Germany has replaced Japan as the world’s third-largest economy, data from Tokyo shows. Despite gross domestic product (GDP) growing by 1.9 percent last year, Japan was overtaken by Germany.
Japan’s GDP of $4.2 trillion in 2023 was below Germany’s GDP of $4.5 trillion, preliminary economic data from the Japanese government showed on Thursday.
In the fourth quarter of last year, Japan’s GDP shrank by 0.1 percent. The economy of the Asian country is mainly affected by the decline of the national currency, the yen.
Symbolic meaning
Germany’s rise to become the world’s third-largest economy is largely symbolic. This is less due to German economic strength than to the weakness of the yen.
After all, Germany is struggling with economic problems. Last year the German economy shrank by 0.3 percent. Only slight growth of well below one percent is expected this year. By far the two largest economies in the world are still the US and China. (sda/afp)
Soource :Watson

I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.