# Increase in per capita GDP always means GDP is growing?

This question was asked in very popular civil services examination.

Question is : Whether the following statement is correct or not? Statement : If a country is experiencing increase in its per-capita GDP, its GDP must necessarily be growing?

The approach I applied is that, in a country like Syria, if mass emigration happens then population will decrease and at the same time GDP might not decrease with same rate. so this statement will be false.

• What do you mean your assumption is not correct? Jun 6, 2017 at 13:56
• I'm not good in such questions/topics, so I'm just afraid if this is right way to think or not. Moreover I didn't want this particular assumption to prevent better examples coming from more qualified people here. Jun 6, 2017 at 14:01
• I am not sure I understand what you are asking, but if $G_p = G/(population)$ is the per-capita GDP then $G_p$ increases if the population shrinks or the GDP grows, as you pointed out. So the statement is not correct. Jun 6, 2017 at 14:33
• OP, your logic is correct, The statement is false, because the increase in GDP per capita could be due to a population decrease. Jun 6, 2017 at 14:34
• Possible duplicate of Calculating rate of growth of per capita income Jun 6, 2017 at 15:59