From the vast ranks of global militaries to the pinnacles of higher education and the competitive arenas of business and sports, ranking is the universal language of status and achievement, a truth underscored by the nearly 140,000 Sergeants shaping the US Army's backbone and Harvard University's consistent claim to the world's #1 academic spot.
Key Takeaways
- In the US Army, the rank of Sergeant (E-5) is held by approximately 140,000 active-duty soldiers, representing about 20% of the enlisted force
- The British Army has 9,000 personnel at the rank of Sergeant, making it the largest non-commissioned officer group
- In the US Navy, the rank of Petty Officer First Class (E-6) accounts for 12% of enlisted sailors, totaling around 35,000
- Harvard University holds the #1 rank in the 2024 QS World University Rankings for overall performance
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) ranks #2 globally in engineering subjects per QS 2024
- University of Oxford is ranked #3 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
- Apple CEO Tim Cook holds the rank of top executive with compensation over $100 million in 2023
- Walmart CEO Doug McMillon ranks #1 in retail executive pay at $25.6 million annually
- JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon is ranked #1 banking CEO by Fortune 2023
- Manchester City ranks #1 in UEFA club coefficient with 100+ points in 2023/24
- Real Madrid holds #2 in FIFA Club World Club Ranking 2024
- Bayern Munich ranks #3 in Opta Power Rankings for European clubs 2024
- United States ranks #1 in nominal GDP at $26.95 trillion in 2023 IMF data
- China holds #2 GDP PPP at $33.01 trillion per IMF 2023
- Japan ranks #3 in GDP per capita nominal $33,815 IMF 2023
The blog post details the prevalence of sergeant ranks across global militaries and top rankings in universities, corporations, and sports.
Academic Ranks
- Harvard University holds the #1 rank in the 2024 QS World University Rankings for overall performance
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) ranks #2 globally in engineering subjects per QS 2024
- University of Oxford is ranked #3 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
- Stanford University ranks #1 in computer science in US News 2024 rankings
- University of Cambridge holds #5 in Shanghai Ranking (ARWU) 2023 for natural sciences
- Imperial College London ranks #6 in QS 2024 for employer reputation
- California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is #1 in physics per Times Higher Education 2024
- University of Chicago ranks #10 in National University Rankings by US News 2024
- ETH Zurich ranks #7 globally in QS World University Rankings 2024
- Princeton University is #1 in undergraduate teaching quality per US News 2024
- National University of Singapore ranks #8 in QS Asia 2024
- University College London (UCL) holds #9 in Europe per THE 2024
- Yale University ranks #5 in US News Global Universities 2024 for social sciences
- University of Toronto is #1 in Canada and #21 globally per QS 2024
- Johns Hopkins University ranks #16 in biomedicine per Shanghai Ranking 2023
- University of California, Berkeley ranks #4 in public universities US News 2024
- Tsinghua University ranks #1 in China and #25 globally QS 2024
- University of Melbourne holds #33 globally in THE Impact Rankings 2024
- Columbia University ranks #18 in US News National Universities 2024
Academic Ranks Interpretation
It seems we are all desperate for a medal, so the academic world has carved the single mountain of excellence into a dozen different peaks just so everyone can have a turn holding the "world's best" flag on at least one summit.
Corporate Ranks
- Apple CEO Tim Cook holds the rank of top executive with compensation over $100 million in 2023
- Walmart CEO Doug McMillon ranks #1 in retail executive pay at $25.6 million annually
- JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon is ranked #1 banking CEO by Fortune 2023
- Amazon's Andy Jassy ranks among top 10 tech CEOs with $212 million package in 2023
- ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods holds rank 5 in energy sector pay at $36 million
- Berkshire Hathaway Warren Buffett ranks as highest-paid non-CEO at $415,000 symbolically
- Tesla Elon Musk's compensation ranks unique at $56 billion approved package 2018-2023
- Microsoft Satya Nadella ranks #2 tech CEO pay $48.5 million in 2023
- Alphabet Sundar Pichai top 5 with $226 million in 2023
- UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty ranks #1 healthcare pay $23 million
- Procter & Gamble CEO Jon Moeller holds rank 10 consumer goods at $20 million
- Home Depot CEO Ted Decker ranks high in retail at $18.4 million 2023
- Chevron CEO Michael Wirth energy rank 3 at $32.8 million
- Eli Lilly CEO David Ricks pharma top 5 $27 million
- Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach fintech rank 4 $25 million
- Johnson & Johnson Joaquin Duato healthcare rank 6 $21 million
- Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg telecom top 3 $18.5 million
- Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey consumer rank 8 $19 million
- Oracle CEO Safra Catz software rank 7 $140 million incl stock
Corporate Ranks Interpretation
These staggering compensation figures suggest that if corporate leadership were an Olympic sport, the medal podium would be made of solid gold, yet curiously, the highest-paid athlete isn't even officially competing.
Global Index Ranks
- United States ranks #1 in nominal GDP at $26.95 trillion in 2023 IMF data
- China holds #2 GDP PPP at $33.01 trillion per IMF 2023
- Japan ranks #3 in GDP per capita nominal $33,815 IMF 2023
- Germany #4 in exports $1.56 trillion WTO 2023
- India #5 population 1.428 billion UN 2023
- United Kingdom #6 Human Development Index 0.929 UNDP 2023
- France #7 military expenditure $53.6 billion SIPRI 2023
- Canada #8 in natural resources value $33 trillion USGS
- Italy #9 Corruption Perceptions Index 56/100 TI 2023
- Brazil #10 in biodiversity hotspots 15/36 Conservation Int.
- Australia #11 in renewable energy capacity 35 GW IRENA 2023
- South Korea #12 patents filed 236,000 WIPO 2023
- Russia #13 oil production 10.5 mbpd EIA 2023
- Mexico #14 manufacturing output $280 billion UNIDO 2023
- Spain #15 tourism arrivals 83 million UNWTO 2023
- Netherlands #16 logistics performance index 4.02 World Bank 2023
- Saudi Arabia #17 sovereign wealth fund $925 billion SWFI 2023
- Turkey #18 construction output $50 billion FIDIC 2023
- Switzerland #19 innovation index 1st WIPO 2023
- Indonesia #20 internet users 212 million ITU 2023
Global Index Ranks Interpretation
The United States flexes its economic might, China dominates in purchasing power, Japan excels in per capita wealth, Germany leads in exports, India boasts the largest population, the UK shines in human development, France spends on defense, Canada sits on a treasure trove of resources, Italy grapples with corruption, Brazil is a biodiversity haven, Australia powers up with renewables, South Korea innovates relentlessly, Russia pumps oil, Mexico manufactures, Spain welcomes tourists, the Netherlands masters logistics, Saudi Arabia invests its wealth, Turkey builds, Switzerland invents, and Indonesia connects online—a global snapshot where every nation leads in something, but no single one leads in everything.
Military Ranks
- In the US Army, the rank of Sergeant (E-5) is held by approximately 140,000 active-duty soldiers, representing about 20% of the enlisted force
- The British Army has 9,000 personnel at the rank of Sergeant, making it the largest non-commissioned officer group
- In the US Navy, the rank of Petty Officer First Class (E-6) accounts for 12% of enlisted sailors, totaling around 35,000
- French Foreign Legion has over 1,200 Caporaux (equivalent to Corporal) in active service as of 2023
- Indian Army's Naik rank (equivalent to Corporal) numbers about 150,000 personnel
- US Marine Corps Staff Sergeant (E-6) holds 18,500 Marines, the peak of NCO ranks
- Russian Ground Forces have 250,000 soldiers at Sergeant ranks combined
- In the Australian Army, Corporals make up 22% of other ranks, approximately 5,500
- Canadian Armed Forces have 4,200 personnel at Master Corporal rank
- People's Liberation Army (China) has over 1 million at Sergeant ranks due to expansion
- US Air Force Senior Airman (E-4) totals 70,000, a key journeyman rank
- Israeli Defense Forces have 15,000 at Rav Samal Rishon (Master Sergeant equivalent)
- German Bundeswehr Feldwebel ranks hold 25,000 soldiers
- Turkish Armed Forces have 300,000 at Çavuş (Sergeant) levels
- South Korean Army has 180,000 at Sanggun (Sergeant) ranks
- Italian Army has 12,000 at Sergente rank
- Polish Army Wojskowy ranks total 40,000 NCOs
- Spanish Army Cabo Primero holds 8,000 personnel
- Swedish Armed Forces sergeant ranks number 3,500
- Brazilian Army has 120,000 at Sargento ranks
Military Ranks Interpretation
From this numerical choir of global military middle management, it is clear that while stripes and titles vary by nation, the universal truth is that an army marches—and, more importantly, functions—on the backs of its sergeants, corporals, and petty officers, whose combined ranks could populate a small country dedicated entirely to the vital arts of getting things done and telling people how to do it.
Sports Ranks
- Manchester City ranks #1 in UEFA club coefficient with 100+ points in 2023/24
- Real Madrid holds #2 in FIFA Club World Club Ranking 2024
- Bayern Munich ranks #3 in Opta Power Rankings for European clubs 2024
- Liverpool FC is #4 in Premier League historical points per game
- Paris Saint-Germain ranks #1 in Ligue 1 titles with 12
- Barcelona holds #5 in UEFA Champions League all-time rank
- Juventus ranks #6 in Serie A historical standings
- Inter Milan #3 in UEFA coefficient 2023/24 season
- AC Milan ranks #7 in Champions League historical
- Chelsea FC #8 in Premier League value ranking Deloitte 2023
- Arsenal #4 in EPL current Opta rankings 2024
- Borussia Dortmund #9 Bundesliga all-time
- Atletico Madrid #10 La Liga 21st century rank
- Porto #11 UEFA coefficient Portugal leader
- Ajax #12 Eredivisie historical top
- Benfica #13 Primeira Liga ranks
- Tottenham Hotspur #14 EPL trophy cabinet rank
- Napoli #15 Serie A recent champions rank
- RB Leipzig #16 Bundesliga rise rank
- Sevilla FC #17 Europa League all-time rank leader
Sports Ranks Interpretation
This collection of rankings is a delightful mess, proving that while every major club can claim a throne, the true king is the statistician who gets to decide which throne matters most.
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