Graph: Stock Exchanges of the World

The following chart captures the market capitalization and number of listed firms on the world's stock exchanges.

Data Source: World Federation of Exchanges

From the chart, the largest or major stock exchanges in the world (as defined by total market capitalization and average market capitalization of firms listed on the exchange) are the following:

i) NYSE Euronext (US) - This is by far the largest stock exchange in the world in terms of total market capitalization (close to US$12 trillion) and average market capitalization (about US$5 billion). No other exchange comes close.
ii) NASDAQ OMX
iii) Tokyo SE Group
iv) London SE Group
v) NYSE Euronext (Europe)
vi) Shanghai SE
vii) Hong Kong Exchanges

See a subsequent post for further detailed data of the largest stock exchanges in the world.

Note that some exchanges belonging to the same company are classified separately, for example the NASDAQ exchanges (NASDAQ OMX and NASDAQ OMX Nordic Exchanges) and the NYSE Euronext Exchanges.

Data Source: World Federation of Exchanges; Graphs: Generated by me