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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The market capitalization of companies in the United States was almost nine times than that of China in 2024, making up a large share of the world's total market capitalization. Listed companies in the U.S. had a total market capitalization of over 61 trillion U.S. dollars - against seven trillion U.S. dollars recorded by second-placed China in 2024. Japan ranked third with a total market capitalization of just over 4.7 trillion U.S. dollars.

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.

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.

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.

With a market capitalization of 3.12 trillion U.S. dollars as of May 2024, Microsoft was the world’s largest company that year. Rounding out the top five were some of the world’s most recognizable brands: Apple, NVIDIA, Google’s parent company Alphabet, and Amazon. Saudi Aramco led the ranking of the world's most profitable companies in 2023, with a pre-tax income of nearly 250 billion U.S. dollars. How are market value and market capitalization determined? Market value and market capitalization are two terms frequently used – and confused - when discussing the profitability and viability of companies. Strictly speaking, market capitalization (or market cap) is the worth of a company based on the total value of all their shares; an important metric when determining the comparative value of companies for trading opportunities. Accordingly, many stock exchanges such as the New York or London Stock Exchange release market capitalization data on their listed companies. On the other hand, market value technically refers to what a company is worth in a much broader context. It is determined by multiple factors, including profitability, corporate debt, and the market environment as a whole. In this sense it aims to estimate the overall value of a company, with share price only being one element. Market value is therefore useful for determining whether a company’s shares are over- or undervalued, and in arriving at a price if the company is to be sold. Such valuations are generally made on a case-by-case basis though, and not regularly reported. For this reason, market capitalization is often reported as market value. What are the top companies in the world? The answer to this question depends on the metric used. Although the largest company by market capitalization, Microsoft's global revenue did not manage to crack the top 20 companies. Rather, American multinational retailer Walmart was ranked as the largest company in the world by revenue. Walmart also had the highest number of employees in the world.

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.

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.

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.

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.

While the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic caused all major stock market indices to fall sharply in March 2020, both the extent of the decline at this time, and the shape of the subsequent recovery, have varied greatly. For example, on March 15, 2020, major European markets and traditional stocks in the United States had shed around 40 percent of their value compared to January 5, 2020. However, Asian markets and the NASDAQ Composite Index only shed around 20 to 25 percent of their value. A similar story can be seen with the post-coronavirus recovery. As of November 14, 2021 the NASDAQ composite index value was around 65 percent higher than in January 2020, while most other markets were only between 20 and 40 percent higher.

Why did the NASDAQ recover the quickest?

Based in New York City, the NASDAQ is famously considered a proxy for the technology industry as many of the world’s largest technology industries choose to list there. And it just so happens that technology was the sector to perform the best during the coronavirus pandemic. Accordingly, many of the largest companies who benefitted the most from the pandemic such as Amazon, PayPal and Netflix, are listed on the NADSAQ, helping it to recover the fastest of the major stock exchanges worldwide.

Which markets suffered the most?

The energy sector was the worst hit by the global COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, oil companies share prices suffered large declines over 2020 as demand for oil plummeted while workers found themselves no longer needing to commute, and the tourism industry ground to a halt. In addition, overall share prices in two major stock exchanges – the London Stock Exchange (as represented by the FTSE 100 index) and Hong Kong (as represented by the Hang Seng index) – have notably recovered slower than other major exchanges. However, in both these, the underlying issue behind the slower recovery likely has more to do with political events unrelated to the coronavirus than it does with the pandemic – namely Brexit and general political unrest, respectively.

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.

The value of the DJIA index amounted to 43,191.24 at the end of March 2025, up from 21,917.16 at the end of March 2020. Global panic about the coronavirus epidemic caused the drop in March 2020, which was the worst drop since the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008. Dow Jones Industrial Average index – additional information The Dow Jones Industrial Average index is a price-weighted average of 30 of the largest American publicly traded companies on New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ, and includes companies like Goldman Sachs, IBM and Walt Disney. This index is considered to be a barometer of the state of the American economy. DJIA index was created in 1986 by Charles Dow. Along with the NASDAQ 100 and S&P 500 indices, it is amongst the most well-known and used stock indexes in the world. The year that the 2018 financial crisis unfolded was one of the worst years of the Dow. It was also in 2008 that some of the largest ever recorded losses of the Dow Jones Index based on single-day points were registered. On September 29th of 2008, for instance, the Dow had a loss of 106.85 points, one of the largest single-day losses of all times. The best years in the history of the index still are 1915, when the index value increased by 81.66 percent in one year, and 1933, year when the index registered a growth of 63.74 percent.