The world RICHEST in a changing WORLD...

World's Richest Governments

We know the world's richest man is Carlos Slim Helu of Mexico, 

After the two richest men in the world , Bill Gates n Warrent Buffet , gave away most of their fortune to charity ) 

You'll have to check with Forbes for the rest.

How about governments?

Which government is the richest (having most money that is, in US$)?

If you are expecting North American and European nations, wrong .........

While the countries may look rich, wealthy European nations can't withstand a prolonged major financial crisis, just like Greece.

The USA might have the biggest economy, but the American government is not at all rich;

(in fact, it can't even take out US$150bn if asked to now without resorting to borrowing.)

To date the US government has borrowed $14.5 trillion!

The UK, likewise, while the country/people are well off, the government isn't. 

The UK government's debt stands at $9 trillion now!

The World's Richest Governments immediately after the 2008-2009 financial crisis are: -

1.    P R of China

National reserves: $2,454,300,000,000

2.    Japan

National reserves: $1,019,000,000,000

3.    Russia

National reserves: $458,020,000,000

4.    Saudi Arabia

National reserves: $395,467,000,000

5.    Taiwan (ROC)

National reserves: $362,380,000,000

6.    India

National reserves: $279,422,000,000

7. South Korea

National reserves: $274,220,000,000

8.    Switzerland

National reserves: $262,000,000,000

9.    Hong Kong, China

National reserves: $256,000,000,000

10.          Brazil

National reserves: $255,000,000,000

Here are the rest, in million US$:

11 Singapore / 203,436

12 Germany / 189,100

13 Thailand / 150,000

14 Algeria / 149,000

15 France / 140,848

16 Italy / 133,104

17 United States / 124,176

18 Mexico / 100,096

19 Iran / 96,560

20 Malaysia / 96,100

21 Poland / 85,232

22 Libya / 79,000

23 Denmark / 76,315

24 Turkey / 71,859

25 Indonesia / 69,730

26 United Kingdom / 69,091

27 Israel / 62,490

28 Canada / 57,392

29 Norway / 49,223

30 Iraq / 48,779

31 Argentina / 48,778

32 Philippines / 47,650

33 Sweden / 46,631

34 United Arab Emirates / 45,000

35 Hungary / 44,591

36 Romania / 44,056

37 Nigeria / 40,480

38 Czech Republic / 40,151

39 Australia / 39,454

40 Lebanon / 38,600

41 Netherlands / 38,372

42 South Africa / 38,283

43 Peru / 37,108

44 Egypt / 35,223

45 Venezuela / 31,925

46 Ukraine / 28,837

47 Spain / 28,195

48 Colombia / 25,141

49 Chile / 24,921

50 Belgium / 24,130

51 Brunei / 22,000

52 Morocco / 21,873

53 Vietnam / 17,500

54 Macau / 18,730

55 Kazakhstan / 27,549

56 Kuwait / 19,420

57 Angola / 19,400

58 Austria / 18,079

59 Serbia / 17,357

60 Pakistan / 16,770

61 New Zealand / 16,570

62 Bulgaria / 16,497

63 Ireland / 16,229

63 Portugal / 16,254

64 Croatia / 13,720

65 Jordan / 12,180

66 Finland / 11,085

67 Bangladesh / 10,550

68 Botswana / 10,000

69 Tunisia / 9,709

70 Azerbaijan / 9,316

71 Bolivia / 8,585

72 Trinidad and Tobago / 8,100

73 Yemen / 7,400

74 Uruguay / 8,104

75 Oman / 7,004

76 Latvia / 6,820

77 Lithuania / 6,438

78 Qatar / 6,368

79 Cyprus / 6,176

80 Belarus / 6,074

81 Syria / 6,039

82 Uzbekistan / 5,600

83 Luxembourg / 5,337

84 Guatemala / 5,496

85 Greece / 5,207

86 Bosnia and Herzegovina / 5,151

87 Cuba / 4,247

88 Costa Rica / 4,113

89 Equatorial Guinea / 3,928

90 Ecuador / 3,913

91 Iceland / 3,823

92 Paraguay / 3,731

93 Turkmenistan / 3,644

94 Estonia / 3,583

95 Malta / 3,522

96 Myanmar / 3,500

97 Bahrain / 3,474

98 Kenya / 3,260

99 Ghana / 2,837

100 El Salvador / 2,845

101 Sri Lanka / 2,600

102 Cambodia / 2,522

103 Côte d'Ivoire / 2,500

104 Tanzania / 2,441

105 Cameroon / 2,341

106 Macedonia / 2,243

107 Dominican Republic / 2,223

108 Papua New Guinea / 2,193

109 Honduras / 2,083

110 Armenia / 1,848

111 Slovakia / 1,809

112 Mauritius / 1,772

113 Albania / 1,615

114 Kyrgyzstan / 1,559

115 Jamaica / 1,490

116 Mozambique / 1,470

117 Gabon / 1,459

118 Senegal / 1,350

119 Georgia / 1,300

120 Panama / 1,260

121 Sudan / 1,245

122 Zimbabwe / 1,222

123 Slovenia / 1,105

124 Moldova / 1,102

125 Zambia / 1,100

126 Nicaragua / 1,496

127 Mongolia / 1,000

128 Chad / 997

129 Burkina Faso / 897

130 Lesotho / 889

131 Ethiopia / 840

132 Benin / 825

133 Namibia / 750

134 Madagascar / 745

135 Barbados / 620

136 Laos / 514

137 Rwanda / 511

138 Swaziland / 395

139 Togo / 363

140 Cape Verde / 344

141 Tajikistan / 301

142 Guyana / 292

143 Haiti / 221

144 Belize / 150

145 Vanuatu / 149

146 Malawi / 140

147 Gambia / 120

148 Guinea / 119

149 Burundi / 118

150 Seychelles / 118

151 Samoa / 70

152 Tonga / 55

153 Liberia / 49

154 Congo / 36

155 São Tomé and Príncipe / 36

156 Eritrea / 22

Big national reserves doesn't guarantee prosperity however, for instance, the yearly expenses for China's government is $1.11 trillion, their government must always think of economic growth and making more money.  The PRC overspent $110bn last year, much of it towards modernizing their military, if it goes on like this their reserves can only last for 22 yrs.

The Malaysian gov't overspent $13bn last year, if it goes on like this their reserves can only last for 7 yrs.

The Singaporean government overspent $3bn last year, much of it rescuing their banks from financial crisis, if it goes on like this their reserves can last 68 yrs.

The Swiss gov't overspent $1bn last year, if it goes on like this their reserves can last 262 yrs.

A country normally can borrow up to 100% its GDP.  A very strong industrial country or very financial stable nation can borrow up to perhaps 200% its GDP, debts over 250% GDP the country is bankrupt.

Greece's debt is 113.40% GDP, in danger as it is not considered a strong industrial or financial country, as we already know.

Iceland's debt is 107.60% GDP, also in crisis as it is not so strong industrially or financially.

Singapore's debt is 113.10%, not in hot water due to its global financial hub status, and also its financial strength.  It's only dangerous for Singapore when it reaches 200%.

Japan's debt is 189.30%, still under radar as a powerful Industrial nation.  It needs to panic only at around 200%.

The US has the world largest debt, but it is only 62% of its GDP, it is not in any immediate danger of bankruptcy.

Zimbabwe's debt is 282.60% GDP, it is a kaput nation.

Malaysia's debt is currently At 53.70% GDP.... would have been much better if not for billions wasted thru corruption and mismanagement by UMNO.

Hong Kong and Taiwan are doing pretty good with debts at 32-37% GDP.

South Korea is even better with debts at 23.5% GDP.

China is very stable with debts at 16.90% GDP.

Russia is like a big mountain with debts @ only at 6.30% GDP.

There are only 5 countries with no debt, and are all comparatively small:

Brunei, Liechtenstein, Palau, Nieu, and Macau (China)\