Group Name:
Block:
East Asia GDP Data
Teacher:
Over the next couple of weeks your delegation will conduct research into other countries and examine
they set up their economy. Data has been provided to you that shows country’s GDP. Your group needs
to graph and analyze this data so you can use it for the upcoming summit.
Directions
1. Read the Per Capita GDP article and answer the questions in bold on the back of this paper.
2. As a group graph the Per Capita GDP for the countries below
3. Create thematic maps that show the shift in GDP over the decades for the East Asia countries (*).
Each group should have a thematic map for every ten year of data provided.
4. Using a computer/smart phone try and find North Koreas GDP per capita from 1960-2012.
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2012
China*
Japan*
$ 92
$ 100
$ 193
$ 314
$ 1,000
$ 4,400
$ 6,000
$ 479
$ 2,000
$ 9,300
$ 25,000
$ 37,000
$ 43,000
$ 47,000
Soviet
Union*
$ 1,000
$ 1,800
$ 3,300
Russia*
$ 3,500
$ 1,800
$ 10,000
$ 14,000
South
Korea*
$ 155
$ 278
$ 1,600
$ 6,000
$ 11,000
$ 20,500
$ 22,500
U.S.
$ 2,800
$ 5,200
$ 13,000
$ 24,000
$ 37,000
$ 48,000
$ 52,000
Discussion Questions
1. What is per capita GDP?
2. What did you find interesting about this data?
3. Did you notice any patterns that emerged from the below groups?
Communist
China
Soviet Union
Capitalist
Japan
South Korea
Russia
U.S.
Link
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GDP Per Capita
What is GDP per capita?
Definition: GDP per capita is a measurement of how much money the average person makes in a
country makes. GDP per capita takes everything of value a country makes and divides it by the
country’s total population.
GDP (Total value of everything a country makes) ÷ Population = GDP per capita
Why do the world’s largest economies don’t have the highest GDP per capita?
GDP per capita allows you to compare countries with that have different population sizes.
For example, U.S. GDP was $15.66 trillion in 2012, making it seem the most prosperous country
in the world. However, one reason for America's prosperity is because it's the third most
populous country (after China and India). The U.S. must spread its wealth among 317 million
people. That makes its GDP per capita only $49,800, the 12th most prosperous (successful)
country per person.
The European Union (EU) is the world's most prosperous (successful) economy, at $15.7 trillion.
It's an economy made up of 29 separate countries. Its GDP per capita was only $34,500 because
it must spread the wealth among 504 million people.
Japan's GDP per capita was slightly higher, at $36,200, because it can spread the benefits of its
economy among only 127 million people.
China's GDP per capita was only $9,100 because it has four times the number of people (1.3
billion) as does the U.S. Even though its GDP is $12.38 trillion, right below the U.S., it's got to
spread the wealth among all those people, making it much poorer on a per capita basis. However,
China's GDP per capita is growing quickly, up from only $4,900 five years ago. (Source: CIA
World Factbook)
Ten Highest GDP per Capita
The most prosperous country per person is Qatar - its GDP per capita is $103,900. The other
countries in the Top Ten are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Liechtenstein -- $89,400
Bermuda -- $86,000
Macau -- $82,400
Luxembourg -- $80,700
Monaco -- $70,700
Singapore -- $61,400
Jersey -- $57,000
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8. Norway -- $55,900
9. Falkland Islands -- $55,900
Why are Qatar and Norway on this list?
Only two of the top ten (Qatar, Norway) are oil exporters with small populations. These
countries were fortunate enough to have a large, abundant natural resource that is not labor
intensive to develop (oil doesn’t require a lot of workers). Since 2010, three oil-exporting
countries (Brunei, UAE and Kuwait) have dropped off the list.
Why are the Falkland Islands and Macau on this list?
The Falkland Islands may become an oil-exporting nation, as surveys show reserves that could
produce 500,000 barrels per day by 2016. The Islands also sell fishing licenses to foreign ships
within its exclusive zone. The population of Falkland Islands is only 3,140. Macau rose to its
position by becoming a gaming center for mainland China. It's really just a city/state, with a
population of 550,000.
What about the six other countries?
The other six countries have worked hard to become regional financial centers (places that
handle large amounts of money). Low tax rates and friendly business climates have made them
extremely attractive places to have business go to.. Financial services do not require a lot of
workers to develop, and so the wealth can be generated and distributed among a small
population. In fact, Bermuda has less than 70,000 people living there.
The Ten Poorest Countries per Capita
The world's poorest countries, according to GDP per capita, are:
Malawi -- $900
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Central African Republic -- $800
Niger -- $800
Eritrea -- $800
Liberia -- $700
Burundi -- $600
Zimbabwe -- $600
Somalia -- $600
Democratic Republic of the Congo -- $400
Kosovo -- $0
Why are nine of the world’s poorest countries in Africa?
Nine of the world's poorest countries are in Africa. There are many theories as to why African
countries are so poor. One potential is reason is due to their size. They cannot build economies of
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scale with such small populations. U.S. companies have a large domestic market that they can
easily use as a test market.
Second, many African countries are land-locked, and have no port. They must rely on
neighboring countries to get their goods to market. This increases their cost, making their prices
less competitive.
Why is Kosovo on this list?
Kosovo, in Europe, is still recovering from a bitter civil war. Most of the country relies on
primitive farming techniques. Kosovo is just beginning to build the infrastructure, like
electricity, that it needs to improve. It's like many poor African countries in that it's small and
land-locked.
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Map Key
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