Per capita income in the provinces of the Roman Empire

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The Roman Republic economy was largely agrarian, centered on the trading of commodities such as grain and wine.

Economic historians differ in their estimates of the gross domestic product of the Roman economy. Per capita income in the provinces of the Roman Empire range from $425 to $867 (2000 US dollar). The GDP per capita of Italy is valued at approximately 50 percent higher than in the rest of the Roman Empire.

Per capita income in the provinces of the Roman Empire in 125 AD

Households in the top 1.5% of income distribution captured about 20% of income. Another 20% went to about 10% of the population, who can be characterized as a non-elite middle. The remaining “vast majority” produced more than half of the total income but lived near subsistence.

Per capita income in the provinces of the Roman Empire in 1440

In 14 AD, estimates of per capita GDP 166 Sestertius (an ancient Roman silver coin) or approximately 470 US dollars (1 sestertius at 0.09 oz. of silver = $2.83).

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