- $6,000 Growth Explosion 5,000 4,000 3.000 - 2.000 1,000 0 1000 1500 1820 1995 GDP per Capita in 1990 International Dollars Year 0 1000 1500 1820 1995 World $425 $420 $545 $675 $5, 188 The West $439 $406 $624 $1,149 $19,990 West Europe 450 400 670 1,269 17,456 North America 400 400 400 1,233 22,933 Japan 400 425 525 675 19,720 The Rest $423 $424 $532 $594 $2,971 Other Europe 400 400 597 803 5,147 Latin America 400 415 415 671 5,031 China 450 450 600 600 2,653 Other Asia 425 425 525 560 2,768 Africa 400 400 400 400 1,221 FIGURE 15.4 FIGURE 15.4 The History of World GrowthGDP per capita was stagnant for centuries. Living standards started rising significantly around 1820. Even then, most growth in per capita GDP occurred in the West. Source: Angus Maddison, "Poor Until 1820," The Wall Street Journal, January 11, 1999