maybe it is a mix between GDP and GDP per capita, and sheer product output. If you count GDP per capita, then Qatar should be there, but honeslty they are not

maybe it is a mix between GDP and GDP per capita, and sheer product output. If you count GDP per capita, then Qatar should be there, but honeslty they are not an industialized country, they just have oil. So, if you count by GDP, then china, should be there, but it can barely feed its own people and its GDP per capita is in 100th place. Heck even my country is better than China. I am not sure what the exact formula is, but I bet is it is a combination of GDP, GNP, PPP(GDP per capita), and Nuclear Capability Like every velvet club, if you don't care about it, than it doesn't matter. Actually if you are cool enough, then you can open your own club, and the other people will start comming to you. China would be smart to create some kind of economic bllock in east and south-east asia, to give it even more clout. But other countries just don't trust them that much.