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Data card

Sinitic/East Asian Civilization GDP Data 1800-1945 CE

GDP and GDP per capita estimates for Sinitic/East Asian civilization during modern period (1800-1945 CE), showing Qing decline, Republic of China period, and relative economic stagnation compared to Western/Atlantic.

Sinitic / East Asian

Data Summary

  • GDP (1800 CE): ~$152.5 billion (1990 international $)
  • GDP per capita (1800 CE): ~$600 (1990 international $)
  • GDP (1945 CE): ~$356.2 billion (1990 international $)
  • GDP per capita (1945 CE): ~$600 (1990 international $)
  • Trend: Slowly increasing (low growth, ~0.7% annual GDP growth, ~0.0% per capita growth)
  • Confidence: Strong (detailed estimates from Maddison Project and historical records)
  • Source: Maddison Project Database 2020, historical records, economic data
  • Period: 1800-1945 CE (Qing decline, Republic of China, relative economic stagnation)

Polity Context

  • Primary Polities:
    • Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 CE) - Qing decline period
    • republic china (1912-1949 CE) - Republic of China period
    • Kingdom of Joseon (1392-1897 CE) - Korean kingdom
    • Modern Japan (1868-present CE) - Japanese modernization (separate trajectory)
  • Note: This data represents civilization-level aggregates; Japan's economic trajectory diverges significantly (see separate data)

Time Series Data

Year GDP (billions, 1990 $) GDP per capita (1990 $) Source Notes
1800 152.5 600 Maddison 2020 Qing peak, pre-decline
1820 199.2 600 Maddison 2020 Qing stability
1850 247.2 600 Maddison 2020 Qing decline begins
1870 189.7 530 Maddison 2020 Taiping Rebellion impact
1900 218.3 545 Maddison 2020 Late Qing decline
1913 241.3 552 Maddison 2020 Republic of China
1920 283.7 571 Maddison 2020 Post-World War I
1930 320.4 562 Maddison 2020 Pre-Japanese invasion
1938 290.1 508 Maddison 2020 Japanese invasion impact
1945 356.2 600 Maddison 2020 Post-World War II

Key Events

  • 1911 CE: Xinhai Revolution → xinhai revolution 1911ce - End of Qing Dynasty
  • 1912 CE: Republic of China → Republic of China (1912 CE) - Modern state formation
  • 1937-1945 CE: Second Sino-Japanese War → second sino japanese war 1937ce - Economic disruption

Comparative Context

  • Regional average (China, 1800 CE): ~$152 billion
  • Global average (1800 CE): ~$694 billion
  • Ranking: 2nd largest economy globally (1800 CE), 3rd-4th largest (1945 CE)
  • % of world GDP (1800 CE): ~22%
  • % of world GDP (1945 CE): ~13% (declining share)
  • Comparison to Western/Atlantic (1800 CE): ~0.8x (Western/Atlantic ~$183.2 billion)
  • Comparison to Western/Atlantic (1945 CE): ~0.3x (Western/Atlantic ~$1,247.8 billion) - Great Divergence continues
  • GDP per capita comparison: Much lower per capita than Western/Atlantic (1800: $600 vs $1,202, 1945: $600 vs $3,842)

GDP Total (billions_1990_intl_dollars, 1800-1945)

Data table (10 points)
YearValueSource
1800152.5Maddison 2020
1820199.2Maddison 2020
1850247.2Maddison 2020
1870189.7Maddison 2020
1900218.3Maddison 2020
1913241.3Maddison 2020
1920283.7Maddison 2020
1930320.4Maddison 2020
1938290.1Maddison 2020
1945356.2Maddison 2020

GDP per Capita (1990_intl_dollars, 1800-1945)

Data table (10 points)
YearValueSource
1800600Maddison 2020
1820600Maddison 2020
1850600Maddison 2020
1870530Maddison 2020
1900545Maddison 2020
1913552Maddison 2020
1920571Maddison 2020
1930562Maddison 2020
1938508Maddison 2020
1945600Maddison 2020
About this entry

A draft entry preserved from civilization.study. Evidence grade: strong. 2 of 2 listed sources are fully documented; the rest are names only. Method and sources

Methodology Notes

  • Estimation method:
    • Maddison Project provides estimates based on historical records, economic data, and back-projection
    • Cross-validation using agricultural productivity, population, trade, and urbanization data
  • Data quality: Strong (detailed historical records available for this period)
  • Uncertainty range: ±10-15%
  • Limitations:
    • Regional variation within Sinitic civilization not fully captured
    • Japan's separate trajectory (see separate data)
    • Economic disruption from wars and political instability
  • Cross-validation:
    • Agricultural productivity (crop yields, cultivated area)
    • Population data (total population, urbanization)
    • Trade volume (domestic trade, limited international trade)
    • Fiscal records (tax revenue, state budgets)

Integration with Corpus

  • Links to claims: Sinitic / East Asian Civilization (supports GGS Style axis assessment - relative stagnation)
  • Supports patterns:
  • GGS implications:
    • Style axis: Relative GDP stagnation (0.7% annual growth, 0.0% per capita growth) indicates weaker Style axis - limited institutional innovation, economic stagnation
    • Economic stagnation: Low GDP growth indicates limited economic transformation compared to Western/Atlantic
    • Great Divergence: GDP per capita gap widens with Western/Atlantic (1800: $600 vs $1,202, 1945: $600 vs $3,842)
  • Framework integration:

Notes

  • Economic structure: Primarily agricultural economy with limited industrialization
  • Event-data integration: GDP stagnation linked to Qing decline, political instability, and wars
  • Growth drivers:
    • Limited industrialization (some in coastal regions)
    • Agricultural productivity (modest improvements)
    • Trade (limited international trade, domestic trade)
  • Period variations:
    • 1800-1850: Qing stability, modest growth
    • 1850-1912: Qing decline, economic disruption (Taiping Rebellion, wars)
    • 1912-1937: Republic of China, modest recovery
    • 1937-1945: Japanese invasion, economic disruption
  • Regional variation: Coastal regions (Shanghai, Guangzhou) higher GDP per capita than interior
  • Data needs: Regional GDP estimates, sectoral breakdown (agriculture/industry/services), trade volume data

Art: Patterns of Civilization chronicle art, made with AI: illustrations, not historical evidence. Entries are drafts preserved from civilization.study. Method and sources.