The World Economy Going Into 2025 ...

Are you a glass half full or a glass half empty person? The recent economic news cycle has certainly been playing on people's fears.

There is a lot of good news and reasons to be confident and excited about what's to come.

Sure, you can focus on the $100 trillion global debt ... but you could also focus on how U.S. states' GDPs compare to global GDPs.

Today, let's look at the $115 trillion global economy. For what it's worth, America is still the dominant force.

 

via VisualCapitalist

America has topped the list for over 100 years and will comfortably continue that reign in 2025. China comes in second, and together, they account for approximately two-fifths of global GDP. That said, China is comparatively a newcomer to their spot - with about 15 years here. 

While we top the list, the fastest-growing economies would go to countries like India, Australia, and Brazil - which are all expected to rise the ranks in the coming years. 

The trend to watch here is what will happen in the Middle East, with Syria overthrowing their government and the Israel-Palestine conflict continuing and impacting the supply chain of surrounding countries as well. 

It will also be interesting to see how Trump's re-election and the continuing Russia-Ukraine conflict affect global trends.

Looking beyond traditional economic metrics, I believe artificial intelligence will emerge as one of the most critical factors driving power, progress, and wealth creation in the coming years. It's likely to become both the most coveted resource and the capability we'll most actively seek to deny our adversaries.

The real story of 2025's global economy isn't just told with GDP rankings. While America and China dominate those numbers, traditional economic metrics are becoming less relevant in a world where regional conflicts, supply chain dynamics, and technological innovation can reshape global power dynamics overnight. In the longer term, birth rates and the growth of middle-class infrastructure are strong predictors of what lies ahead. GDP alone doesn't measure what truly matters in the modern global economy.

What indicators are you watching?