The bar chart illustrates the percentage of total manufacturing output contributed by Asia, Europe, and the rest of the world across five different years between 1840 and 2000.
Overall, Europe had the highest share of manufacturing production in the earlier years, but this dominance steadily declined over time. In contrast, Asia experienced a significant rise by the end of the period, while the rest of the world showed a gradual increase throughout.
In 1840, Asia contributed the most to global manufacturing with approximately 50%, followed by Europe at 40%. The rest of the world accounted for only around 10%. By 1880, Europe had overtaken Asia, reaching about 45%, while Asia’s share had dropped to 30%. In 1920, Europe peaked at 50%, whereas Asia fell further to 20%, and the rest of the world increased to roughly 30%.
In 1960, Europe and the rest of the world both contributed around 40% to manufacturing output, with Asia lagging behind at approximately 25%. However, in 2000, Asia’s percentage rose sharply to 45%, surpassing both Europe, which dropped to 30%, and the rest of the world, which stood at about 32%.