Ranking the World

Ranking the World
By: Josue “Josh” Alvarez Mapp

 So recently I read an article from the Economist about the China soon to become the world’s #1 country in economic output.  This should come to no surprise to anyone based on how things are looking here in the United States.  In recent history, as we should all know, we have borrow a few pretty pennies from China to keep a flow (much at the dismay of those who say “America the Proud”, and other such America bloating sayings).

Well the article pretty much says that it shouldn’t be a surprise that China will be #1.  Why?  It isn’t because “communism is better than capitalism” (nor the contrary), but simply put, China has more people.  When you think  about it, it is sad that a country of 1.3 billion people produce less compared to a country of 310 million people – those who think about it should see this as weird (and for the Chinese it should be frustrating at the very least).

As it stands right now, the U.S. has the largest GDP of the G20.  The rankings go as such, from first to tenth: United States, China, Japan, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Brazil, Italy, Canada, and India.  However, if the world was based on population (meaning that if we follow the logic of the Economist article, countries with bigger populations should have bigger GDP’s then smaller countries), then the top 10 would look a bit different. If population was the strongest indicator on GDP, the top 10 countries from first to tenth would be as follows: China, India, United States, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Russia, and Japan.

If you compare those two list, only five countries with the highest GDP of the G20 would still remain in the top 10, if population meant bigger GDP.  Indonesia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, and Russia were not apart of the first top 10.  However, Russia is not too far off, with a GDP in the trillions like the top 10 of the G20.  Indonesia’s GDP is also respectable, but could be better (5% of the U.S. GDP is slightly greater than the GDP of all of Indonesia).

But the rankings do not reflect, make up for, or atone for Pakistan, Nigeria, and Bangladesh who are still considerable work from having a GDP in the trillions.

I do believe that in time (and with proper investment), the top 10 countries will be reflective partially based on population, but for now, the efficiency of the developed western countries will eclipse the others.

China may be doing well for itself, but it probably should give some lessons to the other populated countries.