Global Wealth and Wellbeing:

A deeper data dive into GDP, health, and income inequality in different countries

By: Anqa Javed, Humaira Enayetullah, Julio Carneiro, Shahab Eshghifard

Bootcamp UofT and edX

🌐 Interactive Economic Dashboard

Explore trends in global GDP per capita, health spending, and income inequality. Use the selector below to filter by year and interact with the charts.

🗺️ Interactive Maps

Visualize global data through the following interactive maps:

Key Insights

Wealthiest Nations

Demonstrates the top 3 countries with the highest GDP per person (average wealth).

A higher GDP per person usually means people have a better standard of living.

You can also Check if these countries also spend more on healthcare.

Most Densely Populated

Ilustrates the top 3 countries with the most people living in each square kilometer.

High population density can stress public services but also boost city economies.

See if any of these countries are also the richest.

Highest Health Spenders

Shows the top 3 countries that spend the most on healthcare per person.

More health spending can lead to better care and longer lives.

Compare with the wealthiest countries if they are they the same.

Economic Trends Over Time

Global GDP per Capita Over Time

Shows the average GDP per person worldwide over time, helping us see if global living standards are improving.

Despite temporary tough times in 2008 (Financial Crisis) and 2020 (COVID-19), over time the average GDP per person has grown, people's quality of life is generally improving and the world's economy is growing.

Limitation: Even if the global average GDP per person goes up, it can hide the fact that some people or places are still struggling. Some rich countries might be getting much richer, which raises the global average, but at the same time, poorer countries might not be improving much.

Top 5 Countries GDP per Capita Over Time

The line chart above highlights the top 5 countries with the highest GDP per capita from 2000 to 2021. These nations consistently outperform others in terms of economic output per person, often due to a combination of small populations, strong financial sectors, high-value exports, and efficient governance. Observing their trajectories helps us understand global economic dynamics and how certain countries sustain or lose their positions over time.

Among these economic powerhouses, one country stands out for its remarkable consistency and periodic dominance — Luxembourg. Let's take a closer look at its unique economic journey.

💰 Luxembourg's GDP per Person: A Quick Look
2000
At the start of the 2000s, Luxembourg had the highest GDP per person in the world — making it one of the richest countries.
2005
By 2005, Luxembourg stayed on top, continuing to grow and keep its strong economy.
2012
In 2012, Qatar took the lead for a short time, passing Luxembourg in GDP per person.
2021
Luxembourg bounced back in 2014, becoming the #1 country again for GDP per person.

Comparative Analysis

GDP vs. Health Spending with Population Density

This visualization reveals how wealth, health investment, and population characteristics interact globally.

How to Read This Graph
  • Bottom (X-axis): A country's wealth (GDP per person). Further right = richer country.
  • Left (Y-axis): Health spending per person. Higher up = spends more on healthcare.
  • Bubble Size: Country's total population density. Bigger bubble = more people live there.
  • Bubble Color: How crowded the country is (population density). Darker color = more people per square kilometer.

Analysis:

  • GDP x Health Spending: Richer countries (right side) typically spend more on healthcare (top).
  • Population Impact: Large-population countries (big bubbles) often show lower per-capita health spending, even with high total investment, highlighting resource distribution challenges.
  • Density Disparities: Countries with similar GDP levels show different health spending patterns.