UAE ranks among the top 30 economies worldwide.
In today’s fast-changing global economy, the financial situation of countries continues to fluctuate. Yet, some nations have a maintained a long-standing record of economic stability and prominence.
Here’s a look at the top 10 countries with the highest GDP rankings, according to the International Monetary Fund.
The United States has held the spot for the highest ranking GDP since the 1980s. The success of the US economy can largely be attributed to sectors like real estate, finance, construction, and healthcare. In terms of trading, petroleum and oil have been the top exports for the states for almost two decades now. Other honorable mentions include pharmaceutical products, electronic equipment, and automotive vehicle parts. Some of the top American partners in trading include Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
China entered the top five list for largest economies in 2005, and has since been climbing the ranks. Following 2010, the country has been reigning the number two spot, trailing behind the US. Key contributing factors of China’s economy include the agriculture, industry, and service sectors. China is infamous for exporting its manufactured goods worldwide, and some of their its trade partners include the United States, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Vietnam.
Germany has also held a historically high rank, maintaining a spot within the top five highest GDPs since the 1980s. One of country’s leading contributors is the automotive industry, thanks to the presence of groups like Volkswagen, BMW, and Daimler. The dominance of this industry has also led to motor parts being a major export product for the country. The engineering, chemical, and electrical industries are also major players. Germany primarily trades with the US, France, Netherlands, China, and Poland.
India’s economy has experienced some major growth within the last few years, and the country has held a position within the top five ranks since 2021. The country has a diverse range of leading exports from minerals and fuels to textile and garments. While India’s major trades occur with many prominent partners like the US and China, the nation also remains a prominent trading partner of GCC countries, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia. India’s massive population growth is also a key asset to its economy. Today, the nation has a population of over 1.4 billion.
Japan has also maintained a steadfast spot amongst the top five since the 1980s. However, the country used to rank higher, maintaining the second spot till 2009, before being dethroned by China. Similar to the other countries with the top five highest GDPs, Japan’s exports mainly revolve around goods like cars, automotive parts, and electric circuits. Japan’s most popular trading partners include the US, China, Australia, Thailand, and South Korea. Trade amongst Japan and the UAE has also been growing in recent years.
The UK has remained among the top 10 largest economies for over 40 years. A few of the country’s major export products include crude oil, cars, aircraft parts, and pharmaceutical products. Key trade partners for the UK include the US, China, Netherlands, France and Germany.
France has also established a position in the top 10 rank since the 1980s, fluctuating between different positions over the years. Some of their leading exports include aircraft (including helicopters and spacecraft), cars, and pharmaceutical products. France’s top exports take place with many European nations including Germany, Italy, Belgium, and Spain, while the United States also ranks high on the list.
Italy has also had a long-standing position within the top 10, briefly holding the number five spot in 1992. Some of the key exports for Italy include machinery, pharmaceuticals, cars, gold, and food (with Italian olive oil being a popular product). Italy mainly trades with France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland and the US.
Although Canada has a significant economy and has remained in the top 10 for many years, the country has never made it to the top five ranks of highest GDPs, as per IMF data. Some Canadian exports include crude petroleum, coal, gold, and wood and lumber goods. Key trading partners include the US, UK, Mexico, China, and Japan.
Brazil’s GDP ranking has fluctuated the most, with the nation often moving in and out of the top 10 economies. The most recent dip occurred in 2020 (attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic), before re-entering the top 10 ranks in 2023. Brazilian exports largely revolve around food goods like soybeans, poultry meat, and raw sugar. Some of Brazil’s key trading partners are the US, Argentina, China, and the Netherlands.
As of 2025, the UAE has a GDP of $548.6 billion, placing it amongst the top 30 largest economies worldwide. This is expected to continue growing exponentially with IMF predictions indicating a GDP of $736.81 billion by 2030.
While oil sectors have traditionally been a huge driving economic sector for the UAE, other areas like construction, tourism, and trade activities also play a significant role. In fact, UAE’s non-oil GDP grew by 4.5 percent just last year, according to reports from the Ministry of Economy.
Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, said: “The concerted national efforts to increase the contribution of non-oil sectors to the national economy, develop more flexible and competitive economic legislation, promote economic openness to the world, and build productive, impactful partnerships with prominent markets around the world, are continuing.”
Mariam Khan is a trainee journalist at Gulf News.
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