In 2025, stock markets in the United States accounted for roughly ** percent of world stocks. The next largest country by stock market share was China, followed by the European Union as a whole. 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 value of global domestic equity market increased from ***** trillion U.S. dollars in 2013 to ****** trillion U.S. dollars in 2024. 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 ** 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 ** 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 a market cap of *** billion U.S. dollars as of March 2025.

The average for 2022 based on 75 countries was 1225.97 billion U.S. dollars. The highest value was in the USA: 40297.98 billion U.S. dollars and the lowest value was in Bermuda: 0.21 billion U.S. dollars. The indicator is available from 1975 to 2024. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

About:

This dataset encompasses the historical data of major stock indices from around the world, sourced directly from Yahoo Finance. With data reaching back to the early 1920s (where available), it serves as an invaluable repository for academic researchers, financial analysts, and market enthusiasts. Users can delve into trends across decades, evaluate historical market behaviors, or even design and validate predictive financial models.

Photo by Tötös Ádám on Unsplash

Info on CSVs:

1. all_indices_data.csv:

   • Description: A consolidated dataset merging all the stock indices from Yahoo Finance.
   • Columns:
     • date: The date of the data point (formatted as YYYY-MM-DD).
     • open: The opening value of the index on that date.
     • high: The highest value of the index during the trading session.
     • low: The lowest value of the index during the trading session.
     • close: The closing value of the index.
     • volume: The trading volume of the index on that date.
     • ticker: The ticker symbol of the stock index.

2. individual_indices_data/[SYMBOL]_data.csv:

   • Description: Individual datasets for each stock index, where [SYMBOL] denotes the ticker symbol of the respective stock index. Each dataset is curated from Yahoo Finance's historical data archives.
   • Columns:
     • date: The date of the data point (formatted as YYYY-MM-DD).
     • open: The opening value of the index on that date.
     • high: The highest value of the index during the trading session.
     • low: The lowest value of the index during the trading session.
     • close: The closing value of the index.
     • volume: The trading volume of the index on that date.

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is the largest stock exchange in the world, with an equity market capitalization of almost ** trillion U.S. dollars as of November 2025. The following largest three exchanges were the NASDAQ, PINK Exchange, and the Frankfurt Exchange. 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.

The average for 2021 based on 87 countries was 32.21 percent. The highest value was in Venezuela: 991.39 percent and the lowest value was in Botswana: -6.38 percent. The indicator is available from 1984 to 2021. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

The average for 2022 based on 74 countries was 34.95 percent. The highest value was in Hong Kong: 794.22 percent and the lowest value was in Azerbaijan: 0 percent. The indicator is available from 1975 to 2022. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

The global stock market demonstrates a robust growth trajectory, poised for significant expansion in the coming decade. Projections indicate the market will surge from approximately $9.55 trillion in 2021 to over $23.85 trillion by 2033, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.926%. This growth is underpinned by strong corporate earnings, technological advancements in trading, and increasing participation from retail investors. While North America currently dominates in terms of market size, the Asia-Pacific region is emerging as the fastest-growing hub, driven by the burgeoning economies of India and China. Factors such as monetary policies, geopolitical stability, and regulatory environments will continue to be pivotal in shaping regional market dynamics and overall global performance.

Key strategic insights from our comprehensive analysis reveal:

The Asia-Pacific region is the primary growth engine for the global stock market, exhibiting the highest CAGR of 9.112%, with nations like India and China leading this rapid expansion.
North America, particularly the United States, will maintain its position as the largest market by value, commanding a significant share of the global total, despite a slightly more moderate growth rate compared to APAC.
There is a consistent and broad-based growth trend across all major global regions, indicating widespread investor confidence and economic recovery, though the pace of expansion varies, highlighting diverse investment opportunities and risks.

Global Market Overview & Dynamics of Stock Market Analysis The global stock market is on a path of sustained and significant growth, driven by a confluence of economic, technological, and social factors. The market is forecast to expand from $9.55 trillion in 2021 to nearly $23.86 trillion by 2033. This expansion reflects growing global wealth, increased corporate profitability, and the continuous innovation in financial technologies that makes investing more accessible. However, this growth is not without its challenges, as markets must navigate through geopolitical tensions, inflationary pressures, and evolving regulatory landscapes that can introduce volatility and uncertainty.

Global Stock Market Drivers

Favorable Economic Conditions: Broad-based global GDP growth, coupled with supportive monetary policies from central banks in major economies, stimulates corporate investment and boosts earnings, attracting investors to equity markets.
Technological Innovation and Accessibility: The proliferation of online trading platforms, robo-advisors, and mobile investing apps has democratized access to stock markets, leading to a surge in retail investor participation.
Corporate Profitability and IPO Activity: Strong and resilient corporate earnings growth, along with a healthy pipeline of Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) from innovative companies, continually injects fresh capital and opportunities into the market.

Global Stock Market Trends

Rise of ESG Investing: There is a rapidly growing trend of investors integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria into their investment decisions, pushing companies to adopt more sustainable practices.
Increased Focus on Emerging Markets: Investors are increasingly allocating capital to emerging markets, particularly in the Asia-Pacific and South American regions, in pursuit of higher growth potential compared to more mature markets.
Growth of Passive Investing: The shift towards passive investment strategies, such as index funds and Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), continues to gain momentum due to their lower costs and broad market exposure.

Global Stock Market Restraints

Geopolitical Instability and Trade Disputes: International conflicts, trade wars, and political uncertainty can disrupt global supply chains, dampen investor sentiment, and lead to significant market volatility.
Inflation and Interest Rate Hikes: Persistent inflationary pressures force central banks to raise interest rates, which increases borrowing costs for companies and can make less risky assets like bonds more attractive relative to stocks.
Regulatory Scrutiny and Complexity: Stricter regulations on financial markets, data privacy, and corporate governance can increase compliance costs and limit certain market activities, potentially hindering growth.

Strategic Recommendations for Manufacturers

Prioritize market entry and expansion s...

Global equity markets have seen significant growth and regional shifts over the past decade. The ******** region has solidified its position as the dominant player, with its domestic equity market value surging from **** trillion U.S. dollars in 2013 to an impressive ***** 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 ** percent of world stocks in 2024. This dominance is 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 ** 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 ***** trillion U.S. dollars in 2013 to ***** 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 ***** globally in single stock options contracts traded in 2024, which highlights the increasing sophistication and diversity of global financial markets beyond traditional powerhouses.

Graph and download economic data for Stock Market Total Value Traded to GDP for United States (DDDM02USA156NWDB) from 1975 to 2019 about market cap, stock market, trade, GDP, and USA.

Context

Stock Exchange is a market that allows you to buy and sell securities including shares of stock, bonds, and other financial instruments in a public venue. Stock markets enable companies to be traded publicly and raise capital. Stock markets promote investment. The raising of capital allows companies to grow their businesses, expand operations and create jobs in the economy. This investment is a key driver for economic trade, growth, and prosperity.

Content

This dataset consists of 15 years of data of some of the world's most-followed stock indices from various developed and emerging markets. The data includes the opening, closing, high, low, adjusted close and total volume of transactions that occurred on a given day.

Inspiration

People who invest in stock must be familiar with the Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Shanghai stock exchange as a few biggest exchanges in the list of largest stock exchanges in the world. But there are some other large stock exchanges that are tracked on a daily basis by traders and investors to gauge the global market sentiment. During the past 15 years, a few of these markets have also outperformed their global peers in terms of the total return delivered.

This statistic shows the largest global stock exchanges globally as of March 2025, ranked by the value of electronic order book share trading. In that time, the NYSE Stock Market was the largest stock exchange worldwide, with the value of EOB shares traded amounting to *** 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 stockbrokers, 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 ***** billion U.S. dollars.

Twelve Data is a technology-driven company that provides financial market data, financial tools, and dedicated solutions. Large audiences - from individuals to financial institutions - use our products to stay ahead of the competition and success.

At Twelve Data we feel responsible for where the markets are going and how people are able to explore them. Coming from different technological backgrounds, we see how the world is lacking the unique and simple place where financial data can be accessed by anyone, at any time. This is what distinguishes us from others, we do not only supply the financial data but instead, we want you to benefit from it, by using the convenient format, tools, and special solutions.

We believe that the human factor is still a very important aspect of our work and therefore our ethics guides us on how to treat people, with convenient and understandable resources. This includes world-class documentation, human support, and dedicated solutions.

The average for 2022 based on 75 countries was 74.88 percent. The highest value was in Hong Kong: 1273.23 percent and the lowest value was in Armenia: 1.29 percent. The indicator is available from 1975 to 2024. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Graph and download economic data for Stock Market Capitalization to GDP for World (DISCONTINUED) (DDDM011WA156NWDB) from 1975 to 2015 about market cap, stock market, capital, and GDP.

Graph and download economic data for Stock Market Capitalization to GDP for United States (DDDM01USA156NWDB) from 1975 to 2020 about market cap, stock market, capital, GDP, and USA.

Prices for Global Equity Index including live quotes, historical charts and news. Global Equity Index was last updated by Trading Economics this December 2 of 2025.

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.

Stock Exchanges Market Outlook

The global stock exchanges market size is projected to grow from USD 85 billion in 2023 to USD 130 billion by 2032, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.8%. This steady growth is underpinned by a multitude of factors, including advancements in trading technology, the increasing complexity of financial instruments, and the rising participation of retail and institutional investors in global financial markets. The proliferation of electronic trading platforms, alongside traditional stock exchanges, is also contributing significantly to the growth of this market, providing enhanced accessibility, transparency, and efficiency in trading operations worldwide.

A key growth factor driving the expansion of the stock exchanges market is the ongoing digital transformation across the financial sector. With the advent of sophisticated trading technologies such as algorithmic trading and high-frequency trading, stock exchanges are increasingly adopting cutting-edge IT infrastructures to handle large volumes of trade data with superior accuracy and speed. Furthermore, the development of blockchain technology is poised to revolutionize clearing and settlement processes, reducing costs and the time taken for transaction finalization. This technological evolution is not only enhancing the operational efficiency of stock exchanges but also broadening the scope for innovative financial products, thereby attracting a wider array of market participants.

Another significant driver is the globalization of financial markets, which has led to a convergence in trading practices and regulations. As cross-border investments surge, stock exchanges are compelled to offer diverse products and services to cater to a global clientele. This necessitates continuous improvements in trading platforms and regulatory frameworks to manage the complexities associated with international investments. Additionally, increasing wealth in emerging economies is spurring investment activities, thereby boosting the demand for reliable and efficient stock exchanges. These dynamics are fueling the growth of the market by fostering an environment conducive to investment and financial inclusivity.

The increasing interest from retail investors is also a major factor contributing to the growth of the stock exchanges market. The advent of user-friendly trading apps and platforms has democratized stock trading, enabling retail investors to participate actively in financial markets. Enhanced financial literacy and the widespread availability of information have empowered individual investors to make informed decisions, leading to an upsurge in market participation. This rise in retail trading volume is prompting stock exchanges to innovate and expand their offerings to accommodate this burgeoning segment, thus driving market growth.

Regionally, North America continues to dominate the stock exchanges market, driven by the presence of major exchanges such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ. However, the Asia Pacific region is emerging as a formidable player due to rapid economic growth, regulatory reforms, and technological advancements in countries like China, India, and Japan. The region is witnessing a significant influx of foreign capital, bolstering trading activities and propelling market expansion. Europe also holds a substantial share, supported by its mature financial markets and strong institutional investor base. Meanwhile, Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are exhibiting potential for growth, albeit at a relatively slower pace, as they develop their financial infrastructures and regulatory environments.

Type Analysis

The stock exchanges market is bifurcated into traditional stock exchanges and electronic trading platforms, each serving distinct roles in the financial ecosystem. Traditional stock exchanges have long been the cornerstone of financial markets, operating as centralized venues where securities are bought and sold. These exchanges, such as the NYSE and London Stock Exchange, are characterized by their stringent regulatory frameworks and structured trading environments, which instill confidence and trust among market participants. Despite the technological advancements, traditional exchanges continue to hold a significant share of the market due to their established reputations and the comprehensive services they offer, including listing, trading, and settlement.

On the other hand, electronic trading platforms have gained momentum in recent years, driven by the demand for greater efficiency and flexibility in trading. These platf

United States US: Stocks Traded: Total Value data was reported at 39,785.881 USD bn in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 42,071.330 USD bn for 2016. United States US: Stocks Traded: Total Value data is updated yearly, averaging 17,934.293 USD bn from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2017, with 34 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 47,245.496 USD bn in 2008 and a record low of 1,108.421 USD bn in 1984. United States US: Stocks Traded: Total Value data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Financial Sector. The value of shares traded is the total number of shares traded, both domestic and foreign, multiplied by their respective matching prices. Figures are single counted (only one side of the transaction is considered). Companies admitted to listing and admitted to trading are included in the data. Data are end of year values converted to U.S. dollars using corresponding year-end foreign exchange rates.; ; World Federation of Exchanges database.; Sum; Stock market data were previously sourced from Standard & Poor's until they discontinued their 'Global Stock Markets Factbook' and database in April 2013. Time series have been replaced in December 2015 with data from the World Federation of Exchanges and may differ from the previous S&P definitions and methodology.