Bahrain49035 50057
49 Russia27964 29267

The Human Development Index, which has been published in the reports of the UN Development Program since 1990, is another traditional comparative indicator of living standards and the economy. Norway, Australia, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the USA, Germany, New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, and Denmark have a very high human development rating, according to the latest 2014 report.

Based on all these indicators, the strongest and most efficient economies in the world for 2019 are:

2. Hong Kong

3. Australia

4. Germany

5. Switzerland

7. Netherlands

8. New Zealand

9. Singapore

10. Japan

Corruption Perceptions Index

Since 1996 the most important indicator the state of the country's economy is recognized by the rating of the level of corruption. The official name is the Corruption Perceptions Index. It was introduced by the international non-governmental organization Transparency International. It takes into account how widespread corruption is in the public sector. This ranking is calculated by analyzing surveys and statistical data. Within the framework of the study, corruption is understood as any extraction of personal gain through abuse of official position.

Interesting: the study is not based on statistics of criminal cases or sentences, but on the opinion of those who suffer from corruption or study this phenomenon.

To determine this index, a scale from “zero” to “one hundred” was developed, where 0 means the maximum level of corruption, and 100 means its absence. Although the methodology by which the rating is determined has been subject to criticism, it is generally considered by experts to be relatively reliable.

2018 A country2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
1 Denmark89 90 91 91 91 90
2 New Zealand88 90 91 92 91 90
3 Finland85 89 90 89 89 90
4 Sweden85 85 87 86 86 85
5 Switzerland85 86 86 86 85 86
6 Singapore84 88 89 87 89 88
7 Norway84 84 85 84 86 87
8 Netherlands82 83 87 83 83 84
9 Canada82 82 83 81 81 84
10 Luxembourg82 81 81 79 78 79
11 Germany82 81 81 78 76 74
12 Great Britain81 81 81 82 80 80
13 Australia77 77 75 74 75 77
14 Iceland75 78 79 79 78 82
15 Hong Kong75 77 77 76 75 75
16 Austria75 79 79 80 81 85
17 Belgium75 75 76 72 69 69
18 Ireland75 74 76 74 73 73
19 Japan74 73 75 74 72 69
20 Estonia73 72 75 76 74 74

The most difficult situation with corruption is observed in the following countries:

170 Sudan17 18 18 18 20 25
171 Yemen17 16 17 19 19 25
172 DPRK17
173 Syria17 14 16 18 15 21
174 South Sudan17 12 8 8 8 8
175 Somalia16 14 12 11 11 13
176 Yemen16 14 18 19 18 23
177 Afghanistan15 15 11 12 8 8
178 Syria14 13 18 20 17 26
179 South Sudan12 11 15 15 14
180 Somalia9 10 8 8 8 8

Credit ratings

The economic “health” of a country is also assessed by financial or credit ratings. They are calculated taking into account financial history state, the size of its property and the ability and desire to pay debts. Such an index is needed to make it clear to potential lenders or investors how safe it is to deal with the country. Financial ratings are assessed by international agencies. Moody's, Standard and Poor's and Fitch have the most serious reputations. They work all over the world and help distinguish reliable partners from unreliable ones. Each of them has its own naming system, but in general, countries with a high degree obligatory ones are designated by the letter A, medium and lower - Ba, risky - B, high risk and close to default - C.

A countryLong-term ratingShort-term rating
1 USAAAAF1+
2 Great BritainA.A.F1+
3 GermanyAAAF1+
4 FranceA.A.F1+
5 JapanAF1
6 SpainA-F1
7 ItalyBBBF2
8 PortugalBBBF2
9 GreeceBB-B
10 IrelandA+F1+
11 AndorraBBB+F2
12 UAEA.A.F1+
13 ArmeniaB+B
14 AngolaBB
15 ArgentinaBB
16 AustriaAA+F1+
17 AustraliaAAAF1+
18 AzerbaijanBB+B
19 BangladeshBB-B
20 BelgiumAA-F1+
21 BulgariaBBBF2
22 BahrainBB-B
23 BeninBB
24 BoliviaBB-B
25 BrazilBB-B
26 BelarusBB
27 CanadaAAAF1+
28 CongoCCC
29 SwitzerlandAAAF1+
30 Ivory CoastB+B
31 ChileAF1
32 CameroonBB
33 ChinaA+F1+
34 ColombiaBBBF2
35 Costa RicaBBB
36 Cape VerdeBB
37 CyprusBB+B
38 CzechAA-F1+
39 DenmarkAAAF1+
40 Dominican RepublicBB-B
41 EcuadorBB
42 EstoniaA+F1+
43 EgyptBB
44 EthiopiaBB
45 FinlandAA+F1+
46 GabonBB
47 GeorgiaBB-B
48 GhanaBB
49 GambiaCCCC
50 GuatemalaBBB
51 Hong KongAA+F1+
52 CroatiaBB+B
53 HungaryBBB-F3
54 IndonesiaBBBF2
55 IsraelA+F1+
56 IndiaBBB-F3
57 IraqB-B
58 IranB+B
59 IcelandAF1
60 JamaicaBB
61 KenyaB+B
62 South KoreaAA-F1+
63 KuwaitA.A.F1+
64 KazakhstanBBBF2
65 LebanonB-B
66 Sri LankaB+B
67 LesothoB+B
68 LithuaniaA-F1
69 LuxembourgAAAF1+
70 LatviaA-F1
71 LibyaBB
72 MoroccoBBB-F3
73 MoldovaB-B
74 MacedoniaBBB
75 MaliB-B
76 MongoliaBB
77 MaltaA+F1+
78 MaldivesB+B
79 MalawiB-B
80 MexicoBBB+F2
81 MalaysiaA-F1
82 MozambiqueRDC
83 NamibiaBB+B
84 NigeriaB+B
85 NicaraguaBB
86 NetherlandsAAAF1+
87 NorwayAAAF1+
88 New ZealandA.A.F1+
89 OmanBBB-F3
90 PanamaBBBF2
91 PeruBBB+F2
92 Papua New GuineaB+B
93 PhilippinesBBBF2
94 PakistanBB
95 PolandA-F2
96 ParaguayBBB
97 QatarAA-F1+
98 RomaniaBBB-F3
99 SerbiaBBB
100 RussiaBBB-F3
101 RwandaB+B
102 Saudi ArabiaA+F1+
103 SeychellesBB-B
104 SwedenAAAF1+
105 SingaporeAAAF1+
106 SloveniaA-F1
107 SlovakiaA+F1+
108 San MarinoBBB-F3
109 SurinameB-B
110 SalvadorB-B
111 ThailandBBB+F2
112 TurkmenistanCCC-C
113 TunisiaB+B
114 TürkiyeBBB
115 TaiwanAA-F1+
116 UkraineB-B
117 UgandaB+B
118 UruguayBBB-F3
119 VenezuelaRDC
120 VietnamBBB
121 South AfricaBB+B
122 ZambiaBB
RatingRating value
AAAlowest risk, maximum creditworthiness
AA+moderate risk, very high creditworthiness, first level
AAmoderate risk, very high creditworthiness, second level
AA-moderate risk, very high creditworthiness, third level
Amoderate risk, high creditworthiness, second level
A-moderate risk, high creditworthiness, third level
BBB+moderate risk, sufficient creditworthiness, first level
VVVmoderate risk, sufficient creditworthiness, second level
BBB-moderate risk, sufficient creditworthiness, third level
CCChigh risk and threat of default, significant credit risk

Index with a “human face”

The past few years have demonstrated the importance of such an indicator of economic development as social progress. Previous indicators answered economic theories, but they did not show how economic growth affected people’s lives. Therefore, in 2013, the Social Progress Index was developed as an alternative to economic indicators. Its author is Harvard University professor Michael Porter. This rating is calculated based on the analysis of data from sociological surveys, expert opinions and statistical information from international organizations. When determining each country's achievements in this area, researchers took into account more than fifty factors.

  1. This is the satisfaction of basic needs - food, water and medical care, housing, degree.
  2. Then the fundamental foundations of well-being are taken into account - access to education and information, literacy and communication levels.
  3. And finally, development opportunities are analyzed - the level of protection of civil and political rights and self-realization is determined.
RATINGA COUNTRYINDEX
1 Norway90.26
2 Iceland90.24
3 Switzerland89.97
4 Denmark89.96
5 Finland89.77
6 Japan89.74
7 Netherlands89.34
8 Luxembourg89.27
9 Germany89.21
10 New Zealand89.12
11 Sweden88.99
12 Ireland88.82
13 UK88.74
14 Canada88.62
15 Australia88.32
16 France87.88
17 Belgium87.39
18 South Korea87.13
19 Spain87.11
20 Austria86.76
21 Italy86.04
22 Slovenia85.50
23 Singapore85.42
24 Portugal85.36
25 United States of America84.78
26 Czech84.66
27 Estonia83.49
28 Cyprus82.85
29 Greece82.59
30 Israel82.47
60 Russia70.16

From the research we have analyzed, it is clear that there is a direct connection between economic freedom, financial reliability, standard of living and social progress. Countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Norway, and the Netherlands lead the way in providing their citizens with decent, civil and political rights, and paying their bills fairly. Little Asian “tigers”: Singapore or Hong Kong, like the oil “millionaires” (UAE, Qatar) are “ahead of the rest of the planet” in terms of economic freedom and per capita income. But countries with strong and efficient economies - the USA, China, Japan, Great Britain, Germany - are distributed in different positions in the ranking, because they are not always able to provide the people living there with a high level of income and opportunities for development.

The wealth of a country can be absolute or relative. Absolute refers to the total quantity of goods and services produced (GDP). Under relative - GDP divided by the number of people inhabiting the country. Therefore, if the first indicator shows the country’s share in global GDP (gross domestic product), the second shows the level of well-being of its citizens. And, surprisingly, the rankings of absolute and relative wealth of countries are completely different from each other.

The richest countries in the world 2015 by absolute GDP

The richest country in the world 2015 – USA

America managed to defend its leadership in 2015 against the backdrop of a slowdown in the economies of the Eurozone and China.

2nd place – China

The PRC could have pushed its regular USA out of first place, but it has stopped its rapid growth, which has been characteristic of the republic in recent years. Experts explain the slowdown of this “locomotive” by the rise in labor costs.

3rd place went to Japan

The island state continues to be largest exporter technologies and innovative products, while having one of the lowest unemployment rates.

Germany took 4th place

The main economy of the Eurozone continues to bear the burden of debtors. However, despite this, it has excellent economic indicators.

5th place – behind Great Britain

Sherlock Holmes' homeland is focused on energy and aircraft manufacturing. In addition, London is a global financial and tourism center, which allows it to accumulate significant financial investments.

Russia took 15th place

The sanctions and the negative impact on the economy had an impact.

The list of Top 50 countries by GDP 2015 is as follows:

PlaceA countryGDP, billion $
1 USA 18124,7
2 11211,9
3 4210,4
4 3413,5
5 2853,4
6 France 2469,5
7 India 2308,0
8 Brazil 1903,9
9 Italy 1842,8
10 Canada 1615,5
11 South Korea 1435,1
12 Australia 1252,3
13 Mexico 1232,0
14 Spain 1230,2
15 1176,0
16 Indonesia 895,7
17 Türkiye 752,5
18 Netherlands 749,4
19 Switzerland 688,4
20 Saudi Arabia 649,0
21 Argentina 563,1
22 Taiwan 527,8
23 Nigeria 515,4
24 Poland 491,2
25 Sweden 487,4
26 Belgium 463,8
27 Norway 421,0
28 Iran 393,5
29 Thailand 386,3
30 Austria 380,6
31 UAE 363,7
32 Colombia 332,4
33 Malaysia 327,9
34 South Africa 323,8
35 Hong Kong 310,1
36 Philippines 308,0
37 Israel 306,9
38 Denmark 297,4
39 296,1
40 Chile 250,5
41 Finland 235,3
42 Ireland 220,0
43 Greece 207,1
44 Bangladesh 205,3
45 Vietnam 204,5
46 Kazakhstan 203,1
47 Portugal 201,0
48 197,0
49 New Zealand 191,7
50 Peru 190,3

According to IMF estimates for 2015

The richest countries in the world 2015 by level of well-being of citizens (GDP per capita)

The richest citizens in 2015 live in Qatar


Since oil was discovered in Qatar, two million of its citizens have been unable to work.

Second place goes to Luxembourg


Thanks to the offshore zone in Luxembourg, a huge number of banks and investment funds. Because of this, its 500 thousand population are among the wealthiest people in the world.

3rd place – behind Singapore


Created by Lee Kuan Yew " economic miracle“attracted a huge amount of global investment and business, which immediately affected the standard of living of the citizens of this state.

4th place – Brunei

Thanks to its huge oil and gas reserves, Brunei has completely free education and healthcare, and the Sultan of Brunei is one of the richest people planet with a fortune of $38 billion.

5th place – Kuwait

95% of budget income is the export of hydrocarbons.

Russia ranks 53rd in terms of GDP per capita

List of Top 50 countries by GDP per capita

PlaceA countryGDP $
1 143532
2 93174
3 85198
4 72370
5 70914
6 Norway 67445
7 UAE 65149
8 San Marino 61836
9 Switzerland 58731
10 Hong Kong 56428
11 USA 56421
12 Saudi Arabia 53149
13 Bahrain 52515
14 Ireland 51119
15 Netherlands 48317
16 Taiwan 47899
17 Australia 47608
18 Sweden 47229
19 Austria 47031
20 46896
21 Canada 45723
22 Denmark 45451
23 Iceland 45269
24 Belgium 43800
25 France 41018
26 Finland 40838
27 40676
28 Oman 40539
29 38216
30 South Korea 36601
31 New Zealand 36152
32 Italy 35811
33 Spain 34899
34 Malta 34544
35 Israel 33495
36 Trinidad and Tobago 32654
37 Czech 30895
38 Cyprus 30770
39 Slovenia 30508
40 Slovakia 29210
41 Lithuania 28210
42 Estonia 27995
43 Portugal 27624
44 Equatorial Guinea 26810
45 Greece 26773
46 Seychelles 26443
47 Poland 26210
48 Hungary 25895
49 Malaysia 25632
50 Bahamas 25577

An economic indicator such as GDP per capita is often used to assess the economic condition of a country. Everyone knows about the existence of GDP. People often hear this term in economic news. But, unfortunately, not everyone knows what it is.

GDP is gross domestic product. If we talk in simple words, That GDP is an indicator of the value of goods and services produced by a particular state. These are all products and services produced in the state, which are expressed in monetary terms. This indicator is often expressed in US dollars due to the fact that the US dollar is one of the most stable currencies in the world.

Today there are two types of GDP:

  1. Nominal is overall volume products and services produced, measured in current prices, that is, in values ​​that are relevant today.
  2. Real GDP is the total volume of goods and services produced over a certain period of time, measured in basic values. Basic costs are called constant prices.

The difference between nominal and real GDP is that real GDP can only be affected by changes in the volume of goods produced. While changes in nominal GDP are directly affected by the price of products and services sold.

The ratio of the nominal to the real indicator in the economy is called the GDP deflator.

In other words, the deflator is an indicator of the difference in the general level of values ​​in an economic sector.

We divide the total volume of GDP by the number of citizens living in the state.

The most developed states

The most developed countries in the world in 2018-2019, according to the ranking of countries, were the following states:


America entered the ranking of countries with the highest GDP thanks to corporations such as Microsoft and Google. Every year in America there is a growth of the country's GDP of 2.2%. The figure per person is $55,000.

  1. with a GDP of 11.2119 trillion US dollars. China does not leave its position and still remains one of the leading economies in the world. According to the forecasts of economists and financial analysts China has every opportunity to soon oust the United States of America. This is possible thanks to the intensive growth of GDP. The share of China's GDP is growing by 10% annually.
  2. Takes third place. Despite the fact that economists predict a partial slowdown in Japanese growth, this country today has a GDP of $4.2104 trillion.

According to statistics, the share of this republic's GDP increases by 1.5%. The increase in indicators is due to the established export of cars, household appliances, computers and other electronic goods. This country has a per capita GDP of $39,000.

  1. It ranks fourth with a GDP level of 3413.5 trillion American dollars in year. The country was able to achieve such indicators thanks to the export of Volkswagen cars, industrial equipment and household appliances. Compared to the previous year, the share of gross domestic product in Germany increased by 0.4%. GDP per capita is US$46,000.
  2. The last place in the top 5 developed countries of the world was taken by. The level of the indicator at around 2853.4 trillion dollars allowed Great Britain to oust France.

List of developed countries

Below are the top 20 largest countries world, which took leading positions in terms of GDP after the five most developed countries on the planet.

The name of the country GDP (expressed in billions of US dollars)
France 2464.8
India 2288.7
Italy 1848.7
Brazil 1534.8
Canada 1462.3
South Korea 1321.2
Spain 1242.4
Australia 1200.8
Russia 1132.7
Mexico 1082.4
Indonesia 937.0
Netherlands 762.5
Türkiye 751.2
Switzerland 651.8
Saudi Arabia 618.3
Nigeria 538.0
Sweden 512.6
Taiwan 508.8
Poland 473.5
Belgium 465.2

Indicators in EU countries

The European Union is a very powerful and unique economic structure. In 2019.

World GDP for 2018

Top 10 most economically developed countries of the European Union (2018 statistics):

  • The most developed country in the world, part of the European Union, is Liechtenstein. Despite its small area, the country has an incredibly strong economy, as evidenced by its per capita GDP of €85,400 in 2016.
  • Second place goes to the Netherlands. This country has a GDP per capita of 42,400 euros.
  • Ireland ranks third. The GDP per capita is 40,000 euros.
  • In Austria, the GDP per capita is 39,700 euros.
  • Sweden has an indicator of 38,900 euros.
  • In Germany, the gross domestic product is 38,800 euros.
  • According to statistics in Finland, the GDP level is 38,100 euros.
  • Eighth place is occupied by Italy with a GDP of 35,800 euros.
  • The UK is experiencing a GDP growth rate. In 2015, this figure was 34,600 euros.
  • Tenth place is occupied by Spain with an indicator of 33,700 euros.

Table: GDP level of European countries that are members of the EU

Republic name GDP per person (expressed in euros)
Denmark 31 500
Cyprus 30 700
Belgium 28 100
Slovakia 26 100
Slovenia 25 300
France 25 800
Portugal 24 900
Hungary 24 500
Poland 24 400
Greece 23 600
Estonia 22 900
Czech 19 800
Romania 19 700
Lithuania 18 000
Latvia 16 700
Bulgaria 15 800
Malta 14 600
Croatia 12 600

The "weakest" states

Economists technical analysis Forex research has been conducted regarding the forecast of GDP growth and decline for 2019. According to the findings, the list of countries with weak economies in 2019 will consist of the following states:


Forecast of the dynamics of GDP growth in other countries of the world

Table: list of countries whose GDP levels are expected to increase in 2019

Republic name Expected growth (expressed in %) Probability of occurrence economic crisis(expressed as %)
India 7.4 0
Vietnam 6.6 0
China 6.5 12
Sri Lanka 6.4 0
Philippines 6.0 5
Dominican Republic 5.4 0
Indonesia 5.2 10
Malaysia 4.5 10
Bolivia 3.9 20
Peru 3.8 10
Romania 3.8 10
Poland 3.5 5
Albania 3.5 0
Slovakia 3.3 8
Thailand 3.2 5
Iceland 3.1 0
Türkiye 3.0 20
Bosnia 3.0 0
South Korea 2.9 18
Colombia 2.8 8
Mexico 2.8 10
Sweden 2.8 10
Spain 2.7 5
Czech 2.7 10
Australia 2.6 15
Bulgaria 2.5 10
USA 2.5 15
Armenia 2.5 0
Hungary 2.4 0
New Zealand 2.3 13
Great Britain 2.3 13
Uruguay 2.0 25
Kazakhstan 2.0 33
Taiwan 2.0 55
Germany 1.8 8
Canada 1.8 25
Serbia 1.6 18
France 1.4 10
Norway 1.4 15
Ukraine 1.4 60
South Africa 1.4 25
Italy 1.3 13
Denmark 1.9 0
Kuwait 1.9 0
Chile 2.3 5
Azerbaijan 2.4 0

In the EU countries, GDP levels are expected to increase by 1.7%. The probability of a recession is 15%.

All kinds of ratings are derivatives of modern analytics and economics; they are designed to show the standard of living and development of humanity. Rating creators use various tools for this, including the results of public opinion polls. To identify leaders and laggards in the international arena, you need to know the features of the ranking of the most economically developed countries in the world.

Ratings of economic development of countries

Ranking by gross domestic product (GDP) level

Gross domestic product (GDP) is an indicator that reflects the market value of all final goods and services produced during the year and directly consumed in the territory of the state, as well as exported and accumulated. In English transcription it is designated - GDP.

Video: ten richest countries in the world

Gross domestic product is usually expressed in national currency. However, in certain cases it can be recalculated taking into account the indicator in a foreign reserve currency. Recalculation is carried out at the exchange rate currency exchange. Also, GDP, for the purpose of more accurate representation and international comparison, can be considered as an indicator of purchasing power parity (PPP).

What is PPP - an indicator of purchasing power

Purchasing power parity (PPP) or in English transcription Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) is an indicator of the ratio of two or more currencies, which establishes the purchasing power of these currencies in relation to a set of certain goods or services.

PPP theory states that the same amount financial resources, recalculated taking into account the current exchange rate national currency specific countries, allows you to buy the same number of goods or services. In this case, transport costs and any transportation restrictions are not taken into account.

If the exchange rates of two different countries go beyond parity, the opportunity opens up bargain purchase goods and services in one country and then exported to another country. As a result, the demand for one of the currencies that has the best performance increases. Good example use of PPP - Big Mac index.

Big Mac Index

A way to unofficially determine PPP - purchasing power parity - is the Big Mac Index. The calculation is simple to the point of banality. There is no food basket used here. Instead, analysts take a simple sandwich for research - a product of the world famous company McDonald's.

Video: ruble exchange rate indicator for Big Mac

The task is to determine the real exchange rates of currencies of different countries. McDonald's products are sold in the markets of many countries. The components of sandwiches are widely used food products. Thus, if you compare the price of a sandwich in different countries, you can get a real picture of the value of the national currency. In Russia at the end of 2018, Big Macs were sold for $1.94.

Famous world experts put forward interesting definitions. In their opinion, Russian ruble undervalued by almost 70%, judging by the Big Mac Index.

How is GDP calculated in economics?

In practice, three calculation methods are used - based on income received, on existing expenses or on the basis of added value. For calculations in each specific case, formulas are used, where different economic indicators are used as calculation data.

The USA is the undisputed leader in terms of GDP in the world

Table of ranking countries by GDP in current prices for 2018 (nominal value)

Country ranking table by GDP based on 2018 PPP estimates

Ranking by level of economic freedom

The index of economic freedom (IEF - Index of Economic Freedom) is based on calculations made by a group of specialists from the Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal, a popular newspaper in the United States. The principle of calculating the index of economic freedom is based on indicators such as minimal intervention government agencies management in business affairs, support for producer freedom and consumer protection. The overall index score is formed from 10 individual factors, measured on a scale from 0 (minimum freedom) to 100 (maximum freedom).

Factors of economic freedom:


The general index indicator of economic freedom is calculated as the arithmetic average of the sum of the indicators of all 10 factors. The authors of the methodology claim that the dynamics of the index accurately shows the level of economic freedom of countries. The calculations take into account the division of countries into 5 groups:

  1. Completely free (80–100).
  2. Free overall (70–79.9).
  3. Moderately loose (60–69.9).
  4. Minimum free (50–59.9).
  5. Limited in freedom (0–49.9).

Table: Best countries by level of economic freedom for 2018

A country Index Degree of freedom
1 90.2 Available
2 Singapore88.8 Available
3 New Zealand84.2 Available
4 Switzerland81.7 Available
5 80.9 Available
6 Ireland80.4 Available
7 Estonia78.8 Mostly free
8 Great Britain78.0 Mostly free
9 Canada77.7 Mostly free
10 UAE77.6 Mostly free
11 Iceland77.0 Mostly free
12 Denmark76.6 Mostly free
13 Taiwan76.6 Mostly free
14 Luxembourg76.4 Mostly free
15 Sweden76.3 Mostly free
16 Georgia76.2 Mostly free
17 Netherlands76.2 Mostly free
18 USA75.7 Mostly free
19 Lithuania75.3 Mostly free
20 Chile75.2 Mostly free

Table: Worst countries by level of economic freedom for 2018

A countryIndexDegree of freedom
160 Niger49.5 Unfree
161 Sudan49.4 Unfree
162 Chad49.3 Unfree
163 CAR49.2 Unfree
164 Angola48.6 Unfree
165 Ecuador48.5 Unfree
166 Suriname48.1 Unfree
167 East Timor48.1 Unfree
168 Togo47.8 Unfree
169 Turkmenistan47.1 Unfree
170 Mozambique46.3 Unfree
171 Djibouti45.1 Unfree
172 Algeria44.7 Unfree
173 Bolivia44.1 Unfree
174 Zimbabwe44.0 Unfree
175 Equatorial Guinea 42.0 Unfree
176 Eritrea41.7 Unfree
177 Congo38.9 Unfree
178 Cuba31.9 Unfree
179 Venezuela25.2 Unfree
180 North Korea5.8 Unfree
181 Iraq- No rating
182 Libya- No rating
183 Liechtenstein- No rating
184 Somalia- No rating
185 Syria- No rating
186 Yemen- No rating

Prosperity level

The Prosperity Index (LPI - Legatum Prosperity Index) is an analytical product of the British company Legatum Institute. Research in this direction has been carried out since 2006. The main purpose of research is to obtain reliable information regarding the well-being of societies around the world.

  1. Economic well-being.
  2. Success in business.
  3. Management efficiency.
  4. The quality of education.
  5. Health care quality.
  6. Life safety.
  7. Civil liberties.
  8. Capitalization of society.
  9. Level of ecology, state policy on environmental issues.

The values ​​of category factors are obtained by the method of sociological research and surveys. The calculation for each category is done by calculating the arithmetic mean. Based on calculations, each category is assigned a numerical value ranging from 0 – 110.

Taking into account all the factors and parameters included in the ranking, the traditional leaders in terms of prosperity are considered to be states with strong and developed economies (USA, Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand). The greatest difficulties have been recorded in the underdeveloped countries of the African continent and some Asian countries (mainly in those where military conflicts continue, frequent changes of power are observed, and political instability is recorded).

Ranking table: Top countries for prosperity 2018

RATINGA COUNTRYINDEX
1 80.98
2 New Zealand80.90
3 Finland80.58
4 Switzerland79.71
5 Denmark79.33
6 Sweden79.15
7 UK79.12
8 Canada79.02
9 Netherlands78.99
10 Ireland78.95
11 Iceland78.47
12 Luxembourg78.15
13 Australia78.10
14 Germany77.72
15 Austria76.64
16 Belgium76.00
17 United States of America76.00
18 Slovenia74.65
19 Malta74.10
20 France74.06

Ranking table: Worst countries for prosperity in 2018

TOP 10 countries based on the top three rankings (GDP, IEF, LPI)

Based on best performance three main ratings, you can build the TOP 10 countries:

  1. Canada.
  2. Switzerland.
  3. New Zealand.
  4. Ireland.
  5. Sweden.
  6. Denmark.
  7. Netherlands.
  8. Finland.

Canada is an economically prosperous state, which, based on the totality of all indicators, has taken first place in the ranking of the most economically developed countries in the world

Rating of countries by level of corruption

The correct name of the rating is the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). The indicator reflects an assessment of the level of corruption from the point of view of the perception of this negative phenomenon by business representatives and analytical organizations.

The ranking is compiled by the well-known company Transparency International, which, since 1995, has traditionally published the results for the world community to see. The result is given on a 100-point scale, where 0 points means very strong corruption, 100 points means no corruption. The main sources of estimated data are independent surveys.

Ranking table: Top countries for corruption

2018 A country 2018 2017 2016
1 Denmark89 90 91
2 New Zealand88 90 91
3 Finland85 89 90
4 Sweden85 85 87
5 Switzerland85 86 86
6 Singapore84 88 89
7 84 84 85
8 Netherlands82 83 87
9 Canada82 82 83
10 Luxembourg82 81 81
11 Germany82 81 81
12 Great Britain81 81 81
13 77 77 75
14 Iceland75 78 79
15 75 77 77
16 Austria75 79 79
17 Belgium75 75 76
18 Ireland75 74 76
19 Japan74 73 75
20 Estonia73 72 75

Ranking table: Worst countries for corruption

A country2018 2017 2016
160 Haiti22 20 17
161 DR Congo21 21 21
162 Chad21 21 22
163 Republic of the Congo 21 25 26
164 Angola21 20 23
165 Iraq20 20 22
166 Venezuela19 18 15
167 Burundi19 22 18
168 Libya18 17 16
169 Afghanistan18 17 17
170 Sudan17 18 18
171 Yemen17 16 17
172 DPRK17
173 Syria17 14 16
174 South Sudan17 12 8
175 Somalia16 14 12
176 Yemen16 14 18
177 Afghanistan15 15 11
178 Syria14 13 18

Meanwhile, there are many complaints regarding the calculation and ranking of the level of corruption.

...Georgy Derlugyan, professor of sociology at Northwestern University, notes that it is extremely difficult to measure corruption, and that ratings should not be trusted completely: “In all ratings from Transparency International, Iceland, for example, took first place until we found out how banks actually work,” the professor notes...

Financial ratings of countries

A credit rating forms an indicator of a country's creditworthiness (credit scoring). Credit ratings (FR - Foreign Rating) are calculated based on indicators of current and past financial history. Also, the criteria for calculations are the volume of property and financial obligations.

Video: about Russia's credit rating

  • financial history of the state,
  • the size of his property,
  • desire to pay off debts.

Such an index is needed to make it clear to potential lenders or investors how safe it is to deal with the country. States with a high degree of commitment are designated by the letter A, states of average and below - Ba, risky - B, with high risk and close to default - C.

Australia is one of the best countries for investment

Table: example of the appearance of a credit rating

As an example, we provide data on the leading countries of the world that are members of the G20 group

S&PMoody'sFitchDBRS
ArgentinaBB2B
AAAAaaAAA
BelgiumA.A.Aa3AA-
BrazilBB-Ba2BB-
CanadaAAAAaaAAA
ChinaA+A1A+
European UnionA.A.AaaAAA
FranceA.A.Aa2A.A.
GermanyAAAAaaAAA
IndiaBBB-Baa2BBB-
IndonesiaBBB-Baa2BBB
ItalyBBBBaa3BBB
JapanA+A1A
MexicoBBB+A3BBB+
NetherlandsAAAAaaAAA
PolandA-A2A-
RussiaBBB-Baa3BBB-
Saudi ArabiaA-A1A+
South KoreaA.A.Aa2AA-
SpainA-Baa1A-
SwedenAAAAaaAAA
SwitzerlandAAAAaaAAA
TaiwanAA-Aa3AA-
ThailandBBB+Baa1BBB+
TürkiyeB+Ba3BB
Great BritainA.A.Aa2A.A.
United StatesAA+AaaAAA
VenezuelaSDCRD

Rating of countries by level of social progress

The indicators of the social progress index (SPI - Social Progress Index) are calculated by The Social Progress, an international research structure. Along with the noted company, analytical work is carried out by several well-known universities around the world. Harvard Business School is actively involved in research.

The index calculation process covers more than 50 different indicators. They are all divided into three categories:

  1. Needs (food, provision of water and medical care, housing, degree of personal safety).
  2. Well-being (access to education and information, literacy and communication levels).
  3. Development (the level of protection of civil and political rights and self-realization is determined).

The range of index values ​​is 0 – 100. Accordingly, the initial number is zero development, the final number is development at a high level.

Table of indicators for the level of social progress for 2019

A country Index
1 90.26
2 Iceland90.24
3 Switzerland89.97
4 Denmark89.96
5 Finland89.77
6 Japan89.74
7 Netherlands89.34
8 Luxembourg89.27
9 Germany89.24
10 New Zealand89.12
11 Sweden88.99
12 Ireland88.82
13 Great Britain88.74
14 Canada88.62
15 88.32
16 France87.88
17 Belgium87.39
18 South Korea87.43
19 Spain87.11
20 Austria86.76

Indicator table: Worst countries for social progress in 2019

A countryIndex
130 Mozambique44.49
131 Burkina Faso44.02
132 Madagascar42.59
133 Mauritania41.85
134 Ethiopia41.47
135 Angola39.10
136 Guyana39.09
137 Sudan38.85
138 Papua New Guinea 38.17
139 Burundi37.92
140 Yemen37.29
141 Niger36.69
142 DR Congo35.63
143 Eritrea33.74
144 Afghanistan32.96
145 Chad28.20
146 CAR26.01

Video: ranking of endangered countries

Every year the population of our planet is growing rapidly. However, some states show a significant loss of working population. The main reasons for depopulation are the excess of the mortality rate over the birth rate and the negative migration balance (the number of migrants is less than the number of citizens traveling abroad for permanent residence). According to official UN data, the TOP 5 most endangered countries in the world per 1000 inhabitants are as follows:

  1. Lesotho – 14.9

In this small state, surrounded by the territory of the Republic of South Africa, the average life expectancy is 37 years. The AIDS infection rate here is estimated at 34%. Absence quality medicine, a poor economic situation and an ever-worsening sanitary situation have made Lesotho a leader in the list of the most endangered countries in the world.

  1. Bulgaria – 14.5

In Bulgaria, the birth rate is almost 2 times lower than the death rate. The reason for this is the not very attractive economic situation. In search of a better life, young Bulgarians seek permanent residence in other European countries. As a result, according to preliminary data, every hour in Bulgaria 5 people die, 1 is born, 3 go abroad. If this pace continues, then by 2050 the population of Bulgaria may fall to 4 million (in 1989 - 9.1 million people).

  1. Lithuania – 14.5

This Baltic republic is characterized by a high level of emigration of young people who are looking for a better fate in more developed countries European Union. As a result, the working-age population is rapidly decreasing, and the nation is aging.

  1. Ukraine – 14.4

One of the poorest countries in Europe. The military conflict in the east of the country, the low level of economic development and the lack of quality medicine have led to the fact that Ukraine is one of the world leaders in the number of emigrants (every 8th Ukrainian).

  1. Latvia – 14.3

This Baltic country has similar problems to Lithuania. The desire of young people to move to Europe has affected the sharp decrease in the working-age population. Due to the loss of youth in Latvia, the mortality rate is almost 1.5 times higher than the birth rate. Given the current trend, by 2050 the population in the Republic of Latvia may reach a maximum of 1.2 million people.

Various studies, surveys, and opinions, on the basis of which ratings are created, help to create a completely plausible picture of the life of the state. If a country uses a rating indicator, then it is easier for it to find ways and directions of development. Only one small detail remains inconvenient: ratings indicators can always be successfully used to achieve political goals, and such examples are found in modern world more often.

Products produced during the year under review. The value is expressed in the national unit of the state. GDP statistics of countries around the world allow us to evaluate economic indicators in a particular state and make forecasts for future development.

Real and nominal GDP

The nominal indicator is the final price calculated according to the market, depending on changes in income and price index. Real indicator - to determine the cost of a product, the growth indicator is used, not the price change:

The term “GDP deflator” hides the ratio of the nominal to the real indicator:



The indicator implies the total volume of all state income for the year, divided by the number of residents. Used to simplify the comparison of the productivity of states, since GDP per capita serves as a characteristic economic activity. This is also a kind of “indicator” of the level of a country with a high gross domestic product, we can say that it is favorable and comfortable for living:

Structure of the world's GDP

The development of society affects three stages: pre-industrial, industrial and post-industrial. Each of them is characterized by a certain type of economic structure. The table clearly shows the characteristics of each stage:

Predominance Agriculture observed today in Afghanistan, Somalia, Cambodia, Laos, Tanzania and Nepal (over 50%).

The share of the service sector in the GDP of countries around the world is gaining momentum, which means that they are characterized by an interest in knowledge workers. Obviously, the share of expenses for an even greater percentage of predominance is in small states that live by providing financial services And . World GDP statistics for 2000 (share of industries, %):

Data for Russia

During 1990–2016, the direction of economic development in Russia changed significantly. There is a simultaneous increase in mining production and an increase in transactions with and finance. But the volumes of agriculture, forestry, manufacturing and transport enterprises are declining.

Share of military expenditures in countries' GDP

Wikipedia has information on the share of the world's GDP going to military spending in 2016:

Every year, studies are conducted on the basis of which a ranking of the GDP of developed and lagging countries is compiled. The place of countries in the world in terms of GDP is determined by the World Bank, which has undergone many changes since its founding. structural changes. Over the past 20 years it has become a specialized agency of the UN. The GDP of the world's countries is calculated in dollars. Today the undoubted leaders are:

  1. USA– the national unit of the state is considered one of the stable currencies of the world and is used as an international one. Thanks to this fact, the figure in question in the United States is so large: 18.12 trillion. dollars. If we consider it in percentage terms, the annual increase in the country's gross domestic product averages 2.2%, or 55 thousand dollars per capita. The main “earning” corporations in the country are Microsoft and Google.
  2. China– the second country in the world in terms of economic growth. Today the country's gross product is 11.2 trillion. dollars, increases by 10% annually.
  3. Japan– 4.2 trillion. dollars. Today the figure increases annually by 1.5%. Per capita it is 39 thousand dollars.
  4. Germany– the gross product of the state is 3.4 trillion. dollars or 46 thousand per capita. The increase for 2016 is 0.4%.
  5. Great Britain– 2.8 trillion. dollars.

GDP statistics of the world's leading countries :

GDP statistics in European countries in 2016

Among the EU countries there are also leaders and laggards. According to statistics, the most developed in the EU are:

  1. Liechtenstein - GDP per capita is just over 85 thousand.
  2. The Netherlands - for each resident there are 42.4 thousand euros.
  3. Ireland – 40 thousand euros according to a similar indicator.
  4. Austria – 39.7 thousand euros.
  5. Sweden - the gross product is 38.9 thousand euros.

Additionally, the following states can be noted:

World GDP forecasts

The GDP of the leading EU countries is assessed by Forex specialists ambiguously: it is possible that it will increase by 1.7%, but there is a possibility of a decrease of 15%. In addition to the increase, there may also be a decrease in the level of GDP of countries around the world. This phenomenon may affect:

  1. Venezuela– the estimated projected decrease in gross domestic product by 3.5% is due to the lack of oil, pharmaceuticals and other basic products in the country.
  2. Brazil– the prices set for extracted iron ore contribute to a decrease in the gross product by 3%.
  3. Greece– the estimated decrease will be 1.8%.
  4. Russia– the indicator is expected to decrease by 0.5%, which is due to the imposed sanctions by the EU and the USA. In addition, a decrease in the value under consideration in Russia may be a consequence of a decrease in oil prices. Experts do not rule out an economic recession in the country. A crisis is possible with a probability of up to 65%.

Countries with fast growing GDP 2016

The GDP growth rates of countries around the world are different, however, experts identify 13 of them, which are distinguished by a particular rate of increase.