GDP measures the total economic output of a country. It's the single most important number for understanding an economy's size and health.
Asian Economies by GDP (2025)
| Country | GDP (USD) | Growth |
| China | ~$19T | ~5% |
| Japan | ~$4.4T | ~1.5% |
| India | ~$4T | ~6.5% |
| South Korea | ~$1.8T | ~2.5% |
| Indonesia | ~$1.4T | ~5% |
| Taiwan | ~$800B | ~3% |
| Thailand | ~$550B | ~3.5% |
GDP and Stock Markets
GDP growth doesn't always correlate with stock returns. China has grown faster than Japan for decades, but Japanese stocks have outperformed Chinese stocks in many recent periods.
What Investors Watch
- GDP growth rate (quarterly): acceleration or deceleration
- GDP per capita: living standards and consumer spending power
- GDP composition: services vs manufacturing vs agriculture