How Has China's GDP Changed over Time?

China's gross domestic product (GDP) has dropped substantially throughout history. In 1820, the country's GDP accounted for 32.9 percent of the world's overall GDP; in 1950, it accounted for just 4.5 percent. China has been experiencing an impressive growth spurt in recent years — it now has the third highest GDP in the world, behind the United States and Japan.

More GDP Facts:

• The United States has the highest GDP in the world, at $14.26 trillion US Dollars (USD). Second place is Japan, with just over $5 trillion USD; and running a very close third is China, with just under $5 trillion USD.


• Luxembourg has the highest GDP per capita, at around $79,000 USD. The United States is fifth in the world, with a per capita GDP of about $46,000 USD.


• The US national debt is over $13 trillion USD, or about $43,000 USD per person. As a percentage of its GDP, the US national debt is 94.3 percent — 20th in the world. Ireland took first place, with its national debt at 1,312 percent of its GDP.