TheWorld Bank has used theAtlas method[1] since 1993 to estimate the economic size of countries based on theirgross national income (GNI) inU.S. dollars.
To convert a country's GNI from its local currency to U.S. dollars, the Atlas method uses a conversion factor that averagesexchange rates over three years. This helps reduce the impact of temporary exchange rate changes. Additionally, it adjusts for differences ininflation rates between the country (using itsGDP deflator) and severaldeveloped countries (using aweighted average of their GDP deflators inSpecial Drawing Rights, or SDR, terms). The converted GNI in U.S. dollars is then divided by the country's midyear population to determine GNI per capita.[1]
The World Bank prefers the Atlas method for comparing the economic sizes of countries. It is used to categorize countries into low, middle, and high-income groups and to determine their eligibility for loans. This method helps avoid abrupt changes in country classification due to short-term economic fluctuations.
| No. | Country | GNI (Atlas method)[2] | GNI[3] | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  United States | 18,357,322 | 18,968,714 | -611,392 |
| 2 |  China | 11,374,227 | 11,154,194 | 220,033 |
| 3 |  Japan | 4,816,892 | 5,096,371 | -279,479 |
| 4 |  Germany | 3,624,638 | 3,536,579 | 88,058 |
| 5 |  United Kingdom | 2,778,488 | 2,587,657 | 190,831 |
| 6 |  France | 2,590,030 | 2,504,684 | 85,346 |
| 7 |  India | 2,212,306 | 2,235,524 | -23,218 |
| 8 |  Italy | 1,923,095 | 1,863,085 | 60,011 |
| 9 |  Brazil | 1,835,993 | 1,758,527 | 77,466 |
| 10 |  Canada | 1,584,177 | 1,508,495 | 75,682 |