Capital intensity vs. labor productivity in United States
United States: Capital intensity vs. labor productivity was 198 in 2015. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2015)
198
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
10th
of 23 countries
All-time high
200
in 2010
All-time low
25
in 1890
Years of data
126
1890–2015
Capital intensity vs. labor productivity in United States, 1890–2015
Source: Bergeaud et al. (2016) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for capital intensity vs. labor productivity in United States is 198, measured in 2015.
That represents a change of up 13.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, capital intensity vs. labor productivity in United States peaked at 200 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 25, in 1890.
United States ranks 10th of 23 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Capital intensity vs. labor productivity in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 25 | — |
| 1891 | 25 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 25 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 28 | +12.0% |
| 1894 | 31 | +10.7% |
| 1895 | 29 | -6.5% |
| 1896 | 30 | +3.4% |
| 1897 | 31 | +3.3% |
| 1898 | 31 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 29 | -6.5% |
| 1900 | 30 | +3.4% |
| 1901 | 28 | -6.7% |
| 1902 | 30 | +7.1% |
| 1903 | 30 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 30 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 31 | +3.3% |
| 1906 | 30 | -3.2% |
| 1907 | 32 | +6.7% |
| 1908 | 34 | +6.2% |
| 1909 | 34 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 35 | +2.9% |
| 1911 | 36 | +2.9% |
| 1912 | 37 | +2.8% |
| 1913 | 38 | +2.7% |
| 1914 | 40 | +5.3% |
| 1915 | 41 | +2.5% |
| 1916 | 41 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 42 | +2.4% |
| 1918 | 45 | +7.1% |
| 1919 | 51 | +13.3% |
| 1920 | 51 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 60 | +17.6% |
| 1922 | 50 | -16.7% |
| 1923 | 49 | -2.0% |
| 1924 | 56 | +14.3% |
| 1925 | 52 | -7.1% |
| 1926 | 55 | +5.8% |
| 1927 | 57 | +3.6% |
| 1928 | 57 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 56 | -1.8% |
| 1930 | 63 | +12.5% |
| 1931 | 71 | +12.7% |
| 1932 | 85 | +19.7% |
| 1933 | 82 | -3.5% |
| 1934 | 82 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 76 | -7.3% |
| 1936 | 70 | -7.9% |
| 1937 | 71 | +1.4% |
| 1938 | 85 | +19.7% |
| 1939 | 77 | -9.4% |
| 1940 | 73 | -5.2% |
| 1941 | 66 | -9.6% |
| 1942 | 60 | -9.1% |
| 1943 | 52 | -13.3% |
| 1944 | 55 | +5.8% |
| 1945 | 58 | +5.5% |
| 1946 | 60 | +3.4% |
| 1947 | 61 | +1.7% |
| 1948 | 64 | +4.9% |
| 1949 | 66 | +3.1% |
| 1950 | 68 | +3.0% |
| 1951 | 66 | -2.9% |
| 1952 | 67 | +1.5% |
| 1953 | 69 | +3.0% |
| 1954 | 73 | +5.8% |
| 1955 | 73 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 74 | +1.4% |
| 1957 | 78 | +5.4% |
| 1958 | 83 | +6.4% |
| 1959 | 82 | -1.2% |
| 1960 | 84 | +2.4% |
| 1961 | 87 | +3.6% |
| 1962 | 88 | +1.1% |
| 1963 | 90 | +2.3% |
| 1964 | 91 | +1.1% |
| 1965 | 92 | +1.1% |
| 1966 | 93 | +1.1% |
| 1967 | 95 | +2.2% |
| 1968 | 97 | +2.1% |
| 1969 | 98 | +1.0% |
| 1970 | 103 | +5.1% |
| 1971 | 106 | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 107 | +0.9% |
| 1973 | 108 | +0.9% |
| 1974 | 111 | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 117 | +5.4% |
| 1976 | 117 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 116 | -0.9% |
| 1978 | 115 | -0.9% |
| 1979 | 116 | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 120 | +3.4% |
| 1981 | 123 | +2.5% |
| 1982 | 127 | +3.3% |
| 1983 | 128 | +0.8% |
| 1984 | 126 | -1.6% |
| 1985 | 127 | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 130 | +2.4% |
| 1987 | 130 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 130 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 130 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 133 | +2.3% |
| 1991 | 138 | +3.8% |
| 1992 | 141 | +2.2% |
| 1993 | 141 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 140 | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 140 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 142 | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 142 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 144 | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 146 | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 149 | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 156 | +4.7% |
| 2002 | 163 | +4.5% |
| 2003 | 169 | +3.7% |
| 2004 | 172 | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 174 | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 176 | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 180 | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 185 | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 198 | +7.0% |
| 2010 | 200 | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 198 | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 198 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 199 | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 198 | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 198 | +0.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 198 is above the median for high income countries, which is 198, 1.0× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 28.4 | 25 | 31 | 10 |
| 1900s | 30.9 | 28 | 34 | 10 |
| 1910s | 40.6 | 35 | 51 | 10 |
| 1920s | 54.3 | 49 | 60 | 10 |
| 1930s | 76.2 | 63 | 85 | 10 |
| 1940s | 61.5 | 52 | 73 | 10 |
| 1950s | 73.3 | 66 | 83 | 10 |
| 1960s | 91.5 | 84 | 98 | 10 |
| 1970s | 111.6 | 103 | 117 | 10 |
| 1980s | 127.1 | 120 | 130 | 10 |
| 1990s | 140.7 | 133 | 146 | 10 |
| 2000s | 172.2 | 149 | 198 | 10 |
| 2010s | 198.5 | 198 | 200 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More work & labour data for United States
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 113,208 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 61.24 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 178,849 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 4.4 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.05 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 159,991 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 141,322 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 58.55 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.27 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.3372 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is capital intensity vs. labor productivity in United States?
- Capital intensity vs. labor productivity in United States was 198 in 2015, according to Bergeaud et al. (2016) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest capital intensity vs. labor productivity recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 200 in 2010.
- What is the lowest capital intensity vs. labor productivity recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 25 in 1890.
- How does United States rank for capital intensity vs. labor productivity?
- United States ranks 10th out of 23 countries with data for 2015.
- Is capital intensity vs. labor productivity rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Bergeaud et al. (2016) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Capital intensity vs. labor productivity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 126 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Figure illustrates capital intensity; the ratio of total capital stock over total hours worked and labor productivity; the ratio of GDP over total hours worked. Both measured in 2010 US$ PPP per hour.