GDP in total sounds like everyone got richer, but this is NOT the case. New created value in Western countries stays with the Top 5%.
On paper germany is a rich country but we have a lot of baggers plus alot of intellectual poverty. Not forgetting the public debt of about 85% of GDP. Everyone can be rich, if he can borrow an invinit amount of money, like some states do.
I understand you but I try to focus as much as possible on the data "on paper" hehe, I would factor in the other metrics you have mentioned like public debt and gdp per capita , would see what changes.