The fact that China has 1.3 billion people, though, means that GDP per head – a typical measure of individual wealth – remains well behind leading economies. Germany's 85 million people were far ahead of China in this category in 2007 at €28,200 euros per head ($38,800).

 The Chinese government says 100 countries in the world enjoy a higher income per head than it does.

China expects to keep on growing in spite of the current economic turmoil. But economists have slashed 2009 growth forecasts to as low as 6%. That would be the highest for any major economy but is worrying for the country's leaders, who are concerned about public anger over recent job losses.

The United States is the world's biggest economy, at $13.8tn in 2007.

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