How Many Publicly Traded Companies Exist Worldwide

There are over 44,000 publicly traded companies worldwide, according to a recent report. This staggering number is a testament to the global reach of publicly traded companies.

In 2020, the total market capitalization of the world's publicly traded companies exceeded $90 trillion. This massive figure represents the combined value of all publicly traded companies worldwide.

The majority of publicly traded companies are listed on major exchanges, such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the NASDAQ. These exchanges provide a platform for companies to raise capital and increase their visibility.

The rise of emerging markets has led to an increase in the number of publicly traded companies in regions like Asia and Latin America.

The London Stock Exchange, or LSE, is a significant player in the global market, but its size has been declining. As of September 2023, the LSE Group has a market cap of $3.42 trillion, making it the ninth-largest exchange in the world.

The LSE has been around for a long time, with an estimated founding in 1801. That's nearly a decade after the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) opened its doors.

There are currently 1,908 companies trading on the LSE, a significant drop from the 3,305 companies trading in Q4 2007. This decline is likely due to various factors, including pension managers moving from stocks to government debt and the adverse regulatory environment.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) is a significant player in the global market, with a market cap of $6.15 trillion as of December 2023.

It's part of the Japan Exchange Group (JPX), which is the fifth-largest exchange in the world. The JPX was formed by combining the TSE, the Osaka Securities Exchange, and the Tokyo Commodity Exchange.

Around 3,930 firms were listed on the TSE at the end of 2023, giving investors a vast array of options to choose from. The TSE is estimated to have first opened in 1878, making it a long-established and respected institution.

The Nikkei 225 index is one of the primary and most popular indexes that represent some of the largest and most successful firms in Japan.

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) has dropped in size, with the LSE Group now the ninth-largest exchange in the world with a market cap of $3.42 trillion as of September 2023.

Its estimated founding was 1801, nearly a decade following the opening of the NYSE.

Only 1,908 companies are trading on the LSE as of Q2 2023, a significant drop from 3,305 in Q4 2007.

The number of companies trading on the LSE has been steadily decreasing over the years.

A whole host of factors are contributing to this decline, including pension managers moving from stocks to government debt and the adverse regulatory environment.

The Hong Kong Stock Exchange is one of the top 10 largest stock exchanges, representing a total market capitalization of $3.97 trillion as of December 2023.

Over 2,500 companies are listed on the exchange as of January 25, 2024, making it a significant platform for global investors.

The exchange is a primary avenue for global investors to invest in China, providing access to a vast market.

The Shanghai Stock Exchange, on the other hand, is one of the newest in the world, having opened in late 1990.

It lists 2,853 companies as of December 2023, but with a major restriction: A-shares of Chinese companies are only available to citizens living in China.

H-shares of Chinese companies, however, are listed on the Hong Kong Exchange and are open to global investors.

The oldest stock exchange in the world is the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, which dates back to 1602. It's hard to believe that's over 400 years old!

The first public company ever was the Dutch East India Company, which listed on this exchange. This marked the beginning of modern stock trading.

The Amsterdam Stock Exchange paved the way for other stock exchanges to emerge in various regions around the world. Today, almost every region has its own stock exchange where companies can list their shares.

Over 10,000 stocks trade on OTC markets, offering a significant number of investment options.

If you're considering trading on OTC markets, it's essential to understand the sheer volume of stocks available.

These markets provide a platform for companies to list their shares, making it possible for investors to buy and sell them.

The vast number of stocks on OTC markets can be overwhelming, but it also presents opportunities for diversification and growth.

By choosing to trade on OTC markets, you can potentially tap into a wider range of investment opportunities.

The total number of listed companies at the end of Q1 2022 was 58,200, a 0.2% increase from Q4 2021 and a 2.5% increase from Q1 2021.

In 2022, the number of listed companies in the Americas region accounted for 20% of the global number, while APAC accounted for 55%. EMEA made up the remaining 25%.

The top ten exchanges that grew their number of listings the most year-on-year are presented in Table 1, with the Bulgarian Stock Exchange showing a 47.1% increase, followed closely by Euronext with a 31.8% increase.

You can access over 1 million statistics on listed domestic companies worldwide, dating back to 1975.

These statistics include source references, making it easy to verify the information.

The data only includes companies that have shares listed on an exchange at the end of the year.

Investment funds, unit trusts, and holding companies are excluded from the count.

A company with multiple classes of shares is still counted as one entity.

Only companies that have been admitted to listing on an exchange are included in the statistics.

Here's a snapshot of the data:

The number of listed companies has been steadily increasing over the years. At the end of Q1 2022, the total number of listed companies stood at 58,200, a 2.5% increase from Q1 2021.

Domestic companies account for 92% of the total listed companies, while foreign companies make up the remaining 8%. The top ten exchanges that grew their number of listings the most year-on-year are presented in Table 1.

The number of listed companies has been steadily increasing over the years, with a 0.2% uptick from Q4 2021 to Q1 2022.

Did you know that the oldest publicly traded companies are still thriving today? The oldest company in the world is the Dutch East India Company, which was founded in 1602 and is now a subsidiary of the Royal Dutch Shell company.

The oldest company in the US is the Bank of New York Mellon, which was founded in 1784 and is still a major financial institution.

As for the largest companies, the top 5 largest publicly traded companies in the world are Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet (Google's parent company), and Facebook.

These companies have managed to stay ahead of the game by adapting to changing market trends and technologies, and have become household names as a result.

According to the latest data, there are over 4,000 publicly traded companies in the US alone. This number has been steadily increasing over the years.

The growth of the stock market can be attributed to the rise of the internet and social media, making it easier for companies to go public and for investors to access the market.

Many of these companies are listed on the major stock exchanges, such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the NASDAQ. The NYSE has over 2,400 listed companies, while the NASDAQ has over 3,000.

The largest publicly traded companies are often referred to as "unicorns", with valuations exceeding $1 billion. These companies are typically tech startups that have achieved rapid growth and success.

So, to wrap up our exploration of publicly traded companies, let's take a look at the numbers. As of December 2023, there are approximately 55,214 listed companies worldwide.

The growth in listed companies is a significant trend, and it's worth noting that Asia is where we're seeing significant growth. The Americas and Europe have large numbers of listed companies, but Asia is where the action is.

The largest stock exchange in the world is the New York Stock Exchange, which is a familiar name for many of us. But it's not the only big player - other large stock exchanges include the Nasdaq, the National Stock Exchange of India, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the Singapore Stock Exchange, and the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

Here are some of the world's largest stock exchanges, ranked by their number of listed companies: