China as Number 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are the 25+ metrics in which China is already No. 1 in the world: 

• PPP GDP 
• Manufacturing 
• Exports 
• Foreign exchange reserves 
• Banking system 
• Size of middle class 
• EV manufacturing/sales 
• Solar and wind energy capacity 
• Patents 
• STEM and PhD graduates 
• Best universities for engineering and computer science 
• PPP R&D spending 
• Supercomputers (in Top 500 list) 
• Rare earth minerals – mining as well as refining 
• Largest navy (in number of ships) 
• Industrial robots 
• Retail market (#1 or close #2) 
• Luxury market 
• Spending by outbound international tourists 
• 5G users and base stations 
• IPO and billionaires (depending on the year and the reports) 
• Scientific papers – quantity and quality 
• Fortune 500 firms 
• E-commerce market size 
• Production of steel, cement, aluminium and electricity 
• Medium hi-tech manufacturing 
• Worldwide market share of smartphones, drones, household appliances 
• High-speed rail and Expressways 
• Skyscrapers 
• Busiest container seaports 
• Expressways (length) 
• Subway/metro system (length) 
• Top 10 of richest individuals in the world 
  

Source: SL Kanthan, a geopolitical analyst based in Bangalore, India – on Twitter: @Kanthan2030.