Start with Wal-Mart in America, where the goods are cheap because they have low manufacturing costs, sustained by overseas workers earning small wages. With high consumer spending by Americans, Wal-Mart amasses big profits. That has enabled the corporation to get on par with the GDP of the 25th largest economy in the world, surpassing 157 smaller countries.
We’ve found 25 major American corporations whose 2010 revenues surpass the 2010 Gross Domestic Product of entire countries, often with a few billion to spare.
Even some major countries like Norway, Thailand, and New Zealand can be bested by certain U.S. firms.
Yahoo is bigger than Mongolia
Mongolia’s GDP: $6.13 billion
Yahoo’s Revenue: $6.32 billion
Yahoo would rank as the world’s 138th biggest country.
Source: Fortune/CNN Money, IMF
Visa is bigger than Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe’s GDP: $7.47 billion
Visa’s Revenue: $8.07 billion
Visa would rank as the world’s 133rd biggest country.
Source: Fortune/CNN Money, IMF
E-Bay is bigger than Madagascar
Madagascar’s GDP: $8.35 billion
E-Bay’s Revenue: $9.16 billion
E-Bay would rank as the world’s 129th biggest country.
Source: Fortune/CNN Money, IMF
Nike is bigger than Paraguay
Paraguay’s GDP: $18.48 billion
Nike’s Revenue: $19.16 billion
Nike would rank as the world’s 102nd biggest country.
Source: Fortune/CNN Money, IMF
Consolidated Edison is bigger than the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo’s GDP: $13.13 billion
Con-Edison’s Revenue: $13.33 billion
Con-Edison would rank as the world’s 112th biggest country.
Source: Fortune/CNN Money, IMF
McDonald’s is bigger than Latvia
Latvia’s GDP: $24.05 billion
McDonald’s Revenue: $24.07 billion
McDonald’s would rank as the world’s 92nd biggest country.
Source: Fortune/CNN Money, IMF
Amazon.com is bigger than Kenya
Kenya’s GDP: $32.16 billion
Amazon.com’s Revenue: $34.2 billion
Amazon would rank as the world’s 86th biggest country.
Source: Fortune/CNN Money, IMF
Morgan Stanley is bigger than Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan’s GDP: $38.99 billion
Morgan Stanley’s Revenue: $39.32 billion
Morgan Stanley would rank as the world’s 82nd biggest country.
Source: Fortune/CNN Money, IMF
Cisco is bigger than Lebanon
Lebanon’s GDP: $39.25 billion
Cisco’s Revenue: $40.04 billion
Cisco would rank as the world’s 81st biggest country.
Source: Fortune/CNN Money, IMF
Pepsi is bigger than Oman
Oman’s GDP: $55.62
Pepsi’s Revenue: $57.83 billion
Pepsi would rank as the world’s 69th biggest country.
Source: Fortune/CNN Money, IMF
Apple is bigger than Ecuador
Ecuador’s GDP: $58.91 billion
Apple’s Revenue: $65.23 billion
Apple would rank as the world’s 68th biggest country.
Source: Fortune/CNN Money, IMF
Microsoft is bigger than Croatia
Croatia’s GDP: $60.59 billion
Microsoft’s Revenue: $62.48 billion
Microsoft would rank as the world’s 66th biggest economy.
Source: Fortune/CNN Money, IMF
Costco is bigger than Sudan
Sudan’s GDP: $68.44 billion
Costco’s Revenue: $77.94 billion
Costco would rank as the world’s 65th biggest country.
Source: Fortune/CNN Money, IMF
Proctor and Gamble is bigger than Libya
Libya’s GDP: $74.23 billion
Proctor and Gamble’s Revenue: $79.69 billion
Proctor and Gamble would rank as the world’s 64th biggest country.
Source: Fortune/CNN Money, IMF
Wells Fargo is bigger than Angola
Angola’s GDP: $86.26 billion
Wells Fargo’s Revenue: $93.249 billion
Wells Fargo would rank as the world’s 62nd biggest economy.
Source: Fortune/CNN Money, IMF
Ford is bigger than Morocco
Morocco’s GDP: $103.48 billion
Ford’s Revenue: $128.95 billion
Ford would rank as the world’s 60th biggest country.
Source: Fortune/CNN Money, IMF
Bank of America is bigger than Vietnam
Vietnam’s GDP: $103.57 billion
Bank of America’s Revenue: $134.19 billion
Bank of America would rank as the world’s 59th biggest country.
Source: Fortune/CNN Money, IMF
General Motors is bigger than Bangladesh
Bangladesh’s GDP: $104.92 billion
GM’s Revenue: $135.59 billion
GM would rank as the world’s 58th biggest country.
Source: Fortune/CNN Money, IMF
Berkshire Hathaway is bigger than Hungary
Hungary’s GDP: $128.96 billion
Berkshire Hathaway’s Revenue: $136.19 billion
Berkshire Hathaway would rank as the world’s 57th biggest economy.
Source: Fortune/CNN Money, IMF
General Electric is bigger than New Zealand
New Zealand’s GDP: $140.43 billion
GE’s Revenue: $151.63 billion
GE would rank as the world’s 52nd biggest country.
Source: Fortune/CNN Money, IMF
Fannie Mae is bigger than Peru
Peru’s GDP: $152.83 billion
Fannie mae’s Revenue: $153.83 billion
Fannie Mae would rank as the world’s 51st biggest country.
Source: Fortune/CNN Money, IMF
Conoco Phillips is bigger than Pakistan
Pakistan’s GDP: $174.87 billion
Conoco Phillip’s Revenue: $184.97 billion
Conoco Phillips would rank as the world’s 48th biggest country.
Source: Fortune/CNN Money, IMF
Chevron is bigger than the Czech Republic
Czech Republic’s GDP: $192.15 billion
Chevron’s Revenue: $196.34 billion
Chevron would rank as the world’s 46th biggest country.
Source: Fortune/CNN Money, IMF
Exxon Mobil is bigger than Thailand
Thailand’s GDP: $318.85 billion
Exxon Mobil’s Revenue: $354.67 billion
Exxon Mobil would rank as the world’s 30th biggest country.
Source: Fortune/CNN Money, IMF
Walmart is bigger than Norway
Norway’s GDP: $414.46 billion
Walmart’s Revenue: $421.89 billion
Walmart would rank as the world’s 25th biggest country.
Source: Fortune/CNN Money, IMF