10 Largest Companies in the World
Education10 Largest Companies in the World
These are the ten largest companies in the world based upon yearly sales. The list is dominated by oil companies. The United States leads the list with 3 of the largest companies in the world being based in America. China and Japan have two of the largest companies each while England technically does too but one of the companies has dual headquarters in London and the Netherlands. The other largest company in the world is based in Saudi Arabia.
1) Wal-Mart (WMT) - $419 billion in annual sales
Image Source (Sam's Club is owned by Wal-Mart)
Wal-Mart is based in Bentonville, Arkansas where founder Sam Walton started the company in 1962. Wal-Mart has grown to become the biggest company in the world with annual sales of $419 billion dollars because they always outsmart the competition which allows them to charge lower prices. Wal-Mart today employs almost 2.2 million people worldwide.
2) Royal Dutch Shell (RDS-A and RDS-B) - $348 billion
With headquarters in both The Hague, Netherlands and London, England oil company Royal Dutch Shell is the second largest company in the world with sales of $348 billion dollars. Royal Dutch Shell employs some 115,000 people worldwide and is the largest oil company in the world today.
3) Exxon-Mobil (XOM) - $330 billion
Exxon-Mobil is the 3rd largest company in the world with sales of $330 billion dollars and the 2nd largest oil company in the world. Based in Irving, Texas, Exxon-Mobil was founded by John D. Rockefeller in 1870 and today employees over 80,000 people worldwide.
4) British Petroleum or BP (BP) - $289 billion
BP is the 4th largest company in the world with revenues of $289 billion dollars. BP seems to have weathered the Gulf Oil Spill thought litigation from the spill will likely drag on for years. BP is based in London and employs some 100,000 people worldwide.
5) China Petroleum and Chemical (SNP) - $262 billion
China Petroleum and Chemical is based in the Chaoyang District in Beijing, China. This is currently the largest company in China by sales and 5th largest company in the world. China Petroleum and Chemical employs some 650,000 people in China and is a publicly traded company with a stock symbol of SNP.
6) Toyota (TM) - $242 billion
Image Source (Toyota Prius Hybrid car for sale)
Toyota is the largest car maker in the world by annual sales. Based in Aichi, Japan this world class automobile company had its share of trouble in 2010 having to recall millions of its vehicles for improper acceleration and brake problems. Toyota employs some 320,000 people worldwide.
7) Saudi Aramco - $233.3 billion (2008 figure)
Image Source (Saudi Aramco headquarters in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia)
Saudi Aramco is the national oil company of Saudi Arabia. Because it owns the largest oil field in the world the massive Ghawar Field in Saudi Arabia, Saudi Aramco has the largest proven reserves of oil in the world. Saudi Aramco employs some 55,000 people and is headquartered in the city of Dhahran - see photo above.
8) Japan Post Holdings - $201 billion
Japan Post Holdings is the government run postal delivery service in Japan. Japan Post Holdins has its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.
9) Chevron (CVX) - $186 billion
Image Source by Antandrus (Chevron solar panels in California)
Chevron is a major oil company based in San Ramon, California. With annual sales of $186 billion dollars Chevron is the 9th largest company in the world and 3rd largest in the United States. Chevron employs some 62,000 people worldwide.
10) State Grid Corporation of China - $185 billion (2009)
Image Source by Cobble CC (Beijing, China at night)
The State Grid Corporation of China is the largest electric company in the world and is headquartered in the Xicheng District in Beijing, China. The State Grid of China employs some 1.5 million people in China.
For more see 10 Largest Companies in the United States
10 Largest Buildings in the World
10 Tallest Buildings and Structures in the World
Largest Economies in the World
10 Longest Suspension Bridges in the World
10 Largest Oil Producing Countries in the World
Sources:Yahoo! Finance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companies_by_revenue