The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is the largest stock exchange in the world, with an equity market capitalization of just below 32 trillion U.S. dollars as of January 2025. The following three exchanges were the NASDAQ, Shanghai Stock Exchange, and the Japan Exchange Group. What is a stock exchange? A stock exchange is a marketplace where stockbrokers, traders, buyers, and sellers can trade in equities products. The largest exchanges have thousands of listed companies. These companies sell shares of their business, giving the general public the opportunity to invest in them. The oldest stock exchange worldwide is the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, founded in the late sixteenth century. Other functions of a stock exchange Since these are publicly traded companies, every firm listed on a stock exchange has had an initial public offering (IPO). The largest IPOs can raise billions of dollars in equity for the firm involved. Related to stock exchanges are derivatives exchanges, where stock options, futures contracts, and other derivatives can be traded.

Based on the total number of companies listed, the Japan Exchange Group was the largest stock exchange operator in the world as of Janaury 2025, with 3,968 companies listed. Of these, only six were foreign companies, with the remaining being domestic. The stock exchange with the highest number of international companies at this time was the U.S. Nasdaq, with 871. However, despite only having the seventh-highest number of companies, the New York Stock Exchange has the highest market capitalization of any stock exchange operator.

The value of global domestic equity market increased from 65.04 trillion U.S. dollars in 2013 to 124.63 trillion U.S. dollars in 2023. The United States was by far the leading country with the largest share of total world stocks as of 2024. Global market capitalization in different regions The market capitalization of domestic companies listed varied across different regions of the world. As of Decmber 2024, the Americas region had the largest domestic equity market, totaling 62 trillion U.S. dollars. This region is home to the NYSE and Nasdaq, which are the two largest stock exchange operators in the world. The market capitalization of these two exchanges alone exceeded 60 billion U.S. dollars as of January 2025, larger than the total market capitalization in the Asia-Pacific, and in the EMEA regions in the same period. Largest Stock Exchanges in Latin America As of December 2024, the B3 (Brasil Bolsa Balcao) was the biggest stock exchange in Latin America in terms of market capitalization and the second-largest in terms of number of listed companies. Following the B3 were the Mexican Stock Exchange and the Santiago Stock Exchange in Chile. The most valuable company in Latin America is listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange: Fomento Económico Mexicano, a multinational beverage and retail company headquartered in Monterrey, had market cap of 177 billion U.S. dollars as of March 2025.

This statistic shows the largest global stock exchanges globally as of October 2024, ranked by the value of electronic order book share trading. In that time, the NASDAQ Stock Market was the largest stock exchange worldwide, with the value of EOB shares traded amounting to 2.6 trillion U.S. dollars. Stock exchanges - additional information Stock exchanges are an important part of the free market economic system and are the most important component of the stock market. A stock exchange provides the setting in which stock brokers, sellers, buyers and traders can be brought together to take part in the sale of shares, bonds, derivatives and other securities. The core function of a stock exchange is to enable the fair and orderly trading, as well as the provision of price information of any securities being traded on that exchange. Originally the exchanges were physical places (in some world locations the goods are still traded over-the-counter) but with time, they took the shape of an electronic platform. In order that company shares may be bought, traded and sold on a stock exchange, the company is required to have undergone an initial public offering process (IPO) on that particular exchange. The initial public offering of Alibaba Group Holding, a Chinese company operating in the e-commerce sector, on the New York Stock Exchange in September 2014, was the largest listing in the United States since 1996. The IPO of Alibaba Group Holding raised approximately 21.77 billion U.S. dollars.

In 2024, stock markets in the United States accounted for roughly 60 percent of world stocks. The next largest country by stock market share was Japan, followed by the United Kingdom. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the NASDAQ are the largest stock exchange operators worldwide. What is a stock exchange? The first modern publicly traded company was the Dutch East Industry Company, which sold shares to the general public to fund expeditions to Asia. Since then, groups of companies have formed exchanges in which brokers and dealers can come together and make transactions in one space. Stock market indices group companies trading on a given exchange, giving an idea of how they evolve in real time. Appeal of stock ownership Over half of adults in the United States are investing money in the stock market. Stocks are an attractive investment because the possible return is higher than offered by other financial instruments.

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) continues to dominate the Americas' financial landscape, boasting a staggering market capitalization of over 28 trillion U.S. dollars as of March 2024. This figure dwarfs its closest regional competitor, Nasdaq, which stands at approximately 25.4 trillion U.S. dollars. The sheer scale of these American exchanges underscores their critical role in global finance, with the NYSE alone surpassing the combined market cap of all other listed exchanges in the Americas. Global competition and innovation While U.S. exchanges lead in market capitalization, other global markets are showing strength in different areas. India's stock exchanges, for instance, have become hotbeds for initial public offerings (IPOs). In 2024, the National Stock Exchange of India and Bombay Stock Exchange collectively hosted 327 IPO deals, more than double the 137 deals on Nasdaq. This surge in IPO activity reflects India's growing economic influence and the increasing appeal of its capital markets to both domestic and international companies. Diversity in exchange metrics Market capitalization is just one measure of an exchange's significance. While third in market cap among American exchanges, for instance, the TMX Group in Canada leads the continent in the number of listed companies with 3,569 as of December 2024. This diversity in metrics highlights the multifaceted nature of stock exchange comparisons and the importance of considering various factors when assessing their global impact and appeal to companies seeking public listing.

While nearly every country in Europe has a stock exchange, only five are considered major, and have a market capital of over one trillion U.S dollars. European stock exchanges make up two of the top ten global major stock markets. Europe’s biggest stock exchange is the Euronext which combines five markets based in Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, London, Oslo and Paris. Euronext The Euronext Stock Exchange saw a significant increase in total market capitalization between 2021 and 2022, before increasing again during 2023. As of March 2024, the luxury goods company LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton was the largest company listed on the Euronext Stock Exchange in terms of market capitalization. Globally, the Euronext Stock Exchange is the fourth largest. London Stock Exchange The London Stock Exchange (LSE) was the second largest stock exchange in Europe and ninth globally in terms of market capitalization of domestic listed companies. As of May 2024, there were 1,775 companies trading on the LSE with the LSE's combined market capitalization amounting to approximately 3.86 trillion British pounds during the same period.

As of December 2024, the Shanghai Stock Exchange had the largest domestic market capitalization among stock exchanges in the Asia Pacific region, amounting to approximately 7.2 trillion U.S. dollars. Second in the ranking was the Shanghai Stock Exchange Group, followed by the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Stock exchanges in Asia PacificThe major stock exchanges in the Asia-Pacific region are the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Japan, the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchange in Mainland China, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in Hong Kong, and the Bombay Stock Exchange in India, which is also the oldest stock exchange in Asia. Also, five out of the ten largest stock exchange operators in the world are located in Asia.What is market capitalization?Market capitalization, also commonly referred to as market cap, is a measure of the total market value of outstanding shares of a company on the stock market. It indicates a company’s relative size and value while taking various determinants such as risk and the market’s perception into consideration. There are large-cap (>10 billion), mid-cap (2 to 10 billion) and small-cap (300 million to 2 billion) companies depending on their market capitalization.

This statistic shows the largest stock exchanges in the world by their market value as of February 14, 2011. It was found that CME Group was the second largest stock exchange in 2011, with market capitalization amounting to approximately 20.3 billion U.S. dollars.

The number of domestic companies listed on the Nasdaq and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) has seen some fluctuations since 2018. As of the end of 2023, the NYSE had a total of 2,132 listed domestic and international companies, while the figure for the Nasdaq was much higher, standing at 3,289 . Despite this, the NYSE has a higher market capitalization than the Nasdaq. What are the top listed companies? The NYSE has been a home for stable and long-lasting firms, also known as “blue-chip” companies. For example, Berkshire Hathaway, established in 1839, is the largest company traded on the NYSE. On the other hand, the Nasdaq has been known for listing major tech companies. For instance, Apple is the largest company listed on the Nasdaq. As of 2024, both companies were among the biggest companies in the world in terms of market capitalization. Which stock exchange has the most companies worldwide? Although the NYSE and the Nasdaq are the world’s largest two stock market operators by market capitalization, the Japan Exchange Group (JPX) is the biggest stock exchange in the world based on the number of companies. The JPX was created in 2013 through the merger of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Osaka Securities Exchange and is also one of the largest stock exchanges in the world based on total market capitalization.

As of January 2025, the largest stock exchange in Europe was the Euronext, with a total market capitalization of around 6.2 trillion U.S. dollars. Euronext was formed in 2000, and is a pan-European stock exchange seated in Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin London, Lisbon Paris and Oslo. In 2021, Euronext added the Milan Stock Exchange, which was previously operated by the LSE Group.

As of 2025, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange was the oldest existing stock exchange, having been in operation for 440 years. The youngest major exchange at this time was the Korea Exchange, which has been in operation for 20 years. Note these values refer to stock market operators, meaning historical exchanges in places like as the Amsterdam or Paris are counted from the founding of the Euronext, not from when the original stock exchange was founded in that city.

Based in Toronto, the TMX Canada was the largest stock exchange in the Americas as of December 2024 in terms of companies listed, with 3,569. The B3 - Brasil Bolsa Balcao was the largest in South America, with 339 companies. Stock exchange size The number of companies is a straightforward way to measure the size of a stock exchange, but there are others. For example, market capitalization, or market cap, refers to the number of shares available on the exchange multiplied by the price per share. This paints a picture of the financial size of the exchange. Another metric is the measure of capital raised, which gives an idea of the profitability of the exchange for the companies listed. Why measure stock exchanges? A stock exchange is essentially a place where people can buy shares in a company. In principle, one can go online and buy from any of the exchanges in this statistic. However, companies choose where to offer their stock for a variety of reasons. These initial public offerings (IPOs) take place in the countries chosen by the company as the place in which that company can best earn money. This affects the inflow of money into the market, and a vibrant exchange will help established firms as well. On the supply side, an economy can profit from the securities industry as well. For these reasons and others, analysts pay close attention to the size of exchanges.

While nearly every country in Europe has a stock exchange, only five are considered major, and have a market capital of over one trillion U.S dollars. European stock exchanges make up two of the top ten global major stock markets. Europe’s biggest stock exchanges are the Euronext which combines five markets, and the London Stock Exchange. Since the Covid-19 outbreak all of Europe’s largest exchanges all saw large drops in total market capital value between January and March 2020. Since March, all major stock exchanges in Europe have been in recovery. Coronavirus First reported from Wuhan, China, on 31 December 2019, the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has massively affected stock exchanges and the financial sector globally. Approximately 210 countries and territories worldwide have been affected by the COVID-19 virus. Euronext As Europe’s largest stock exchange, Euronext consists of the Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon and Paris stock markets. As of the end of 2022, companies trading on the Euronext stock exchange had a combined market capitalization of approximately seven trillion euros.

The NYSE U.S. 100 Index tracks the largest U.S. companies traded on the New York Stock Exchange. This statistic shows the leading 20 companies on the NYSE U.S. 100 Index by market capitalization. As of January 28, 2024 the multinational conglomerate company Berkshire Hathaway ranked as the first, with a market capitalization of over 900 billion euros. This was followed by Eli Lilly and JP Morgan Chase, with market capitalizations amounting to 695 billion and 678 billion euros respectively. NYSE U.S. 100 Index vs. Nasdaq 100 Index The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq are the largest two stock exchanges in the world, but they differ in the kinds of companies they list. The NYSE is known to list stable and long-lasting firms, commonly referred to as “blue-chip” companies. In contrast, the Nasdaq is renowned for listing the world’s biggest companies, mainly from the tech industry. Similar to the NYSE U.S. 100 Index, the Nasdaq 100 Index tracks the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq exchange, including both U.S. and non-U.S. companies. The leader of the NYSE U.S. 100 index: Berkshire Hathaway Berkshire Hathaway, the leader of the NYSE U.S. 100 Index, was also among the world's largest companies by revenue in 2023. The company is a multinational conglomerate and holding company with insurance as its core business and interests in other sectors such as railroad, utilities and energy, finance. In fact, Berkshire was the world's biggest insurance company by revenue in 2023. As a holding company, it has significant stakes in some of the world’s largest companies, including Apple, Bank of America and Coca-Cola. With its diverse background in various businesses and industries, Berkshire Hathaway had a total revenue of 365 billion U.S. dollars in 2023.

The total market capitalization of German companies listed on the Frankfurt Stock exchange reached 2.21 trillion euros at the end of 2021. This is above the values found at the end of 2019 and 2017, indicating that Germany's stock market has largely recovered from the financial crash precipitated by the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020. At the end of 2023, the total market capitalization of German companies listed on the Frankfurt Stock exchange closed at 1.97 trillion euros, a significant decrease compared to the previous year. What is the Frankfurt Stock Exchange? While there are seven stock exchanges in Germany, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange is by far the most important, accounting for around 90 percent of transactions. Run by Deutsche Börse AG, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange is comprised of two exchange trading venues: the traditional trading floor of the Börse Frankfurt, and the electronic trading platform Xetra (which in turn is divided into domestic and international markets). Xetra counts for the vast majority of the trading volume of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. As an electronic platform, the technology behind Xetra is used by other stock exchanges around the world, strengthening the Frankfurt Stock Exchange’s competitive position while facilitating its capacity to handle international trading. As a result, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange is one of the largest stock exchanges in the world, sitting just outside the global top 10. The DAX Index The most important indicator of the German share market is the DAX index, which is comprised of the 30 largest German companies trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Some of the more famous companies included in the index are: car manufactures like Volkswagen, BMW and Daimler; clothing and shoe manufacturer Adidas; industrial companies BASF and Siemens; and pharmaceutical company Bayer. Following the DAX is the MDAX index, which covers the 60 next-largest German companies by market cap, then the SDAX index, comprised of the 70 next-largest companies after the MDAX.

Global equity markets have seen significant growth and regional shifts over the past decade. The Americas region has solidified its position as the dominant player, with its domestic equity market value surging from 28.3 trillion U.S. dollars in 2013 to an impressive 67.26 trillion U.S. dollars by 2024. U.S. dominance in global stock markets The United States continues to be the powerhouse of global equity markets, accounting for approximately 60 percent of world stocks in 2024. This dominance is largely driven by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ, which are the two largest stock exchange operators worldwide. The NYSE alone boasts an equity market capitalization exceeding 31 trillion U.S. dollars as of December 2024, making it the largest stock exchange globally, which underscores the country's central role in global finance and investment. Regional market dynamics and emerging players While the Americas region leads in market capitalization, other regions are also experiencing growth and evolution. The Asia-Pacific region has seen its market value increase from 18.52 trillion U.S. dollars in 2013 to 37.76 trillion U.S. dollars in 2024, reflecting the rising economic influence of countries in this area. Notably, the Teheran Exchange has emerged as a significant player in the derivatives market, ranking first globally in single stock options contracts traded in 2024, which highlights the increasing sophistication and diversity of global financial markets beyond traditional powerhouses.

The National Stock Exchange of India cemented its place as the largest derivatives exchange in the world in 2023. Mumbai-based NSE traded nearly 85 billion derivatives contracts in 2023, followed by the Brazilian exchange, B3, with 8.3 billion contracts. What is a derivative? A derivative is a financial instrument that is based on an underlying asset, such as an equity, commodity, or currency. It can be traded over-the-counter or on an exchange. The most common types of derivatives are futures, options, forwards and swaps. How large is the derivative market? There are billions of derivatives traded globally every year. The largest markets for derivatives trading are Asia Pacific and North America. Currency options and futures alone contribute hundreds of millions of dollars in volume to the largest exchanges. Much of this volume is due to large corporations trying to hedge risk. For example, an international corporation may invest in a currency derivative to ensure that it can buy a particular currency at or below a certain price at some point in the future, protecting against an unfavorable shift in the exchange rate.

As of March 2025, the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca was the leading company listed on the London Exchange (LSE), with a market capitalization of 184 billion British pounds. This made them the largest of all all companies listed on the LSE. Seen as the heart of the global financial community, the London Stock Exchange is the second largest stock market in Europe and ranks eighth globally. Key information The London Stock Exchange (LSE) is among the largest stock market operators globally and ranks 11th in terms of the oldest stock exchanges in existence, with 224 years of operation as of 2025. Performance after Covid The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound effect on the global economy, causing considerable volatility on the stock market. The London Stock Exchange (LSE) saw a notable decline in the market capitalization value of its listed companies, reaching its lowest value in March 2020 at approximately three trillion British pounds in correlation with a surge in the average daily number of trades, which peaked at over two billion. Following this initial reaction, the LSE observed a decrease in the average daily active traders, alongside a gradual recovery in the market capitalization of the listed companies.

Between January and December 2024, the India was the leading stock market worldwide in terms of IPO proceeds, with new listing on the National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange raising nearly 20 billion U.S. dollars. The Nasdaq was second in the list, with IPO proceeds reaching 17.2 billion U.S. dollars.