Capital intensity in United States
United States: Capital intensity was 198 in 2015. ◆ Volatile
Capital intensity in United States, 1890–2015
Source: Bergeaud et al. (2016) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for capital intensity in United States is 198, measured in 2015.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 13.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, capital intensity in United States peaked at 200 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 25, in 1890.
That places United States 10th out of 23 countries with data for 2015, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 28.4 | 25 | 31 | 10 |
| 1900s | 30.9 | 28 | 34 | 10 |
| 1910s | 40.6 | 35 | 51 | 10 |
| 1920s | 54.3 | 49 | 60 | 10 |
| 1930s | 76.2 | 63 | 85 | 10 |
| 1940s | 61.5 | 52 | 73 | 10 |
| 1950s | 73.3 | 66 | 83 | 10 |
| 1960s | 91.5 | 84 | 98 | 10 |
| 1970s | 111.6 | 103 | 117 | 10 |
| 1980s | 127.1 | 120 | 130 | 10 |
| 1990s | 140.7 | 133 | 146 | 10 |
| 2000s | 172.2 | 149 | 198 | 10 |
| 2010s | 198.5 | 198 | 200 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Spring temperature anomalies 2.51 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.5014 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.0594 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.8696 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.9189 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 143.86 2010 = 100 (2024)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is capital intensity in United States?
- Capital intensity in United States was 198 in 2015, according to Bergeaud et al. (2016) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest capital intensity recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 200 in 2010.
- What is the lowest capital intensity recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 25 in 1890.
- How does United States rank for capital intensity?
- United States ranks 10th out of 23 countries with data for 2015.
- Is capital intensity rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Bergeaud et al. (2016) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Capital intensity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 126 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Capital intensity is defined as the total stock of capital divided by the total hours worked. This is measured in 2010 international-$ per hour.