Economic Growth•Series ID: GGDPCVGDPFY•1974–2026
Real GDP Per Capita Growth - Historical Data
Adjusts headline real GDP growth for population growth to measure changes in average output per resident.
Embed this interactive chart on your website or article:
Current Statistics & Historical Records
Latest Reading (2026 Q2)
0.7%
Prev (2026 Q1): 1.0%-0.3 pp
Highest Recorded (2021 Q2)
10.1%
Recorded in 2021 Q2
Lowest Recorded (2020 Q2)
-7.0%
COVID-19 pandemic shock & 0.10% cash rate floor
Long-Run Mean (1974–2026)
1.5%
53 annual observations · Quarterly
Real GDP Per Capita Growth - Historical Series (1974–2026)
% p.a.Drag to pan, scroll to zoom, or toggle between full annual history (1974–2026) and recent quarterly releases.
Loading interactive chart...
Source: Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) / Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (GGDPCVGDPFY) Latest: 0.7 % p.a. (2026 Q2)
Real GDP Per Capita Growth by Decade (1974–2026)
Decade averages, peaks, and troughs across Australian economic cycles
1970s1974–1979
1.2%
High (1976):3.3%
Low (1974):-1.1%
1980s1980–1989
1.9%
High (1984):5.4%
Low (1983):-2.0%
1990s1990–1999
2.1%
High (1994):3.9%
Low (1991):-2.2%
2000s2000–2009
1.7%
High (2002):3.0%
Low (2009):0.0%
2010s2010–2019
1.0%
High (2012):2.1%
Low (2013):0.5%
2020s2020–2026
0.7%
High (2021):5.2%
Low (2020):-3.0%
Real GDP Per Capita Growth - Historical Table (1974–2026)
Unit: % p.a. · Source: Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) / Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (GGDPCVGDPFY)
| Year | GDP Per Capita Growth (% p.a.) | Year Range (Low – High) | Historical Context / Year Snapshot |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0.8% | 0.7% – 1.0% | The Australian Economy in 2026 → |
| 2025 | 0.5% | -0.3% – 1.1% | Disinflation & monetary policy recalibration |
| 2024 | -0.9% | -1.1% – -0.4% | The Australian Economy in 2024 → |
| 2023 | -0.3% | -1.1% – 0.5% | The Australian Economy in 2023 → |
| 2022 | 2.6% | 1.1% – 4.3% | Post-pandemic inflation surge & rapid RBA tightening cycle |
| 2021 | 5.2% | 1.9% – 10.1% | The Australian Economy in 2021 → |
| 2020 | -3.0% | -7.0% – -0.2% | COVID-19 pandemic shock & 0.10% cash rate floor |
| 2019 | 0.5% | 0.2% – 0.7% | The Australian Economy in 2019 → |
| 2018 | 1.2% | 0.8% – 1.6% | The Australian Economy in 2018 → |
| 2017 | 0.8% | 0.4% – 1.4% | The Australian Economy in 2017 → |
| 2016 | 1.1% | 0.6% – 1.6% | The Australian Economy in 2016 → |
| 2015 | 0.9% | 0.4% – 1.2% | The Australian Economy in 2015 → |
| 2014 | 1.0% | 0.6% – 1.4% | The Australian Economy in 2014 → |
| 2013 | 0.5% | 0.2% – 0.9% | The Australian Economy in 2013 → |
| 2012 | 2.1% | 1.0% – 3.1% | The Australian Economy in 2012 → |
| 2011 | 1.3% | 0.5% – 1.8% | China mining investment & Terms of Trade supercycle peak |
| 2010 | 0.9% | 0.6% – 1.2% | The Australian Economy in 2010 → |
| 2009 | 0.0% | -0.5% – 1.0% | The Australian Economy in 2009 → |
| 2008 | 0.6% | -0.4% – 1.4% | Global Financial Crisis (GFC) & emergency rate cuts |
| 2007 | 2.5% | 1.7% – 3.0% | The Australian Economy in 2007 → |
| 2006 | 1.2% | 0.9% – 1.5% | The Australian Economy in 2006 → |
| 2005 | 1.8% | 1.5% – 1.9% | The Australian Economy in 2005 → |
| 2004 | 3.0% | 1.8% – 3.9% | The Australian Economy in 2004 → |
| 2003 | 1.9% | 0.6% – 2.9% | The Australian Economy in 2003 → |
| 2002 | 3.0% | 2.5% – 3.7% | The Australian Economy in 2002 → |
| 2001 | 1.3% | 0.4% – 2.9% | The Australian Economy in 2001 → |
| 2000 | 1.9% | 0.1% – 3.1% | Introduction of the 10% Goods and Services Tax (GST) |
| 1999 | 3.3% | 2.7% – 4.2% | The Australian Economy in 1999 → |
| 1998 | 3.6% | 2.3% – 4.2% | The Australian Economy in 1998 → |
| 1997 | 3.6% | 1.9% – 4.4% | The Australian Economy in 1997 → |
| 1996 | 2.8% | 1.8% – 3.3% | The Australian Economy in 1996 → |
| 1995 | 1.8% | 1.2% – 2.7% | The Australian Economy in 1995 → |
| 1994 | 3.9% | 3.3% – 4.5% | The Australian Economy in 1994 → |
| 1993 | 3.0% | 2.3% – 3.5% | RBA formalises 2–3% inflation targeting |
| 1992 | 1.5% | -0.1% – 3.6% | The Australian Economy in 1992 → |
| 1991 | -2.2% | -2.7% – -1.7% | Early 1990s recession ("The recession we had to have") |
| 1990 | 0.1% | -1.4% – 2.1% | Monetary tightening peak (17.5% Cash Rate) |
| 1989 | 3.0% | 1.7% – 4.1% | The Australian Economy in 1989 → |
| 1988 | 2.4% | 1.2% – 4.2% | The Australian Economy in 1988 → |
| 1987 | 3.4% | 1.2% – 4.9% | October 1987 sharemarket crash |
| 1986 | 0.6% | -1.0% – 2.5% | The Australian Economy in 1986 → |
| 1985 | 3.6% | 2.9% – 4.3% | The Australian Economy in 1985 → |
| 1984 | 5.4% | 3.9% – 7.0% | The Australian Economy in 1984 → |
| 1983 | -2.0% | -4.7% – 2.0% | Float of the Australian Dollar & Prices and Incomes Accord |
| 1982 | -1.5% | -3.7% – 0.6% | Early 1980s recession & drought |
| 1981 | 2.5% | 1.4% – 4.1% | The Australian Economy in 1981 → |
| 1980 | 1.6% | 0.5% – 2.3% | The Australian Economy in 1980 → |
| 1979 | 3.0% | 1.7% – 4.9% | The Australian Economy in 1979 → |
| 1978 | 1.1% | -0.4% – 2.8% | The Australian Economy in 1978 → |
| 1977 | 0.2% | -1.1% – 1.4% | The Australian Economy in 1977 → |
| 1976 | 3.3% | 1.0% – 5.4% | The Australian Economy in 1976 → |
| 1975 | 0.8% | -1.8% – 3.6% | The Australian Economy in 1975 → |
| 1974 | -1.1% | -2.3% – 0.0% | 1974 wage explosion & stagflation peak |
Related Australian Economic Statistics
Australian Real GDP Growth RateEconomic Growth · 1950–2026
2.1%2026 Q2
Australian Population (Estimated Resident Population)Population & Demographics · 1901–2026
27.92M2026 Q1
Non-Farm Labour Productivity GrowthEmployment & Wages · 1986–2026
-0.3%2026 Q2
Real Household Disposable Income GrowthEconomic Growth · 1960–2026
2.3%2026 Q2
Compare GDP Per Capita Growth against another indicator →
Source Information & Methodology
- Primary Institution:
- Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) / Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
- Dataset / Publication:
- Real GDP Per Capita - Year-Ended Percentage Change
- Series / Table ID:
- RBA Statistical Table H1 (GGDPCVGDPFY)
- Release Frequency:
- Quarterly
• Primary source: Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) / Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) - Real GDP Per Capita - Year-Ended Percentage Change (RBA Statistical Table H1).
• Observation frequency: Quarterly. Annual table values represent calendar year averages.
• Series coverage spans 1974 to 2026 (53 annual observations).
APA Citation:Reserve Bank of Australia & Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2026). Real GDP Per Capita - Year-Ended Percentage Change (H1: GGDPCVGDPFY). Retrieved October 2026 from https://www.rba.gov.au/statistics/tables/
Frequently Asked Questions: Real GDP Per Capita Growth
- What is the current Real GDP Per Capita Growth?
- As of 2026 Q2, the latest recorded Real GDP Per Capita Growth is 0.7 (% p.a.), compared with 1.0 in 2026 Q1.
- What is the highest and lowest Real GDP Per Capita Growth ever recorded in Australia?
- Across the historical series (1974–2026), the highest observation was 10.1 (% p.a.) in 2021 Q2, while the lowest was -7.0 (% p.a.) in 2020 Q2. The long-run historical average is 1.5.
- Where is the official Real GDP Per Capita Growth data sourced from?
- This series is compiled from Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) / Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (Real GDP Per Capita - Year-Ended Percentage Change, Series ID: GGDPCVGDPFY) and is updated on a quarterly basis under CC BY 4.0 International / RBA Terms.