GDP per Capita
Gross Domestic Product divided by population, measuring average economic output per person.
Quick Reference
Unit
USD
Category
Economy
Metric Code
gdp_per_capita
How It's Calculated
Total GDP (sum of all goods and services produced in a year) divided by mid-year population. Measured in current US dollars using official exchange rates.
Why It Matters
GDP per capita is a fundamental indicator of economic prosperity and living standards. It enables comparison of economic productivity across countries of different sizes and helps assess whether economic growth is translating to individual prosperity.
Understanding the Values
Low: < $5,000 (developing economies) Medium: $5,000 - $20,000 (emerging markets) High: $20,000 - $50,000 (developed economies) Very High: > $50,000 (advanced economies) Note: This metric has limitations - it doesn't account for income inequality, cost of living differences, or non-market economic activity.
Related Metrics
GDP per Capita (PPP)
GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power parity, accounting for cost of living differences.
GNI per Capita
Gross National Income per capita, including net income from abroad.
GDP (Nominal)
Gross Domestic Product at current market prices in US dollars, measuring total economic output.
Data Quality & Coverage
Coverage: 217 countries Update frequency: Annual Source: World Bank World Development Indicators Limitations: Exchange rate fluctuations can affect year-over-year comparisons. PPP-adjusted figures (GDP per capita PPP) provide better cross-country comparisons.