How is GDP growth calculated YoY?

YoY growth compares a period with the same period a year earlier: ((GDP_t − GDP_{t-1y}) / GDP_{t-1y}) × 100%.

What does annualized QoQ mean?

Quarterly growth compounded for four quarters: ((GDP_t/GDP_{t-1q})^4 − 1) × 100%.

Does PPP affect growth rates?

No. PPP changes the level of GDP, but rates of change remain the same if the factor is constant over time.

How do I compute real GDP?

Divide nominal GDP by a price index (deflator or CPI) divided by 100 to remove inflation effects.

What is chain-weighted indexing?

An index that multiplies period-to-period growth so each link uses adjacent periods; it is less sensitive to base-year choice than fixed-base indexing.

What data format should I paste?

One observation per line, like 2024-Q3, 23310.6 for quarterly or 2024, 97189.3 for annual data.

GDP Growth Rate Calculator

All‑in‑one GDP Growth Rate Calculator featuring YoY, QoQ, annualized QoQ, CAGR, real versus nominal, per‑capita, PPP, seasonal adjustment, chain weighting, charts, scenario builder, and exports. Paste or upload series, compare countries, see explanations, and download results for research, policy, academia, and business users worldwide. Accessible, responsive, accurate, transparent, fast, documented, and keyboard‑friendly for everyone.

Inputs

Series label

Frequency

Primary series (period, value)

One line per period. Examples: format. Values can include decimals.

Convert to real using GDP deflator/CPI

Compute per‑capita (needs population)

PPP adjust levels

Seasonally adjusted

Comparison series (optional)

If provided, charts will overlay both series.

Scenario builder

Next periods at %

Applies simple per‑period growth; annualized QoQ shows separately for quarterly data.

Tip Provide at least two periods. Quarterly annualization uses ((q/q)^4−1). PPP affects levels, not growth rates.

Latest growth

—

Annualized QoQ

—

Quarterly only

3‑yr CAGR

—

Per‑capita growth

—

If population provided

Charts

Results table

Period	Level	Real level	Per‑capita	Growth %	Annualized %	Index	Notes

Index uses chain‑weighted method. SA/NSA and PPP status shown in notes.

Methodology & formulas

YoY = ((GDP_t − GDP_t−1y) / GDP_t−1y) × 100%
QoQ = ((GDP_t − GDP_t−1q) / GDP_t−1q) × 100%
Annualized QoQ = ((GDP_t/GDP_t−1q)⁴ − 1) × 100% (quarterly only)
CAGR = ((GDP_end/GDP_start)^1/n − 1) × 100%, where n = years between endpoints
Real GDP = Nominal / (Deflator/100); Per‑capita = GDP / Population

PPP is a level adjustment and does not change growth rates. Chain‑weighted index multiplies period‑to‑period growth; fixed‑base index relates all periods to the first.

How This GDP Growth Rate Calculator Works

This tool is designed for analysts, students, policy makers, and business users who need fast, transparent growth metrics from any GDP time series. You can paste quarterly (YYYY-Qn) or annual (YYYY) observations, choose whether to display seasonal adjustment status (SA/NSA), and optionally transform levels to real (inflation‑adjusted), per‑capita, or PPP‑adjusted figures. Growth rates are always computed from the underlying level series you enter, so you can reproduce results outside the tool with the same formulas.

Formulas at a glance

Metric	Formula	Notes
Quarter‑over‑Quarter (QoQ)	`((GDP_t − GDP_t−1q) / GDP_t−1q) × 100%`	Requires at least two adjacent quarters.
Annualized QoQ	`((GDP_t/GDP_t−1q)⁴ − 1) × 100%`	Compounds one quarter’s growth across four quarters (quarterly data only).
Year‑over‑Year (YoY)	`((GDP_t − GDP_t−1y) / GDP_t−1y) × 100%`	Compares the same quarter (or year) one year earlier.
CAGR (multi‑year)	`((GDP_end/GDP_start)^1/n − 1) × 100%`	n is the number of years between start and end points.
Real GDP level	`Real = Nominal ÷ (Deflator/100)`	Use GDP deflator or CPI; units follow your input series.
Per‑capita level	`Per‑capita = GDP ÷ Population`	Population can be a single value or a series aligned to periods.
Indexing	Chain‑weighted multiplies adjacent growth; Fixed‑base relates all periods to the first.	Displayed in the “Index” column for orientation.

Worked example (with realistic values)

Suppose quarterly GDP rises from 23,439.4 to 23,801.7 (same‑price basis). The QoQ growth is (23,801.7 − 23,439.4) ÷ 23,439.4 × 100% ≈ 1.55%. The annualized QoQ rate compounds that single‑quarter change: ((23,801.7 ÷ 23,439.4)⁴ − 1) × 100% ≈ 6.3%. If annual GDP moves from 15,670.2 to 16,011.0, the YoY growth is (16,011.0 − 15,670.2) ÷ 15,670.2 × 100% ≈ 2.18%. For a longer window, if GDP grows from 14,067.4 to 16,011.0 over five years, the CAGR is approximately ((16,011.0 ÷ 14,067.4)^1/5 − 1) × 100% ≈ 2.6%. These examples mirror the calculations shown in the “KPI cards” and the results table.

Reading the outputs

Latest growth shows YoY when sufficient history exists (quarterly), otherwise QoQ; annual data always shows YoY.

Annualized QoQ appears only for quarterly series and reflects the pace if the latest quarter’s change persisted for a year.

3‑yr CAGR uses endpoints across roughly three years (or your full window if shorter) to smooth noise.

Per‑capita growth is available when you provide population; it improves cross‑country comparability.

Settings that do not change growth rates

PPP and currency symbols alter levels for better cross‑country comparison but do not change percentage growth, provided the PPP factor is constant across periods. Deflators affect growth only if you compute growth from deflated (real) levels rather than nominal; the calculator lets you choose by toggling “Convert to real” before computing.

Common pitfalls & quick fixes

Issue	Symptom	Fix
Insufficient history	KPI reads “—” or warnings	Provide at least two periods for QoQ/YoY; five or more years improve CAGR stability.
Mis‑aligned inputs	Real/per‑capita columns show “—”	Ensure deflator or population series length matches your GDP series, or enter a single value to apply to all periods.
Extreme base effects	Very large ± growth	Check for near‑zero base values, structural breaks, or rebasing; consider YoY instead of QoQ for noisy quarters.
Comparing countries	Levels look incomparable	Use per‑capita or apply a constant PPP factor; remember percentage growth can be compared directly.

Reproducibility

Every number in the table can be reproduced in a spreadsheet with the formulas above. Export CSV or copy results to audit calculations, and include the methodology snippet in reports. If you change index type (chain vs fixed‑base) or toggle SA/NSA, the calculator records that choice in the “Notes” column so your outputs remain transparent.