---
title: "Top-N countries ranked by a Penn World Table variable"
method: GET
path: "/api/v1/research/pwt/top"
tags: ["Research"]
---

# Top-N countries ranked by a Penn World Table variable

`GET /api/v1/research/pwt/top`

Ranks countries by a Penn World Table variable in descending order for one year. Use for cross-country league tables - largest output-side real GDP (`rgdpo`), highest TFP level (`ctfp`), largest capital stock (`cn`), highest human capital index (`hc`), biggest labor share (`labsh`). The variable must be a Penn World Table column name. Call `/api/v1/research/pwt/definitions` for the full variable dictionary with descriptions and units. Published under CC BY 4.0 with attribution to Penn World Table (Feenstra, Inklaar & Timmer, University of Groningen).

## Query parameters

- `variable` string — Penn World Table variable to rank by. See `/definitions`.
- `year` integer, required — Year to rank by. Must be within the panel range (1950 to latest year).
- `limit` integer — Maximum rows to return (1 to 50).
- `version` string, nullable — Release selector. `pwt1100` (default) or `pwt1001` (legacy).

## Response `200`

Ranked countries with variable value plus variable description.

- EnvelopePwtTopPayload
  - `data` PwtTopPayload, required — Top-N country ranking by a variable for a specific year.
    - `version` string, required — Release identifier.
    - `variable` string, required — Variable used for ranking (e.g. `rgdpo`, `cn`, `hc`, `ctfp`).
    - `description` string, nullable — Variable definition from the Legend sheet.
    - `type` string, nullable — Variable group.
    - `year` integer, required — Year the ranking applies to.
    - `limit` integer, required — Maximum rows requested (1 to 50).
    - `ranking` PwtTopRow[], required — Top-N rows, sorted descending by value.
      - `rank` integer, required — 1-indexed position in the descending ranking.
      - `countrycode` string, required — ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code.
      - `country` string, required — Country name.
      - `value` number, nullable — Variable value for this country in the requested year.
    - `count` integer, required — Number of rows returned.
    - `attribution` string, required — CC BY 4.0 attribution.
  - `meta` SugraMeta, required — Metadata attached to every /api/v1/* response envelope.
    - `endpoint` string, required — Requested endpoint path.
    - `data_time` string, required — ISO 8601 UTC timestamp of the source data, not of the request.
    - `response_time` string, required — ISO 8601 UTC timestamp when this response was produced.
    - `provider` string, required — API name and version.
    - `source` string, nullable — Identifier of the primary upstream source used for this response.
    - `attribution` string, nullable — Human-readable attribution mandated by an upstream source (e.g. a securities regulator or self-regulatory organization). Present only on responses whose source requires the owner and source to be clearly identified. Do not remove or alter it when using the response.
    - `fallback_used` boolean, nullable — True when the primary source failed and a fallback produced the data.
    - `fallback_chain` string[], nullable — Ordered list of sources attempted, in the order they were tried.
    - `cached` boolean, nullable — True when this response was served from the internal cache.
    - `stale` boolean, nullable — True when the cached response was returned after the upstream rate-limited or errored. Clients can use this to detect degraded data.

## Other responses

- `401` — Missing or invalid `x-api-key` header. JSON body with a stable `code` distinguishing `missing_api_key` (no header sent) from `invalid_api_key` (header sent, key not accepted); any other 401 source carries the generic `unauthorized` with its detail as `reason`. Plus `hint`. `plan` is always null on 401 - an unauthenticated request has no plan; quota exhaustion is 429, not 401.
- `422` — Validation Error
- `429` — Daily rate limit exceeded. Check `X-RateLimit-Reset` for the next window.
- `503` — Upstream source is temporarily unavailable. Retry after a short delay.

---

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