GNI per capita inversely relates to GDP per unit
Comparing GNI per capita, Atlas method (current US$) with GDP (current LCU), per unit of GDP across 205 countries, 2011–2025.
- Rank correlation
- -0.63
- Holding size constant
- -0.49
- Countries compared
- 205
- Period
- 2011–2025
What might link these
The inverse relationship between GNI per capita and GDP per unit might be linked to differences in economic structures or exchange rates across countries. A careful reader should consider the potential impact of inflation rates, as a likely confounder. The relationship could also be influenced by variations in national accounting practices.
Why this is not proof of anything
This is a correlation across countries, not an experiment. It cannot show that either indicator causes the other, and both may simply follow a third thing. This correlation could mislead by implying a causal link between the two indicators, when in fact it may be driven by underlying economic or demographic factors.
The second figure above repeats the measurement with national population and income held constant. It is the more conservative number: a relationship that largely disappears there was mostly telling you that larger, richer countries have more of most things.
How this was measured
Both indicators were ranked across every country reporting each, and the two rankings compared — ranks rather than raw values, because a handful of very large countries can otherwise manufacture a relationship on their own. The calculation is arithmetic over figures already published on this site; the commentary above is drafted from the two indicator names and the resulting coefficients.