Economy: Japan still ahead of China in 2009

Thanks to a last quarter in 2009 which was better than expected, with a 1,1% growth of its gross interior product, Japan remains the number 2 world Economy in 2009.

But 2009 was a very difficult year for Japan. It's economy contracted by 5% in 2009, the worst results since 1955, and it's growth in 2010, according to gevernmental sources, should not exceed 1,4%.

In these conditions, Japan could well cede it's 2nd rank to China as soon as in 2010 : it's total GDP in 2009 was 3.871 billions €, compared with china's 3.594 billions €.