Table of Contents 
Nominal Gross Domestic Product: Definition & Formula
What is Nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the total economic output of a nation using current prices. In other words, it is the measurement of all the goods and services a country produces, in prices, at the time they are made. For example, a bag of chips would have sold for a few cents back in the 1980s. Those few cents would classify as nominal GDP. Today, those same bags of chips are worth over $2. Again, that $2 is counted within the nominal GDP calculation.
So nominal GDP considers all the goods and services produced at the time it was made or sold. It highlights economic growth, but only in current values. So if the price of a bag of chips increases by 5 percent, it would see an increase in economic output by the same amount. The issue with this is that it not only factors in the growth of economic output but also increases prices.
Key Points
- Nominal GDP is the economic output of a nation based on current prices.
- The value of nominal GDP includes prices increases due to inflation.
- It differs from Real GDP in the fact that it includes changes to prices due to inflation, whilst Real GDP factors it in.
Nominal GDP is the most basic form of economic measurement. It takes all the goods and services the economy produces and provides a monetary value for such. For example, in year 1, the US produces 100 apples which are worth $50 in total. This is the only thing it produces, so its nominal GDP is $50. In year 2, it produces 100 apples again, but due to inflation, these are now worth $55 – an increase in prices by 10 percent. The nominal GDP in year 2 is $55 as it considers current prices. Although there was no increase in the production of apples, it would suggest that there was a 10 percent increase in economic growth – because inflation was not considered.
How to Calculate Nominal GDP
Nominal GDP can be calculated using the formula:
Quite simply, nominal GDP is Gross Domestic Product using current prices. So it factors in both growth in quantity and prices. For example, the US produces 100 motor vehicles in year 1 at a value of $2.5 million. In year 2, it produces 110 cars at a price of $3 million.
Year 1 nominal GDP = $2.5 million
Year 2 nominal GDP = $3 million
In this example, nominal GDP has increased by 20 percent. However, the production of cars has only increased from 100 to 110 – which is 10 percent. So although we can see output has increased, we can also see that a proportion of the increase in nominal GDP is attributable to an increase in prices.
Nominal vs Real GDP
The main difference between nominal and real GDP is that real GDP is adjusted for inflation, whilst the nominal GDP includes both economic growth as well as increases in prices. For example, in year 1, Country X produces 50 apples, 30 pears, and 20 bananas for a total of $500 – which is its nominal GDP. In year 2, it produces 60 apples, 35 pears, and 22 bananas for a total of $700.
Year 1 nominal GDP = $500
Year 2 nominal GDP = $700
This shows that nominal GDP increased by 40 percent in the year. However, it doesn’t consider the impact that inflation has had. In other words, how much of that growth is attributable to increases in economic efficiency and productivity.
During the period, inflation was 5 percent. Real GDP would therefore factor this in.
Year 1 Real GDP = $500
Year 2 Real GDP = $700 / (1.05 aka 5 percent) = $667
Once inflation is considered, we can see that the true economic growth – so the increase in the number of goods produced – is 33.4 percent.
FAQs
It is the total economic of a nation in current prices.
Nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) calculates economic output at current prices, whilst real GDP uses constant prices which accounts for inflation.
Nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is calculated with the formula: Nominal GDP = C + I + G + X, where C = Consumption, I = Private Investment, G = Government spending, and X = net exports (exports – imports).
About Paul
Paul Boyce is an economics editor with over 10 years experience in the industry. Currently working as a consultant within the financial services sector, Paul is the CEO and chief editor of BoyceWire. He has written publications for FEE, the Mises Institute, and many others.
Further Reading
Coase Theorem Definition - Coase theorem is the idea that under certain conditions, the issuing of property rights can solve negative externalities. For example,… 
Monopsony Definition - A monopsony is where there is a sole buyer of a product, but many sellers. This contrasts with the similarly… 
Marginal Propensity to Consume Definition - Marginal propensity to consume refers to the percentage of the additional income that is spent. In other words, if a… 