Is Walmart the Biggest Company in the World? (All You Need to Know)

To many people, Walmart is simply a  convenient, “one stop shop” on their way home from work. However, many do not realize how truly large of a company Walmart is and how far-reaching its impact is around the globe.

Therefore, listed below is what I found out about the size and impact of Walmart as a national-and worldwide retail giant, so keep reading to learn more!

Is Walmart the Biggest Company in the World In 2024?

Walmart is one of the largest companies in the world in 2024. While it has rivals such as Amazon, Walmart’s sales in 2020 totaled 559.2 billion, which was significantly higher than the past year. Likewise, Walmart is also the largest private-sector employer in the world, employing 2.2 million people around the world.

For more info about Walmart and how it compares to other similar companies, keep reading for more useful facts!

Is Walmart the Most Valuable Company in the World?

While Walmart holds the distinction of being the company that makes the most revenue, it’s not considered the most valuable, as a company’s value is often calculated by its market cap.

Currently, the company that is considered the most valuable worldwide is Apple and is worth at least 3 trillion dollars.

This is worth more than the combined total of Walmart, Disney, and a half dozen or more other popular companies.

In fact, Walmart is ranked twentieth on the global market cap charts. But despite being valued relatively low, Walmart more than makes up for it in revenue.

How Many People Does Walmart Employ Globally?

Across the world, there are over 2.2 million Walmart employees, which is more than any other private company employs.

In the US alone, Walmart employs 1.6 million people. In fact, Walmart is the US’ largest employer as well.

In addition to the USA, Walmart is in India, South Africa, Canada and Mexico and other places around the globe.

How Does Amazon Compare to Walmart?

How Does Amazon Compare to Walmart?

Many argue that Amazon is better than Walmart, based on factors such as revenue and overall growth, and in many ways, Amazon may be winning in certain aspects.

Both companies have grown by leaps and bounds, but overall, Walmart’s growth has been greater than Amazon’s. And when it comes to sales, Walmart has Amazon beat.

It’s hard to say conclusively which company is the biggest and “best,” but Amazon does seem poised, however, to become the biggest company in the future.

Does Walmart Have More Loyal Customers Than Other Stores?

For American shoppers, Walmart remains a top choice, and has the most loyal customers, topping other popular retail stores such as Kroger or Target.

The reasons for this loyal customer base include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Walmart’s proximity to its customers- in the US, there are Walmart stores in virtually every major city and many smaller cities and towns.
  • Consistently low prices.
  • The convenience of a one stop shop- Very few stores offer the variety of categories that Walmart does.
  • Walmart is the biggest American employer.
  • Walmart offers curbside pickup.

How Long Has Walmart Been the Largest Employer Worldwide?

Since the early 1990s, Walmart has grown to one of the largest US retailers. Also, in the 1990s, Walmart launched globally.

By 1999, Walmart had become the largest employer in the world, and has continued to grow and expand around the world.

To learn more, you can also see our posts on Walmart cost leadership strategy, what is Walmart, and what is Walmart’s business model.

Conclusion

Walmart began in the 1960s as a relatively small supermarket company but it has expanded in ways the founder, Sam Walton likely could not have predicted.

Today, it is one of the most successful companies in the world with well over 500 billion dollars worth of sales per year and millions of customers every day.

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Marques Thomas

Marques Thomas graduated with a MBA in 2011. Since then, Marques has worked in the retail and consumer service industry as a manager, advisor, and marketer. Marques is also the head writer and founder of QuerySprout.com.

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