UK Real GDP 1830–1918

Below are Angus Maddison’s figures for real UK GDP from 1830 to 1918.

In turn, Maddison uses Deane (1968), Harley (1992) and Feinstein (1972) for his estimates:

Year | GDP* | Growth Rate
Millions of international Geary-Khamis dollars
1830 | 42228 |
1831 | 44249 | 4.78%
1832 | 43800 | -1.01%
1833 | 44249 | 1.02%
1834 | 46046 | 4.06%
1835 | 48517 | 5.36%
1836 | 50314 | 3.70%
1837 | 49640 | -1.33%
1838 | 52336 | 5.43%
1839 | 54806 | 4.72%
1840 | 53234 | -2.87%
1841 | 52111 | -2.11%
1842 | 50988 | -2.15%
1843 | 51886 | 1.76%
1844 | 55031 | 6.06%
1845 | 57951 | 5.31%
1846 | 61770 | 6.59%
1847 | 62219 | 0.72%
1848 | 62893 | 1.08%
1849 | 64016 | 1.78%
1850 | 63342 | -1.05%
1851 | 66037 | 4.25%
1852 | 67160 | 1.70%
1853 | 69631 | 3.68%
1854 | 71428 | 2.58%
1855 | 71203 | -0.31%
1856 | 76370 | 7.26%
1857 | 77717 | 1.76%
1858 | 77942 | 0.28%
1859 | 79964 | 2.59%
1860 | 81760 | 2.25%
1861 | 84007 | 2.75%
1862 | 84680 | 0.80%
1863 | 85354 | 0.79%
1864 | 87600 | 2.63%
1865 | 90296 | 3.08%
1866 | 91644 | 1.49%
1867 | 90745 | -0.98%
1868 | 93665 | 3.22%
1869 | 94339 | 0.72%
1870 | 100180 | 6.19%
1871 | 105570 | 5.38%
1872 | 105795 | 0.21%
1873 | 108266 | 2.33%
1874 | 110063 | 1.66%
1875 | 112758 | 2.45%
1876 | 113881 | 0.99%
1877 | 115004 | 0.99%
1878 | 115454 | 0.39%
1879 | 115004 | -0.39%
1880 | 120395 | 4.69%
1881 | 124663 | 3.54%
1882 | 128257 | 2.88%
1883 | 129155 | 0.70%
1884 | 129380 | 0.17%
1885 | 128706 | -0.52
1886 | 130728 | 1.57%
1887 | 135894 | 3.95%
1888 | 141959 | 4.46%
1889 | 149596 | 5.38%
1890 | 150269 | 0.45%
1891 | 150269 | 0%
1892 | 146676 | -2.39%
1893 | 146676 | 0%
1894 | 156559 | 6.74%
1895 | 161500 | 3.15%
1896 | 168239 | 4.17%
1897 | 170485 | 1.33%
1898 | 178796 | 4.87%
1899 | 186208 | 4.14%
1900 | 184861 | -0.72
1901 | 184861 | 0%
1902 | 189578 | 2.55%
1903 | 187556 | -1.07%
1904 | 188679 | 0.58%
1905 | 194295 | 2.98%
1906 | 200808 | 3.35%
1907 | 204627 | 1.90%
1908 | 196316 | -4.06%
1909 | 200808 | 2.29%
1910 | 207098 | 3.13%
1911 | 213162 | 2.93%
1912 | 216307 | 1.47%
1913 | 224618 | 3.84%
1914 | 226864 | 0.99%
1915 | 245058 | 8.01%
1916 | 250449 | 2.19%
1917 | 252695 | 0.89%
1918 | 254268 | 0.62%
(Maddison 2003: 47, 49).
Average real GNP growth rate, 1831–1872: 2.24%
Average real GNP growth rate, 1873–1896: 1.97%

Now, unlike the US, the UK had a central bank and a lender of last resort during the 19th century.

The worst recessions were those in 1837–1840, 1891–1893 and 1908.

I have yet to find unemployment estimates to put these GDP figures into a better context.


BIBLIOGRAPHY

Deane, P. 1968. “New Estimates of Gross National Product for the United Kingdom, 1830–1914,” Review of Income and Wealth 14 (June): 95–112.

Feinstein, C. H. 1972. National Income, Expenditure and Output of the United Kingdom, 1855-1965. University Press, Cambridge.

Harley, C. Knick. 1992. “Output Growth and the British Industrial Revolution,” Economic History Review n.s. 45.4: 703–730.

Maddison, Angus. 2003. The World Economy: Historical Statistics. OECD Publishing, Paris.