Where Data Tells the Story
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In just over 70 years, America has transformed from a manufacturing powerhouse into a service-dominated economy—services now make up 71% of GDP, nearly doubling their share since 1953.
The graphic compares the sectoral makeup of U.S. GDP per capita between 1953 and 2024. It’s calculated using data from the BEA, U.S. Census, and inflation-adjusted metrics, dividing each sector’s output by population. The "Sankey-style" flow shows the dramatic rebalancing of economic activity.
🔧 Robots replaced riveters — U.S. factories now produce more with fewer workers, thanks to automation starting in the late '70s.
📱 Apple’s market cap now exceeds the entire 1953 U.S. GDP — a sign of how intangible services outpace industrial assets.
🌾 One farmer feeds over 160 people today, up from just 25 in 1953 — tech turned farms into high-efficiency engines.
🏛️ The Cold War built tanks; today’s budget builds trust funds — government spending shifted from defense to entitlements.
⛏️ The U.S. builds apps, not dams — construction's share dropped as physical infrastructure took a back seat to digital.