Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
Prior to 1991, Gross National Product was the primary measure of economic activity. While GDP measures the final value of goods and services within the U.S., GNP measures the final value of goods and services produced by U.S. citizens and businesses.
Basically, GNP is GDP PLUS income from U.S. citizens/firms abroad MINUS income from foreign citizens/firms within the U.S.. Therefore it takes some digging and calculating to glean the data.
FRED does it for you:
The Federal Reserve Economic Data is a great resource to view graphs of Gross National Product both Real and Nominal.
This is Real GNP graphed quarterly from 1947 to present (2nd quarter 2024).
GNP in white.
GDP in black.
It seems to show miniscule difference; but, keep in mind the scale is TRILLIONS of dollars.
The most recent data is that GNP is roughly $27.5 Billion dollars more than GDP.
GNP in Billions of 2017 dollars by President:
| PRESIDENT | START | END | % CHANGE | AVERAGE CHANGE/YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truman | 2,196.821 | 2,865.493 | 30.44% | 5.07% |
| Eisenhower | 2,865.493 | 3,499.492 | 22.13% | 2.77% |
| Kennedy | 3,499.492 | 4,086.938 | 16.79% | 5.6% |
| Johnson | 4,086.938 | 5,245.681 | 28.35% | 5.67% |
| Nixon | 5,245.681 | 6,124.19 | 16.75% | 2.91% |
| Ford | 6,124.19 | 6,520.684 | 6.47% | 2.88% |
| Carter | 6,520.684 | 7,396.618 | 13.43% | 3.36% |
| Reagan | 7,396.618 | 9,722.83 | 31.45% | 3.93% |
| H.W. Bush | 9,722.83 | 10,611.852 | 9.14% | 2.29% |
| Clinton | 10,611.852 | 14,300.383 | 34.76% | 4.34% |
| W. Bush | 14,300.383 | 16,588.35 | 16% | 2% |
| Obama | 16,588.35 | 19,578.522 | 18.03% | 2.25% |
| Trump (1st term) | 19,578.522 | 20,961.787 | 7.07% | 1.77% |
| Biden | 20,961.787 | 23,427.729 | 11.76% | 3.36% |
From 1947 to Q3 of 2024, there were 14 Presidential administrations with Democrats in office for 37.75 years and Republicans for 40 years.
Like GDP, the 77.5-year GNP span shows Democrat Presidents presided over majority of growth, 58.57% to Republican’s 41.43%, despite Republicans having more time by 2-and-a-half years.
Trump, again, has the worst record in at least 80 years.