The figures in the Maddison and HYDE databases are usually in terms of the modern boundaries. There is some interesting in analysis to be done using those figures without reference to the historical boundaries.
Peak Year GDP: 39.8% of the world GDP in 1100 CE (22.2% of population)
Nadir: 3.7% of world GDP in 1961 (20% of population)
The peak year shows China before the Mongol invasions when China was the population and the technological leader of the world.
The nadir of China in 1961 shows the disastrous rule of Mao Zedong. China starts substantial recovery under Deng Xiaoping, surpassing the US in GDP during the early 2020’s.
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