The table illustrates the proportion of GDP that people saved in seven countries in 1990, 2000 and 2008.
Overall, China and Singapore recorded the highest savings rates throughout the period, while the United States consistently had the lowest figures. In most countries, the percentage of savings increased over time, although some showed a decline.
In China, savings rose significantly from 35.6% in 1990 to 53.2% in 2008, which was the highest figure in the table. Singapore also maintained a high level, increasing steadily from 43.6% to 48.3%. Similarly, India experienced growth, with savings rising from 23.0% in 1990 to 33.6% in 2008.
By contrast, Germany’s savings rate fell from 25.3% to 20.2% in 2000 before recovering slightly to 26.0% in 2008. Italy showed a gradual decrease overall, ending at 18.2%. South Korea’s savings declined from 37.7% to 31.9%, while the United States had the lowest rates, dropping to just 12.1% in 2008.
