List of countries by largest historical GDP

This list of countries by largest historical GDP shows how the membership and rankings of the world's ten largest economies as measured by their gross domestic product has changed. While the United States has consistently had the world's largest economy for some time, in the last fifty years the world has seen both rises and falls in relative terms of the economies of other countries.

By average values of GDP

Nominal

The ten largest economies by average values of GDP (nominal)[a] by every half decade from the available data in IMF, World Bank, and United Nations lists (in USD billions)[1][2][3][4]
Year 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
2025
[5] 		U.S.
30,615 		 China
19,398 		 Germany
5,013 		 Japan
4,279 		 India
4,125 		UK
3,958 		 France
3,361 		 Italy
2,543 		 Russia
2,540 		 Canada
2,283
2020 U.S.
21,354 		 China
15,103 		 Japan
5,054 		 Germany
3,937 		UK
2,699 		 India
2,675 		 France
2,646 		 Italy
1,906 		 South Korea
1,744 		 Canada
1,656
2015 U.S.
18,295 		 China
11,307 		 Japan
4,445 		 Germany
3,425 		UK
2,929 		 France
2,443 		 India
2,104 		 Italy
1,846 		 Brazil
1,800 		 Canada
1,557
2010 U.S.
15,049 		 China
6,139 		 Japan
5,759 		 Germany
3,471 		 France
2,648 		UK
2,488 		 Brazil
2,209 		 Italy
2,147 		 India
1,676 		 Russia
1,633
2005 U.S.
13,039 		 Japan
4,831 		 Germany
2,895 		UK
2,546 		 China
2,326 		 France
2,193 		 Italy
1,866 		 Canada
1,174 		 Spain
1,155 		 South Korea
972
2000 U.S.
10,251 		 Japan
4,968 		 Germany
1,968 		UK
1,669 		 France
1,362 		 China
1,220 		 Italy
1,150 		 Canada
745 		 Mexico
742 		 Brazil
655
1995 U.S.
7,640 		 Japan
5,546 		 Germany
2,595 		 France
1,596 		UK
1,345 		 Italy
1,178 		 Brazil
771 		 China
738 		 Spain
615 		 Canada
606
1990 U.S.
5,963 		 Japan
3,186 		 Soviet Union
2‚660 		 West Germany
1,604 		 France
1,261 		UK
1,197 		 Italy
1,164 		 Canada
596 		 Iran
581 		 Spain
536
1985 U.S.
4,339 		 Soviet Union
2‚200 		 Japan
1,427 		 West Germany
663 		 France
552 		UK
537 		 Italy
455 		 Canada
366 		 China
311 		 India
234
1980 U.S.
2,857 		 Soviet Union
1,212 		 Japan
1,129 		 West Germany
857 		 France
695 		UK
605 		 Italy
480 		 China
304 		 Canada
276 		 Mexico
242
1975 U.S.
1,689 		 Soviet Union
689 		 Japan
513 		 West Germany
475 		 France
356 		UK
236 		 Italy
219 		 Canada
173 		 China
161 		 Brazil
116
1970 U.S.
1,076 		 Soviet Union
433 		 Japan
209 		 West Germany
209 		 France
146 		UK
125 		 Italy
109 		 China
91 		 Canada
88 		 India
62
1965 U.S.
712 		 Soviet Union
367 		 West Germany
125 		 France
102 		UK
101 		 Japan
91 		 China
70 		 Italy
68 		 India
61 		 Canada
54
1960 U.S.
521 		 Soviet Union
142 		 West Germany
92 		UK
72 		 France
62 		 China
61 		 Japan
44 		 Canada
41 		 Italy
40 		 India
37

PPP

The ten largest economies by average values of GDP (PPP)[b] by every half decade from the available data in IMF and World Bank lists (in USD billions)[6][7][8][9][10]
Year 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
2025  China
33,253 		U.S.
30,507 		 India
17,647 		 Russia
7,192 		 Japan
6,741 		 Germany
6,161 		 Indonesia
5,009 		 Brazil
4,958 		 France
4,504 		UK
4,448
2020  China
22,961 		U.S.
21,354 		 India
9,771 		 Japan
5,357 		 Germany
4,880 		 Russia
4,651 		 Brazil
3,360 		 France
3,345 		 Indonesia
3,223 		UK
3,219
2015 U.S.
18,295 		 China
14,835 		 India
7,032 		 Japan
4,999 		 Germany
4,143 		 Russia
3,631 		 Brazil
2,959 		UK
2,829 		 France
2,811 		 Indonesia
2,520
2010 U.S.
15,049 		 China
11,225 		 India
4,729 		 Japan
4,370 		 Germany
3,510 		 Russia
3,077 		 Brazil
2,576 		 France
2,448 		UK
2,364 		 Italy
2,280
2005 U.S.
13,039 		 China
5,985 		 Japan
3,986 		 India
3,066 		 Germany
3,011 		 Russia
2,352 		 France
2,126 		 Italy
2,111 		UK
2,104 		 Brazil
1,883
2000 U.S.
10,251 		 Japan
3,351 		 China
3,338 		 Germany
2,608 		 India
2,000 		 Italy
1,799 		 France
1,743 		UK
1,655 		 Russia
1,557 		 Brazil
1,456
1995 U.S.
7,640 		 Japan
2,929 		 Germany
2,175 		 China
2,024 		 Italy
1,488 		 France
1,385 		 India
1,371 		 Russia
1,323 		UK
1,273 		 Brazil
1,205
1990 U.S.
5,963 		 Soviet Union
2,500 		 Japan
2,405 		 West Germany
1,744 		 Italy
1,237 		 France
1,144 		UK
1,054 		 China
995 		 India
948 		 Brazil
922
1985 U.S.
4,339 		 Soviet Union
2,500 		 Japan
1,625 		 West Germany
1,262 		 Italy
908 		 France
830 		UK
766 		 Brazil
715 		 Mexico
628 		 India
608
1980 U.S.
2,857 		 Soviet Union
2,000 		 Japan
1,028 		 West Germany
922 		 Italy
623 		 France
593 		UK
529 		 Brazil
525 		 Mexico
442 		 India
366

World Bank statistics

This historical list of the ten largest countries by GDP according to the World Bank shows how the membership and rankings of the world's ten largest economies has changed. Historically, the United States was consistently year after year the world's largest economy since the early twentieth century. However, the report from 2014 showed that for the very first time China overtook the United States as the largest economy in the world taking into account purchasing power parity (PPP). Indeed, the margin of power between nations had generally widened and then lessened over time, and over the last fifty years the world has seen the rapid rise and fall in relative terms of the economies of other countries.

Historical list of the world's ten largest economies by GDP (PPP) (billions USD) (World Bank)[11][12]
Year 2015 2010 2005 2000 1995 1990
World 113,612.52 87,771.66 64,415.31 47,453.19 36,104.40 28,249.60
Top 10 68,997.53 52,354.88 38,551.92 28,608.96 21,680.22 17,073.82
1st  China
19,524.35 		U.S.
14,964.40 		U.S.
13,095.40 		U.S.
10,289.70 		U.S.
7,664.00 		U.S.
5,979.60
2nd U.S.
17,947.00 		 China
12,097.93 		 China
6,470.18 		 China
3,616.33 		 Japan
2,878.16 		 Japan
2,377.97
3rd  India
8,003.40 		 India
5,478.71 		 Japan
3,889.58 		 Japan
3,289.80 		 China
2,151.44 		Soviet Union
1,885.97
4th  Japan
5,546.56 		 Japan
4,322.67 		 India
3,343.43 		 India
2,150.17 		 Germany
1,834.80 		 Germany
1,472.12
5th  Germany
3,848.27 		 Germany
3,234.90 		 Germany
2,566.00 		 Germany
2,119.99 		 India
1,474.18 		 China
1,142.67
6th  Russia
3,579.83 		 Russia
2,924.79 		UK
2,006.91 		UK
1,553.96 		 Brazil
1,271.43 		 India
1,020.02
7th  Brazil
3,192.40 		 Brazil
2,685.98 		 Brazil
1,965.60 		 France
1,534.81 		 Italy
1,204.87 		 France
1,002.53
8th  Indonesia
2,842.24 		 France
2,332.57 		 France
1,860.70 		 Brazil
1,525.28 		 France
1,201.81 		 Italy
1,001.12
9th UK
2,691.81 		UK
2,254.82 		 Russia
1,696.73 		 Italy
1,468.18 		UK
1,166.04 		 Brazil
969.02
10th  France
2,650.82 		 Italy
2,058.11 		 Italy
1,657.40 		 Mexico
1,060.75 		 Russia
833.47 		UK
919.32

Angus Maddison statistics

This historical list of the ten largest countries by GDP compiled by British economist Angus Maddison shows how much the membership and rankings of the world's ten largest economies has changed. The following estimates are taken mainly from the 2007 monograph Contours of the World Economy, 1–2030 AD by Angus Maddison.[14]

(GDP (PPP) in millions of 1990 International Dollars)[15][16][17][c]
Year 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
2030 (forecast)  China
22,983,000 		U.S.
16,662,000 		 India
10,074,000 		 Japan
3,488,000 		 Indonesia
2,406,000 		 Russia
2,171,000 		 Germany
2,150,000 		 Brazil
2,017,000 		 Mexico
1,973,000 		UK
1,853,000
2003 U.S.
8,430,762 		 China
6,187,984 		 Japan
2,699,261 		 India
2,267,136 		 Germany
1,577,423 		 France
1,315,601 		UK
1,280,625 		 Italy
1,110,691 		 Brazil
1,013,000 		 Russia
914,000
1990
[19] 		U.S.
5,803,200 		 Japan
2,321,153 		 China
2,109,400 		Soviet Union
1,987,955[d] 		 West Germany
1,182,261[e] 		 India
1,098,100 		 France
1,026,491 		UK
944,610 		 Italy
925,654 		Brazil
743,765
1973 U.S.
3,536,622 		Soviet Union
1,513,070[f] 		 Japan
1,242,932 		 West Germany
814,796[g] 		 China
739,414 		 France
683,965 		UK
675,941 		 Italy
582,713 		 India
494,832 		Brazil
401,643
1950 U.S.
1,455,916 		Soviet Union
510,243 		UK
347,850 		 China
244,985 		 India
222,222[h] 		France
220,492 		 West Germany
213,942[i] 		 Italy
164,957 		 Japan
160,966 		Canada
102,164
1913 U.S.
517,383 		 China
241,341 		Germany
237,332[j] 		Russia
232,351 		UK
224,618[k] 		 India
204,242[l] 		France
144,489[m] 		 Italy
95,487[n] 		 Japan
71,653[o] 		Spain
45,686[p]
1870  China
189,470 		 India
134,882[q] 		UK
100,179[r] 		U.S.
98,374 		Russia
83,646 		France
72,100[s] 		Germany
71,429[t] 		 Italy
41,814 		 Japan
25,393[u] 		Spain
22,295[v]
1820  China
228,600 		 India
111,417[w] 		 France
38,434 		Russia
37,710 		UK
36,232[x] 		German Confederation
26,349[y] 		 Italy
22,535[z] 		 Japan
20,739[aa] 		Spain
12,975[ab] 		U.S.
12,548[ac]

By country

The United States represented 28.69% of the world's economy in 1960 (highest point). It accounted for 1.8% of the world's economy in 1820, 8.9% in 1870, and 18.9% in 1913. As of 2025, the United States accounts for approximately 26.8% of global GDP (nominal) and 14.7% of global GDP (PPP), as per IMF estimates.

China represented 1.61% of the world's economy in 1987 (lowest point), rising to 18% (nominal) and 19% (PPP) in 2022. It accounted for 25.4% of global GDP in 1 CE, 29% of world global output in 1600 CE, 17.3% of the world's economy in 1870, and 33% in 1820 (its highest point). China's share of global GDP varied from a quarter to a third of global output until the late 19th century.[29] As of 2025, China accounts for approximately 17% of global GDP (nominal) and 19.7% of global GDP (PPP), as per IMF estimates.

As of 2025, the EU accounts for approximately 17.6% of global GDP (nominal) and 14% of global GDP (PPP), as per IMF estimates.

The gross domestic product of India was estimated at 24.4% of the world's economy in 1500, 22.4% in 1600, 16% in 1820, and 12.1% in 1870. India's share of global GDP declined to less than 2% of global GDP by the time of its independence in 1947, and only rose gradually after the liberalization of its economy beginning in the 1990s. As of 2025, India accounts for approximately 3.7% of global GDP (nominal) and 8.5% of global GDP (PPP), as per IMF estimates.

Notes

  1. ^ This is, the absolute gross domestic product or total productive output of a country, not corrected by cost of life.
  2. ^ Purchasing power parity (PPP) is the exchange-rate-adjusted GDP, accounting for the value of money in different countries.
  3. ^ These GDP (PPP) estimates are mostly based on the present territorial boundaries, with the exception of France, Germany, India, Russia/Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom at specified periods. Although the Russian Empire and Soviet Union are included, the Austrian and Austro-Hungarian Empires are excluded from general reference tables, except when modern Austria is compared with Cisleithania in one reference table.[18]
  4. ^ The Russian Soviet Socialist Republic represented 1,151,040 million in GDP (PPP) of the total figure of the Soviet Union.[20]
  5. ^ West Germany (1990 frontiers)[21]
  6. ^ The Russian Soviet Socialist Republic represented 872,466 million in GDP (PPP) of the total figure of the Soviet Union.[20]
  7. ^ West Germany (1990 frontiers)[21]
  8. ^ GDP (PPP) figures for India after Partition, which decreased GDP from 258,164 million at the end of 1946 to 213,680 million at the end of 1947.[22]
  9. ^ West Germany (1990 frontiers)[21]
  10. ^ Based on 1913 frontiers but excluding Reichsland Alsace-Lorraine.[21]
  11. ^ Excludes 11,891 million in GDP (PPP) of territories that would become part of the Republic of Ireland.[23]
  12. ^ GDP (PPP) figures for Undivided India.[24]
  13. ^ This figure excludes the impact of the loss of Alsace-Lorraine between 1871-1918.[25]
  14. ^ Austria-Hungary had a larger GDP (PPP) of 100,515, see note on Spain in 1913.
  15. ^ Austria-Hungary had a larger GDP (PPP) of 100,515, see note on Spain in 1913.
  16. ^ Spain is included based on the overall tables in Angus Maddison,[14] which does not refer to Austria-Hungary. In 1913, however, the Cisleithania portion of Austria-Hungary alone had a GDP (PPP) of 62,638 million.[18] According to Max Stephan Schulze, Austria-Hungary had a GDP (PPP) of 100,515 million in 1913 when compared to Russia (254,448 million), Germany (237,332 million), United Kingdom (224,618 million), France (144,489 million) and Italy (95,487 million).[26] Schulze's figures correspond to Angus Maddison, with the notable exception of the Russian Empire, whose GDP (PPP) is estimated to be approximately 9 per cent larger.
  17. ^ GDP (PPP) figures for Undivided India.[24]
  18. ^ Excludes 9,619 million in GDP (PPP) of territories that would become part of the Republic of Ireland.[23]
  19. ^ This figure excludes the impact of the loss of Alsace-Lorraine between 1871-1918 and the impact of the acquisition of territory in 1861 from Italy in the Savoie and Nice.[25]
  20. ^ Based on 1913 frontiers but excluding Reichsland Alsace-Lorraine. During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, Germany had taken Alsace-Lorraine from France. At the time, this annexation had increased both its population and GDP by four per cent.[21]
  21. ^ Austria-Hungary had a larger GDP (PPP) in 1870, based on Cisleithania's estimated GDP (PPP) of 25,003 million[18] and also the estimated GDP (PPP) of just the territory of modern Hungary in 1870 at 6,459 million.[27]
  22. ^ Spain is included based on the overall tables in Angus Maddison,[14] which does not refer to Austria-Hungary. In 1870, the Cisleithania portion of Austria-Hungary alone had a GDP (PPP) of 25,003 million.[18]
  23. ^ GDP (PPP) figures for Undivided India.[24]
  24. ^ Excludes 6,231 million in GDP (PPP) of territories that would become part of the Republic of Ireland.[23]
  25. ^ Anachronistic figures based on the 1913 frontiers of the German Empire but excluding Reichsland Alsace-Lorraine. This figure includes contributions made by parts of the Kingdom of Prussia and the Prussian-led German Empire that were never included in the German Confederation between 1815 and 1866, while excluding contributions that would have been made by parts of the Austrian Empire included within the German Confederation between 1815 and 1866, namely, modern Austria and the Lands of the Bohemian Crown.[21] In 1820, the territory of modern Austria constituted 4,104 million in GDP (PPP), while former Czechoslovakia constituted 7,657 million in GDP (PPP). However, this retrospective figure for Czechoslovakia includes contributions by territories of modern Slovakia, much of which was then a constituent part of the Kingdom of Hungary within the Austrian Empire and excluded from the German Confederation.[28]
  26. ^ Italy was not unified as a country until 1861, this GDP (PPP) figure and follwing figures for Italy represents the combined output of the regions comprising the modern country of Italy since 1946, which in 1820 were ruled by various Italian and non-Italian polities.
  27. ^ This GDP (PPP) figure and further figures for Japan is based on territories comprising the modern country of Japan since 1947.
  28. ^ See note on USA in 1820.[20]
  29. ^ Spain and USA is included based on the overall tables in Angus Maddison,[14] which does not refer to the Austrian Empire that potentially could have had a larger GDP (PPP) in 1820. The territories of modern Austria and former Czechoslovakia constituted 4,104 million and 6,501 million GDP (PPP) within the Austrian Empire, and these two figures do not take into account the rest of the Kingdom of Hungary and other constituents of the Austrian Empire.[20]

References

  1. ^ "World's largest economies". CNNMoney.
  2. ^ "National Accounts - Analysis of Main Aggregates (AMA)". unstats.un.org.
  3. ^ World Bank GDP Data (December 2014)
  4. ^ "World Economic Outlook". www.imf.org. Archived from the original on February 24, 2021.
  5. ^ "World Economic Outlook (April 2025) - GDP, current prices". International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
  6. ^ "IMF historical GDP (PPP) Data (October 2014)". Imf.org. 2015-10-06. Retrieved 2015-10-08.
  7. ^ "GDP, PPP; Table". Data.worldbank.org. 2014-12-16. Retrieved 2014-12-18.
  8. ^ "Welcome to World Bank Intranet" (PDF).
  9. ^ "Report for Selected Countries and Subjects". www.imf.org.
  10. ^ Elliott, Larry (January 6, 2011). "GDP projections from PwC: how China, India and Brazil will overtake the West by 2050". the Guardian.
  11. ^ World Bank WDI historical GDP (PPP) Data
  12. ^ "GDP, PPP (current international $) World Bank, International database".
  13. ^ Data table in Maddison A (2007), Contours of the World Economy I-2030AD, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0199227204
  14. ^ a b c d Maddison 2007, p. 379, table A.4.
  15. ^ "National Accounts - Analysis of Main Aggregates (AMA)". unstats.un.org.
  16. ^ "World Bank Open Data". World Bank Open Data.
  17. ^ "IMF historical nominal GDP Data (April 2011)".
  18. ^ a b c d Maddison, Angus; 2003:Development Centre Studies The World Economy: Historical Statistics. OECD Publishing. p. 26, table 1-1.
  19. ^ Maddison, A. (2006). The World Economy. France: OECD. p. 178, table A-d; p. 184, table A1-b; p. 194, table A2-b; p. 214, table A3-b.
  20. ^ a b c d Maddison, A. (2006). The World Economy. France: OECD. p. 184, table A1-b.
  21. ^ a b c d e f Maddison, Angus; 2003: Development Centre Studies The World Economy: Historical Statistics. OECD Publishing. pp. 27-28, table 1-2.
  22. ^ Maddison, Angus; 2003: Development Centre Studies The World Economy: Historical Statistics. OECD Publishing. p. 172, table 5b.
  23. ^ a b c Maddison, Angus; 2003: Development Centre Studies The World Economy: Historical Statistics. OECD Publishing. p. 32, table 1-3.
  24. ^ a b c Maddison, Angus; 2003: Development Centre Studies The World Economy: Historical Statistics. OECD Publishing. p. 170, table 5b.
  25. ^ a b Maddison, Angus; 2003: Development Centre Studies The World Economy: Historical Statistics. OECD Publishing. pp. 27.
  26. ^ Schulze, Max-Stephan (2005). "Austria-Hungary's economy in World War I" (PDF). In Broadberry, Stephen; Harrison, Mark (eds.). The Economics of World War I. Cambridge University Press. p. 95. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511497339.002. ISBN 978-0-5218-5212-8. S2CID 16455027. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  27. ^ Maddison, Angus; 2003: Development Centre Studies The World Economy: Historical Statistics. OECD Publishing. p. 8, table 3b.
  28. ^ Maddison, Angus; 2003: Development Centre Studies The World Economy: Historical Statistics. OECD Publishing. p. 46, table 1b and p. 98, table 3b.
  29. ^ Azar Gat (2008). War in Human Civilization. Oxford University Press. p. 517. ISBN 978-0-19-923663-3.
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