What are the biggest companies in the world? Try to answer this question with a single metric (like sales) and you wind up with a lopsided list (one cluttered with retailers). We use four measures -- sales, market value, assets and profits -- to produce a composite measure of bigness. We also scorecard these companies to produce Global High Performers, an elite list of fast-growing big companies that set the pace for their respective industries.
In Pictures
Featured
Why Globalization is Good
Robyn Meredith and Suzanne Hoppough
Multinationals are trashed as exploiters of the poorest people on the planet. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
The Cost Of Corruption
Steve Kichen and Samantha N. Wong
An important survey rates nations on bribery, cronyism, nepotism and their impact on business competitiveness.
As The World Turns
Tim Ferguson
How dynamic capitalism continually reshapes the roster of the world's largest companies.
The Next People's Car
Robyn Meredith
Tata Motors' plans would produce, in real terms, by far the cheapest car ever made.
I'll Handle That
Jonathan Fahey
Global trade is getting more complex. Expeditors International is one middleman you don't want to eliminate.
Meeting the Halal Test
Carla Power and Ioannis Gatsiounis
Nestlé mastered elaborate religious rules to sell its products in the Islamic world. It's paid off with $3 billion in annual sales.
Basics R Us
Megha Bahree
Britian's Hanson has simplified itself in building materials supply, and the U.S. has the demand.
A New Calling
Megha Bahree
In Afghanistan a private mobile phone company is wiring a devastated country--and daring to put women to work.
Climbing Onto The Forbes Global 2000
Paul M. Murdock
These companies improved their financial performance enough to qualify for the Forbes Global 2000.
Joining The Club
Paul M. Murdock
Asia bucks an American trend and goes public.
Spinoff Newcomers
These newcomers were spun off from members of the Global 2000.
Global 2000 Winners And Losers
Paul M. Murdock
Chinese global companies delivered some of the biggest investment returns over the past 12 months.
Canada's Largest Public Companies
Forbes.com Staff
Financial firms and energy companies are the country's corporate behemoths.
Forbes Global 2000 Contenders
Jon Bruner
Looking just past the bottom of our big list, we find some attractive companies.
Download: PDA Version of The World's 2000 Largest Public Companies
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