Brazil Ousts UK as World's No. 6 Economy

Part of Europe's waning influence
By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 26, 2011 11:10 AM CST
Brazil Ousts UK as World's No. 6 Economy
Ferrari driver Felipe Massa of Brazil holds his country's flag ahead of the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday Nov. 27, 2011.   (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)

London had better hear Brazil calling: The South American powerhouse has overtaken the United Kingdom as the world's No. 6 economic power, reports the BBC. The shift is hardly shocking, given Brazil's hefty 7.5% economic growth last year, and represents an overall slide back for traditional economic powers in Europe as up-and-comers in Latin America and Asia take hold. It's not all bad news for Britain, however: The Center for Economics and Business Research, which released the rankings, predicts the UK will overtake France's economy by 2016.

"I think it's part of the big economic change, where not only are we seeing a shift from the west to the east, but we're also seeing that countries that produce vital commodities—food and energy and things like that—are doing very well and they're gradually climbing up the economic league table," a CEBR economist says. According to the group's 2020 forecast, the world's top economies, in order, will be: 1) United States; 2) China; 3) Japan; 4) Russia; 5) India; 6) Brazil; 7) Germany; 8) United Kingdom; 9) France; 10) Italy.

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