Key Takeaways
- Over 9,000 U.S. banks failed between 1930 and 1933.
- Bank suspensions totaled 9,760 from 1929 to 1933.
- Deposits in failed banks amounted to $7 billion by 1933.
- The U.S. GDP fell by 30% between 1929 and 1933, marking the most severe contraction in modern history.
- Industrial production dropped 47% from 1929 to 1933 in the United States.
- Wholesale prices declined by 33% from 1929 to 1933.
- The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was established in 1933 to prevent future bank runs.
- The New Deal programs created 8.5 million jobs by 1940.
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) employed 3 million young men from 1933-1942.
- Homelessness affected 2 million Americans, leading to Hoovervilles in cities.
- Dust Bowl migration saw 2.5 million people leave the Great Plains.
- Suicide rates increased by 20% from 1929 to 1932.
- Unemployment rate reached 24.9% in 1933, affecting nearly 15 million Americans.
- Unemployment averaged 17.2% annually from 1930 to 1939.
- In 1933, over 25% of the U.S. labor force was unemployed.
Bank failures and falling output slashed jobs, income, and GDP during the Great Depression.
Banking Failures
Banking Failures Interpretation
Economic Decline
Economic Decline Interpretation
Government Programs
Government Programs Interpretation
Unemployment Rates
Unemployment Rates Interpretation
How We Rate Confidence
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
Karl Becker. (2026, February 13). Great Depression Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/great-depression-statistics
Karl Becker. "Great Depression Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/great-depression-statistics.
Karl Becker. 2026. "Great Depression Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/great-depression-statistics.
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