As of May 2025, more than 5,500 companies listed on stock exchanges worldwide were worth more than one billion U.S. dollars. While a growing number of these giants are emerging out of India and the broader Asia-Pacific region, no country or region is even close to the United States, home to the largest number of billion-dollar companies.
According to data presented by Stocklytics.com, the United States counts an impressive 1,873 listed billion-dollar companies as of last month, more than the next eight economies combined.
A Massive 365% Gap Between the U.S. and the Second-Ranked Japan
Thanks to its deep and liquid capital markets, backed by world-leading venture capital, top universities, and a regulatory system that supports business growth, the United States has become a global powerhouse for billion-dollar companies.
The country`s thriving tech sector, strong investor appetite, and a business environment that rewards innovation have made the U.S. the world’s most fertile ground for scaling businesses to billion-dollar status, leaving all other countries and regions far behind. The Visual Capitalist data show just how huge that gap is.
As of last month, the United States counted 1,873 public companies with a market capitalization of over one billion dollars, more than a third of the world`s total. That’s also more than the combined total of the next eight economies, Japan, India, Canada, United Kingdom, China, Australia, Germany, and France, highlighting the depth and scale of the U.S. capital markets.
Even more striking is the 365% gap between the U.S. and second-ranked Japan, home to 404 of these stock market giants. India stands close with 348 billion-dollar companies, followed by Canada, the U.K., and China, which count around 200. Statistics show Australia, Germany, and France are closer to the 100 mark, with 143 and 131 companies, respectively. Greece and Luxembourg were at the back of the list, with just 21 billion-dollar companies listed on their stock exchanges.
The U.S. has the Highest Number of Billion-Dollar Companies and the Most Overvalued Stock Market
The comparison between the billion-dollar companies and the U.S. population gives another staggering perspective. As of last month, the U.S. had roughly five billion-dollar companies per million residents. Although quite impressive, the valuation of these giants remains a major concern, raising questions about the market stability.
In 2025, the U.S. stock market is expected to hit a $54.8 trillion value, 3.8% less than last year. Still, the Buffett Indicator, which compares total stock market capitalization to GDP, stands at a staggering 183, down slightly from 198 last year, but still well into overvalued territory.
This figure is even more striking compared to other regions and the global market. Statista data show the Buffett Index for the global stock market dropped from 121 to 112 year-over-year, signalling moderate overvaluation. Europe and Asia posted far lower ratios of 86 and 94, respectively, showing their markets remain closer to fair value.
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