Mapped: U.S. States by GDP per Capita

Pallavi Rao
2024-10-23 08:02:00
www.visualcapitalist.com

Mapped: How Each U.S. State’s GDP Per Capita Compares

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This map lists every U.S. state’s GDP per capita, with darker hues signifying a higher number. Data was sourced from the Bureau of Economic Affairs and the Census Bureau, as of 2023.

As a metric, GDP per capita can provide an indication of the standard of living and overall prosperity of an area. Higher values typically reflect greater wealth, productivity, and access to goods and services on a per-person basis.

Ranked: Which State has the Highest GDP per Capita?

Washington D.C. has the highest per capita GDP in the U.S., at nearly $260,000. For reference, it’s more than $100,000 higher than Luxembourg—the richest country in the world by the same metric.

Note: Figures rounded.

There are some general patterns to glean from the above map. For example, states with major metropolitan areas (e.g., California, New York, Illinois) usually see higher GDP per capita due to concentrated economic activity.

And states rich in natural resources with smaller populations (Alaska, Wyoming, North Dakota), also have high figures despite limited economic diversification.

Another interesting one is Delaware, where a small population and high value industry—financial services—combine for a high per capita GDP.

On the other hand, Southern states, (Mississippi and Arkansas), have a lower GDP per capita, partly due to a reliance on lower-wage industries (agriculture and meatpacking).

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A higher GDP per capita can also mean higher costs of living. Check out The Income Needed to Live Comfortably in Every State for more correlations.

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