Per capita gross domestic product is a highly valued as yardstick for measuring the degree of "affluence" enjoyed by the citizens of each nation. The figures of various countries are usually converted into U.S. dollars to determine how countries rank internationally.

Japan, which ranked 17th among the member nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 1980, moved up to No. 10 in 1985, eighth in 1990 and third in 1995 and 2000. In 2005, though, it fell to 13 and then to 18 in 2006.

Posting the highest per capita GDP consistently since 1995 is Luxembourg. Runnerups were Switzerland in 1995 and Norway in 2000 and 2005.