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17,100GDP = C + I + G + (X − M)
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How it works

  1. Compute GDP from spending categories

    Consumption, investment, government spending, and net exports (exports minus imports).

  2. Derive per-capita and real GDP

    Divide by population, or adjust for price changes using a GDP deflator.

  3. Compare two periods

    The Growth Rate tab computes the percentage change between two GDP figures.

GDP Calculator computes Gross Domestic Product using the expenditure approach — the sum of consumption, investment, government spending, and net exports — the version of the GDP formula most commonly introduced first because each term corresponds to a recognizable category of spending in an economy.

From a headline GDP figure, two other commonly needed numbers can be derived: GDP per capita (dividing by population, for comparing living standards across countries of very different sizes) and real GDP (dividing out a price-level change using a GDP deflator, so that growth reflects actual increased output rather than just higher prices for the same output).

The growth-rate calculation compares GDP across two periods as a simple percentage change, which is the number most commonly reported in economic news — a economy is described as "growing at 2%" based on exactly this calculation, comparing this period's GDP (ideally the real, inflation-adjusted figure) against the prior period's.

FAQ

What is the expenditure approach to GDP?
It defines GDP as the sum of four spending categories: consumption (C), investment (I), government spending (G), and net exports (exports minus imports, X − M). It's one of three standard ways to compute GDP — the others use total income earned or total output produced — that are designed to arrive at the same figure from different angles.
Why does the calculator subtract imports?
Consumption, investment, and government spending figures typically include money spent on imported goods, which weren't produced domestically. Subtracting imports (and adding exports, which were produced domestically but bought by foreigners) corrects the total back down to only domestic production.
What's the difference between nominal and real GDP?
Nominal GDP is measured using that period's actual prices, so it goes up from both real growth and inflation combined. Real GDP divides out the price-level change (using a GDP deflator) to isolate how much output actually grew, independent of price changes.
Is my data sent anywhere?
No. All calculations run locally in your browser.