World Top 30 companies – January 2023

In a rapidly evolving world of innovation, digitalization, and changing behaviors, understanding what the leaders do is essential. From technology giants to consumer goods, this list of the world’s top 30 companies presents those who shape our lives, influence our choices, and drive economic trends.

Whether you are an investor, a business professional, a student, or someone with a keen interest in the corporate landscape, this meticulously curated list of the world’s top 30 companies provides invaluable insights.

So why should you delve into this list? It’s simple. Knowing the key players equips you with the knowledge to foresee market trends, make informed decisions, and understand the intricate tapestry of the global business environment.

Key insights from the list of the World’s Top 30 Companies in January 2023

The companies in this list represent a diverse array of sectors, from technology to healthcare, showcasing the multifaceted nature of the global economy. The tech sector stands out prominently with giants like Apple, Microsoft, and Alphabet, highlighting the growing reliance on technology and digital services, fueled by innovations in software, hardware, and internet services. The combined market capitalization of these three behemoths alone is a staggering $4.01 trillion.

Apple, the crown jewel, boasts a market cap of $2.067 trillion, emphasizing its unwavering dominance in consumer electronics and its ubiquitous influence on our daily lives. In contrast, Coca-Cola, the beverage titan sitting at the 30th spot, has a market cap of “only” $275.23 billion, exemplifying the vast disparities in market valuation within this elite club.

The healthcare sector also makes a substantial appearance, with companies like Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer underscoring the crucial role of pharmaceuticals and healthcare products in a world grappling with public health challenges. The significance of this sector has been particularly magnified in the backdrop of global health crises.

Consumer goods and retail sectors are exemplified by corporations like Amazon, Procter & Gamble and Walmart, portraying the sustained demand for essential and consumer products and the colossal scale of retail operations globally. Walmart’s vast market cap of $382.41 billion is reflective of its extensive global reach and diversified product offerings, but it is pale in comparison with Amazon’s $856.94 billion domination thanks to its digital-first approach.

Energy giants like Aramco and ExxonMobil reveal the undying relevance of the oil and gas industry, despite the global shift towards sustainable energy. Aramco’s colossal market cap of SR7.070 trillion (~$ 1.8 trillion) emphasizes the enormity of the energy sector and its intertwined relations with global economies.

Geographically, the predominance of U.S. companies on this list accentuates the sustained economic hegemony of the United States in the global arena, housing diverse industry leaders from various sectors.

List of the top 30 companies in the World ranked by market capitalization, as of January 1st, 2023

To help you learn more about these corporations, details about the top 30 US companies have been collected hereafter. Each company is listed with links to detailed analysis of its, country, sector and industry, together with links to further insights on the company’s profile, market capitalization, stock evolution and link to its website. The companies are ranked by market capitalization in US Dollars equivalent, as of effective close on January 1st, 2023.

Shortcuts to each company

To facilitate your browsing in this long list, here are quick links to go directly to the details of any of the world’s top 30 companies.

30. Coca-Cola

Country: United States | Sector: Consumer Staples | Industry: Beverages—Non-Alcoholic

Founded in 1886, the Coca-Cola Company is involved in the manufacturing, retail, and marketing of nonalcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups. It is primarily known for its sparkling sodas including Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Fanta, and Sprite, but is also engaged in still beverages, such as waters, juices, and juice drinks, ready-to-drink teas, and coffees, sports drinks, dairy, and energy drinks.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: $275.23 B | Stock: NYSE:KO | coca-colacompany.com

29. Merck

Country: United States | Sector: Healthcare | Industry: Drug Manufacturers—General

Merck & Company, Inc., known as Merck Sharp & Dohme, or MSD, outside the United States and Canada, is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. Founded in 1891 in the US, and independent since World War I from its parent company, now one of the largest companies in Germany, Merck provides prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and animal health products.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: $281.30 B | Stock: NYSE:MRK | merck.com

28. AbbVie

Country: United States | Sector: Healthcare | Industry: Drug Manufacturers—General

AbbVie Inc. is a pharmaceutical company. It is dedicated to the research and development, manufacturing, and marketing of medicine for a number of chronic diseases including autoimmune diseases, leukemia, lymphoma, hepatitis C, and HIV. It is also engaged in the treatment of pancreatic, thyroidal, and other hormonal insufficiencies.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: $285.80 B | Stock: NYSE:ABBV | abbvie.com

27. Pfizer

Country: United States | Sector: Healthcare | Industry: Drug Manufacturers—General

Pfizer Inc. is one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical corporations, developing and producing diverse medicines and vaccines. Its leading products include Lipitor (to lower LDL blood cholesterol), Lyrica (for neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia), Diflucan (antifungal medication), Zithromax (antibiotic), Viagra (for erectile dysfunction), and Celebrex (anti-inflammatory drug).

Company Profile | Market Cap.: $287.40 B | Stock: NYSE:PFE | pfizer.com

26. Samsung

Country: South Korea | Sector: Technology | Industry: Consumer Electronics

Samsung Electronics is a global electronics and information technology company. It offers a range of products including digital TVs, monitors, air conditioners, refrigerators, mobile phones, and computers. It also produces semiconductor and display products like memory chips, foundry, system LSI, LCD and OLED panels. Additionally, Samsung provides connected car systems, enterprise automation solutions, medical equipment, software development, digital advertising platforms, and mobile payment services.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: ₩371.685 T | Stock: KRX:005930 | samsung.com

25. Novo Nordisk

Country: Denmark | Sector: Healthcare | Industry: Biotechnology

Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company involved in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of pharmaceutical products. It operates through two segments: Diabetes and Obesity care, providing products for insulins, GLP-1, oral antidiabetic products, obesity, and other chronic diseases; and Biopharm, offering products for haemophilia, growth disorders, and hormone replacement therapy.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: kr.2.118 T | Stock: OMXC:NOVO.B | novonordisk.com

24. Kweichow Moutai

Country: China | Sector: Consumer Staples | Industry: Beverages—Wineries & Distilleries

Kweichow Moutai is an alcoholic beverage company, specialized in the production of baijiu spirit. One of the most famous baijiu brands in China, Kweichou Moutai is widely known throughout China, offering a range of different baijiu spirits. The company has diversified into a number of other foods and beverages, packaging material, and anti-counterfeiting technology.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: CN¥2.169 T | Stock: SSE:600519 | moutaichina.com

23. Meta

Country: United States | Sector: Communication Services | Industry: Internet Content & Information

Facebook, Inc. is an online social media and social networking service. Originally limited to students, Facebook has gradually opened its services to anyone above 13 years old, reaching now more than 2 billion across the world. It can be accessed through any device connected to the internet and allows users to customize profiles, post text, photos, and multimedia which is shared with their friends on Facebook. They can also join interest groups, receive messages and notifications, and use various other embedded applications.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: $319.89 B | Stock: NASDAQ:META | investor.fb.com

22. Home Depot

Country: United States | Sector: Consumer Discretionary | Industry: Home Improvement Retail

The Home Depot Inc. is a retailing company that sells tools, home improvement supplies, construction products, and services. Home Depot is the largest home improvement retailer in the United States, also operating in Canada and Mexico.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: $321.92 B | Stock: NYSE:HD | homedepot.com

21. Mastercard

Country: United States | Sector: Financials | Industry: Credit Services

Mastercard Incorporated is a multinational financial services corporation. It is primarily involved in the processing of payments between the merchants’ banks and the card-issuer of customers using a Mastercard brand debit, credit, or prepaid card to make purchases.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: $335.25 B | Stock: NYSE:MA | mastercard.com

20. Chevron

Country: United States | Sector: Energy | Industry: Oil & Gas Integrated

Chevron Corporation is an energy multinational company involved in every aspect of the oil, natural gas, and geothermal energy industries in more than 180 countries. Chevron operates in hydrocarbon exploration and production, hydrocarbon refining, marketing and transport, chemicals manufacturing and sales, and power generation.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: $347.07 B | Stock: NYSE:CVX | chevron.com

19. Lilly

Country: United States | Sector: Healthcare | Industry: Drug Manufacturers—General

Eli Lilly and Company, more simply known as Eli Lilly or just Lilly, is a pharmaceutical company. Founded in 1876, Eli Lilly is engaged in the research, development, manufacturing, and marketing of insulin and endocrinology products for diabetes, psychiatric medication including Prozac, as well as treatments for osteoporosis, human growth hormone deficiency, pediatric growth conditions, autoimmune diseases, and diverse types of cancers.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: $347.61 B | Stock: NYSE:LLY | lilly.com

18. Procter & Gamble

Country: United States | Sector: Consumer Staples | Industry: Household & Personal Products

Founded in 1837, the Procter & Gamble Company, also known as P&G, is a multinational consumer goods corporation providing a wide range of personal health/consumer health and personal care and hygiene products in the segments of beauty, grooming, healthcare, fabric and home, and baby, feminine and family care.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: $359.15 B | Stock: NYSE:PG | pginvestor.com

17. Nvidia

Country: United States | Sector: Technology | Industry: Semiconductors

Nvidia Corporation is a company developing graphics processing units – GPUs – for the gaming and professional markets, and “system on a chip” units – SoCs – for the mobile computing and automotive market. It operates the GeForce brand of GPUs, Tegra mobile processors, and expanded in gaming with the Shield brand of handled devices, tablets, and Android TV. Nvidia now also produces chips for supercomputers, especially powering artificial intelligence and scientific research applications.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: $364.18 B | Stock: NASDAQ:NVDA | nvidia.com

16. TSMC

Country: Taiwan | Sector: Technology | Industry: Semiconductors

TSMC and its subsidiaries engage in manufacturing, packaging, testing, and selling integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices worldwide. The company uses complementary metal oxide silicon processes to produce logic, mixed-signal, radio frequency, and embedded memory semiconductors.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: TW$11.630 T | Stock: TWSE:2330 | tsmc.com

15. LVMH

Country: France | Sector: Consumer Discretionary | Industry: Luxury Goods

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, more simply known as LVMH, is a multinational luxury goods conglomerate. The global leader in the sector of luxury, LVMH controls a portfolio of more than 70 prestigious brands in wine and spirits, Château d’Yquem, Moët & Chandon, Veuve Cliquot, Krug, Hennessy, and Glenmorangie, as well as in fashion and jewelry with Louis Vuitton, Dior, Givenchy, Céline, Kenzo, Fendi, Guerlain, Marc Jacobs, Chaumet, Thomas Pink, Tiffany & Co., and Bulgari. It operates in distribution with Sephora and Le Bon Marché, and luxury hotels with Cheval Blanc Courchevel and Belmond hospitality group. Besides, LVMH is also involved in media through Les Échos, Le Parisien, and Radio Classique.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: €356.75 B | Stock: Euronext:MC | lvmh.com

14. Walmart

Country: United States | Sector: Consumer Staples | Industry: Discount Stores

Walmart Inc. is a multinational retail corporation operating a chain of hypermarkets, discount department stores, and grocery stores. Walmart is the world’s largest company by revenue, employing more than 2.3 million people in 28 countries.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: $382.41 B | Stock: NYSE:WMT | stock.walmart.com

13. Tesla

Country: United States | Sector: Consumer Discretionary | Industry: Auto Manufacturers

Tesla, Inc. is an electric vehicle and clean energy company. It produces electric cars, including sedans, sports cars and pick-up trucks, and electric powertrain components and systems, and related services, as well as energy generation and storage systems including batteries, solar roof tiles, and solar panels through its subsidiary SolarCity.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: $388.97 B | Stock: NASDAQ:TSLA | tesla.com

12. JPMorgan

Country: United States | Sector: Financials | Industry: Banks—Diversified

JPMorgan Chase & Co. is a multinational investment bank and financial services company headquartered in New York City. With origins dating back to 1799, JPMorgan Chase has become one of the world’s largest universal banks operating worldwide. It is involved in retail and commercial as well as in investment banking, asset management, private banking, private wealth management, and treasury services.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: $393.34 B | Stock: NYSE:JPM | jpmorganchase.com

11. Tencent

Country: China | Sector: Communication Services | Industry: Internet Content & Information

Tencent is an investment holding company operating globally, providing online advertising services, FinTech, and cloud and IT services. The company is also engaged in social networking, online games, film and television production, investment, distribution, copyrights licensing, merchandise sales, software development, asset management, online literature, and online music entertainment services.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: HK$3.315 T | Stock: HKEX:0700 | tencent.com

10. Visa

Country: United States | Sector: Financials | Industry: Credit Services

Visa Inc., is a multinational financial services corporation facilitating electronic funds transfers throughout the world. It operates payment products that financial institutions use to offer credit, debit, prepaid, and cash access programs to their customers via Visa-branded credit cards, gift cards, and debit cards.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: $439.56 B | Stock: NYSE:V | usa.visa.com

9. ExxonMobil

Country: United States | Sector: Energy | Industry: Oil & Gas Integrated

Exxon Mobil Corporation, more commonly known as ExxonMobil, is the world’s largest energy company, operating in the exploration, production, transportation, and sale of crude oil and natural gas. ExxonMobil is also engaged in the manufacturing, transportation, and sale of petroleum products, markets commodity petrochemicals, and a range of specialty products.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: $454.25 B | Stock: NYSE:XOM | corporate.exxonmobil.com

8. Johnson & Johnson

Country: United States | Sector: Healthcare | Industry: Drug Manufacturers—General

Johnson & Johnson is a multinational medication, first aid supplies, and consumer packaged goods manufacturing and sales company founded in 1886. Regrouping numerous famous brands, Johnson & Johnson’s line of products notably includes Band-Aid, Tylenol, Johnson’s baby products, Neutrogena, Clean & Clear, and Acuvue.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: $461.85 B | Stock: NYSE:JNJ | jnj.com

7. UnitedHealth Group

Country: United States | Sector: Healthcare | Industry: Healthcare Plans

UnitedHealth Group is the largest healthcare company in the world by revenue, offering diversified health care products and insurance services. It serves clients through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare which provides health care coverage and benefits services, and Optum which provides information and technology-enabled health services.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: $495.37 B | Stock: NYSE:UNH | unitedhealthgroup.com

6. Berkshire Hathaway

Country: United States | Sector: Financials | Industry: Financial Conglomerates

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is a multinational conglomerate holding company. It wholly owns GEICO, Duracell, Dairy Queen, BNSF, Lubrizol, Fruit of the Loom, Helzberg Diamonds, Long & Foster, FlightSafety International, Pampered Chef, and NetJets, and also has significant shares of Pilot Flying J, Kraft Heinz Company, American Express, Wells Fargo, The Coca-Cola Company, Bank of America, Apple, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and American Airlines. Berkshire Hathaway also acquired a number of smaller companies in a wide variety of industries, including confectionery, retail, railroads, home furnishings, encyclopedias, manufacturers of vacuum cleaners, jewelry sales, newspaper publishing, manufacture and distribution of uniforms, and several regional electric and gas utilities.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: $682.32 B | Stock: NYSE:BRK.B | berkshirehathaway.com

5. Amazon

Country: United States | Sector: Consumer Discretionary | Industry: Internet Retail

Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational technology company focused on e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. It started as an online bookstore that later diversified to a wide array of products. Amazon has become the uncontested leader of e-commerce in the US, and after having expanded to many countries, it has also developed further into brick-and-mortar retail with the acquisition of Whole Foods Market, as well as publishing, electronics, cloud computing, video streaming, and production, among other investments.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: $856.94 B | Stock: NASDAQ:AMZN | amazon.com

4. Alphabet

Country: United States | Sector: Communication Services | Industry: Internet Content & Information

Alphabet Inc. is a multinational technology conglomerate, created from the corporate restructuring of Google, which is now its subsidiary together with several other services. The Google search engine, advertising business, and associated services are the largest part of Alphabet’s activities, with other subsidiaries including Calico (biotechnology), Chronicle (cybersecurity), DeepMind (artificial intelligence), GV (venture capital), CapitalG (private equity), X (R&D), Google Fiber (fiber internet services), Jigsaw (tech incubator), Makani (wind turbines), Sidewalk Labs (urban innovation), Verily (life sciences), Waymo (self-driving tech), Wing (drone-based delivery) and Loon (internet provider via stratospheric balloons).

Company Profile | Market Cap.: $1.145 T | Stock: NASDAQ:GOOG | abc.xyz

3. Microsoft

Country: United States | Sector: Technology | Industry: Software—Infrastructure

Microsoft Corporation is a multinational technology company developing, manufacturing, licensing, supporting, and selling computer software, most notably the Windows operating systems, the Microsoft Office suite, Internet Explorer and Edge web browsers. It is also involved in consumer electronics with the Xbox video game consoles, touchscreen personal computers with Microsoft Surface, and related services.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: $1.788 T | Stock: NASDAQ:MSFT | microsoft.com

2. Aramco

Country: Saudi Arabia | Sector: Energy | Industry: Oil & Gas Integrated

Saudi Aramco, is an integrated oil and gas firm operating globally. The company has two main segments: Upstream, dealing with exploration, development, production, and sales of crude oil and natural gas, and Downstream, focusing on the production of various chemicals, refining operations, and trading in refined petroleum and chemical products. It also provides services such as oil storage, consulting, and transportation.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: SR7.070 T | Stock: Tadawul:2222 | aramco.com

1. Apple

Country: United States | Sector: Technology | Industry: Consumer Electronics

Apple Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets mobile phones and media devices, computers, notably the iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPod, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. The company also conceives and sells a range of related software and services: the iPhone OS (iOS), OS X and watchOS operating systems, iCloud, and Apple Pay. Apple also sells accessories, support offerings, and third-party digital content and applications.

Company Profile | Market Cap.: $2.067 T | Stock: NASDAQ:AAPL | apple.com

This compilation provides a kaleidoscopic view of the corporate giants steering the global economy, and it is more than just a list—it’s a reflection of market dynamics, consumer preferences, innovation, and economic power. Understanding these corporations offers a lens into the future trajectory of markets, innovation trends, and economic shifts.

Whether you are contemplating investment opportunities, researching market trends, or just satiating your curiosity, reflecting on the dynamics of these corporations can yield profound insights. For those eager to delve even deeper, our range of tailored analytical tools and reports are just a click away, offering even more insights and updated data with our World market and companies analysis.

So, what do you think about these powerhouses of the global economy? How will they shape the future landscape of business, innovation, and consumer behavior? Join the conversation, share your thoughts, and let’s explore the boundless horizons of the corporate world together.