Fortune 500 shows more than numbers

For the first time since the debut of the Fortune Global 500 list in 1990, and arguably for the first time since World War II, a country other than the United States has the most companies on the list.

This year, the US has 121 companies on the list, while China, the world's second-largest economy, has 129. Which prompted the magazine to claim "it's China's world", in an article on its website when it released the list on Monday.

The list, compiled and published by Fortune magazine each year to rank the top 500 companies worldwide as measured by revenue, has long been considered a yardstick for the economic prowess of countries. And while Fortune has exaggerated somewhat to attract eyeballs, many indicators other than the number of companies point to a steadily rising economy that is reshaping the world's economic landscape.