[[AllMusic]] editor Roxanne Blanford wrote that the song is "gentle and", arranged as a "pseudo-procession tune", "as if Emilia is taking her first cautious steps toward independence and adulthood."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/big-big-world-mw0000046850|title=Emilia - Big Big World|work=AllMusic|date=|accessdate=17 February 2020}}</ref> [[Larry Flick]] from ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' said that the track'sits "magic touch" is "manifested via sheer straightforward simplicity-in performance, production, and message." He noted Emilia's "delicate voice, ripe with vulnerability and hurt, tells of being a big girl in a big world who shouldn't see it as a big deal if her partner leaves her ... but she will miss him much." He also added that "allusions to rain and autumn leaves help set up a perfect visual of stark sadness and loneliness, giving the song a strong seasonal punch."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1998/BB-1998-11-21.pdf|title=Single Reviews: New & Noteworthy|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=21 November 1998|accessdate=9 February 2020|page=27}}</ref> ''[[Birmingham Evening Mail]]'' stated that "this is another one of those Love It or Hate It records", adding that "it's incessant beat and simple rhythm will either drive you mad or drive you to put it on the CD player again...and again."<ref>"Single of the Week; SINGLES". ''[[Birmingham Evening Mail]]''. 1998-12-01. Retrieved 2020-12-01.</ref> ''[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]'' called it "chirpy".<ref>"Chart Slot". ''[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]''. 1998-12-18. Retrieved 2020-12-01.</ref> Swedish newspaper ''[[Expressen]]'' statedwrote that "Big Big World" "is the "big, obvious hit this fall."<ref>''[[Expressen]]''. 23 October 1998.</ref> ''[[Göteborgsposten]]'' commented that with this song, Emilia "has a big, big hit".<ref>''[[Göteborgsposten]]''. 23 October 1998.</ref> Chuck Campbell from ''[[Knoxville News Sentinel]]'' said that the 20-year-old vocalist "assumes a sweetly fragile persona on the song, setting the mood with a sparse verse and [[chorus effect|chorus]] before the track folds in a shuffling beat and an orchestral arrangement."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nfIaAAAAIBAJ|title=Band didn't burn Midnight Oil for this one|magazine=[[The Daily News (Kentucky)|Daily News]]|date=23 December 1998|accessdate=15 March 2020}}</ref> Nina Cassidy from ''[[Stanford Daily]]'' wrotenoted that the songit "has a catchy beat, and the lyrics and music have a smooth flow."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Nina |last= Cassidy |title= Emilia 'Big Big World' Music Reviews |magazine= [[Stanford Daily]] |date= 21 January 1999 |page= 6 |accessdate= 23 April 2020 |url= https://archives.stanforddaily.com/1999/01/21}}</ref> ''[[Sunday Tribune]]'' called it a "sweet song",<ref>"Billie She Wants You Virgin This single sees Billie warning her 'man' away from some temptress who's after him.". ''[[Sunday Tribune]]''. 13 December 1998. page 36. Retrieved 29 March 2020.</ref> while ''[[Sunday World]]'' noteddescribed it as a "cracking single".<ref>"Stunner Emilia's wish comes true". ''[[Sunday World]]''. 6 December 1998. page 86. Retrieved 29 March 2020.</ref>
