Add consumption, investment, government spending and net exports to compute gross domestic product.
How the gdp calculator works
The expenditure approach measures GDP as everything a nation spends: consumption, investment, government spending, plus exports minus imports. Enter each component to get GDP.
It’s the most common way GDP is presented.
Worked example
On the values this calculator opens with, the GDP is 20.9K. Underneath, Net exports comes out at -600 and Formula at C+I+G+(X−M). Change any field and every figure updates as you type.
Getting your answer
- Enter consumption and investment.
- Enter government spending.
- Enter exports and imports to get GDP.
The formula
GDP = C + I + G + (X − M)
Common questions
What is the expenditure approach?
Measuring GDP by adding up total spending: consumption, investment, government outlays and net exports.
What are net exports?
Exports minus imports. A trade deficit (imports exceeding exports) reduces GDP under this formula.
Are there other ways to measure GDP?
Yes — the income and production approaches. In theory all three give the same total.