Pick an indicator and a set of countries to compare their trajectories since 1980.
GDP growth
% annual
What it means
The yearly percentage change in the total value of goods and services an economy produces, adjusted for inflation.
What it shows
Whether the economy is expanding or shrinking, and how fast. Negative values mean recession; sharp swings point to booms or crises.
Where it's used
Comparing economic momentum across countries and spotting recessions. It says nothing about how rich a country already is, so pair it with GDP per capita.