UK slips behind India to become world's 6th biggest economy

by IANS |

London, Sep 3 (IANS) Britain has dropped behind India to become the world's sixth largest economy, according to Bloomberg.

India toppled the UK from its position in the final three months of 2021 to become the fifth-biggest economy. The calculation is based in US dollars, and India extended its lead in the first quarter, according to GDP figures from the International Monetary Fund.

This news comes as a further blow to the government in London as it grapples with a brutal cost-of-living shock, Bloomberg reported.

The IMF's own forecasts show India overtaking the UK in dollar terms on an annual basis this year, putting the Asian powerhouse behind just the US, China, Japan and Germany. A decade ago, India ranked 11th among the largest economies, while the UK was 5th.

The UK's decline down the international rankings is an unwelcome backdrop for the new Prime Minister. Conservative Party members choose Boris Johnson's successor on Monday, with Foreign Secretary Liz Truss expected to beat former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak in the run-off.

The winner will take over a nation facing the fastest inflation in four decades and rising risks of a recession that the Bank of England says may last well into 2024.

By contrast, the Indian economy is forecast to grow more than 7 per cent this year. A world-beating rebound in Indian stocks this quarter has just seen their weighting rise to the second spot in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, trailing only China's.

The calculations were done using the IMF database and historic exchange rates on the Bloomberg terminal.

The UK is likely to have fallen further since. UK GDP grew just one per cent in cash terms in the second quarter and, after adjusting for inflation, shrank 0.1 per cent. Sterling has also underperformed the dollar relative to the rupee, with the pound falling eight per cent against the Indian currency this year.

Latest News
Pakistani cybercriminals hack three websites of Rajasthan govt Tue, Apr 29, 2025, 12:32 PM
Paytm's First Games to file writ on GST notice amid industry-wide dispute Tue, Apr 29, 2025, 11:59 AM
CCPA serves notices to 5 Delhi restaurants over non-refund of service charges Tue, Apr 29, 2025, 11:54 AM
Canada elections: Liberal Party projected to form govt again Tue, Apr 29, 2025, 11:45 AM
Pahalgam attack impact: J&K govt closes 48 tourist destinations in Kashmir Tue, Apr 29, 2025, 11:42 AM
MP Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar's son to tie the knot in Jaipur today Tue, Apr 29, 2025, 11:30 AM
Pahalgam attack exposes BJP's nationalism: Uddhav Thackeray's Saamana Tue, Apr 29, 2025, 11:25 AM
Constable shot at inside police station in MP's Satna Tue, Apr 29, 2025, 11:21 AM
He made sure not to upset Vaibhav's rhythm: Bangar lauds Jaiswal's mature approach vs GT Tue, Apr 29, 2025, 11:07 AM
'Remember the name': Social media bows down to Suryavanshi's maiden ton Tue, Apr 29, 2025, 11:01 AM
US intervention holds great value, reckon Pakistani experts as tensions rise at LoC Mon, Apr 28, 2025, 04:40 PM
Kharge questions PM Modi's absence from all-party meeting on Pahalgam terror attack Mon, Apr 28, 2025, 04:38 PM
CM just wanted to convey that Indians are peace lovers: Minister on Karnataka CM's no war with Pak quip Mon, Apr 28, 2025, 04:37 PM
Indian stock market rebounds with strong gains, Sensex jumps 1,006 points Mon, Apr 28, 2025, 04:30 PM
Chinese fuel imports caused Iran port explosion: Reports Mon, Apr 28, 2025, 04:28 PM