America is so wealthy that individual states rival – and often surpass – the economies of entire nations. From California’s $4.1 trillion (£3.06tn) powerhouse economy to Texas and New York each topping $2 trillion (£1.49tn), many states can go pound-for-pound (or dollar-for-dollar) with even the most affluent countries.
Using the latest available data from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and the IMF’s April 2025 World Economic Outlook, we take a look at the 15 richest US states and uncover which major global economies their GDPs are comparable to, or larger than. Click or scroll through to find out more...
All dollar amounts in US dollars
The 15th richest state, Tennessee, has a booming GDP of $549.7 billion (£409.8bn). Boasting low taxes and a variety of business-friendly policies, the southern highflier shines due to its profitable mix of industries, including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and a bustling entertainment scene in Nashville.
The GDP of the Volunteer State is comparable to that of the UAE ($549bn/$409.3bn) and exceeds that of Thailand ($546bn/£407bn). If it were its own country, it would be the joint 29th richest economy, as per the latest IMF data.
Michigan may be known for its icy winters, but its economy is heating up fast. According to the latest BEA data, the state’s GDP has climbed from $673.8 billion (£502.4bn) in 2023 to $706 billion (£526.4bn) in 2025. This makes it richer than Sweden (where GDP is $620bn).
Once defined by the auto industry dominance of Detroit, nicknamed 'Motor City', Michigan took a major hit when global competition triggered mass job losses in the 1970s and 1980s. But the Great Lakes State is making a bold comeback. While still a world leader in auto and EV manufacturing, Michigan has since diversified into booming sectors like biotech, healthcare, online gaming, tourism, agriculture, and clean energy.
Virginia is one of the original 13 colonies and the birthplace of eight US presidents, including George Washington. Combine this with its numerous defence and military bases and world-class universities, including the University of Virginia, and it's no surprise the southeastern state trades so well off its incredible history.
However, it's also thriving in the digital age. With booming data centres and a close proximity to Washington's tech corridor, the state is now an economic heavyweight. In fact, Virginia closed out 2024 with a staggering GDP of $764.5 billion (£570bn), which puts it ahead of entire nations including Argentina ($684bn/£509.9bn).
Anchored by Ivy League prestige and home to world-leading institutions like Harvard and MIT, the New England state has capitalised on its brainpower. Unsurprisingly, Massachusetts is a leader in AI, robotics, cybersecurity, and clean energy, while it houses one of the world’s top biotech hubs, centred around Cambridge and Boston.
Beyond business, Massachusetts offers appeal for tourists with Cape Cod’s scenic coastlines and Boston’s rich history. With an incredible GDP of $780.6 billion (£582bn), the Bay State's wealth is greater than Belgium's ($685bn/£510.7bn), and it would be the 23rd richest nation by nominal GDP if it were its own country.
As North Carolina's skyline keeps rising, so does its staggering GDP. It currently stands at $839.1 billion (£625.6bn), up from $788 billion (£587.5bn) in 2024. Like other states on this list, the Tar Heel State has become a magnet for tech giants and biotech firms thanks to its impressive Research Triangle Park, while Charlotte contains one of America's largest banking hubs.
With its coastal charm and impressive productivity, North Carolina is now worth more than Taiwan ($805bn/£600bn).
A manufacturing and shipping powerhouse during the Industrial Revolution, New Jersey still generates much of its $846 billion (£630.7bn) GDP from global logistics, warehousing, and finance, according to the latest BEA data. From the early to mid-20th century, the East Coast state also became a leader in healthcare innovation and is now home to major pharmaceutical players like Johnson & Johnson.
More recently, the Garden State has invested heavily in offshore wind, clean tech, and digital infrastructure, while its iconic boardwalks and beaches remain a top draw for summer tourism. New Jersey also has an economy that's roughly comparable to the GDP of Taiwan.
Another state with a GDP bigger than that of Taiwan, Washington may be famed for its misty forests and stunning coastlines, but there’s far more to this Northwestern state than scenic views. Once known for timber, fishing, and shipping, the Evergreen State has emerged with two feet firmly in the modern world. Seattle, the beating heart of Washington, is home to the headquarters of Microsoft and Amazon, making it a hotbed for innovation in AI, cloud computing, and e-commerce.
Throw in a thriving arts and food scene (it's the birthplace of Starbucks and grunge) and you’ve got a consumer-driven economy with natural resources to boot. No wonder Washington now boasts a GDP of $854 billion (£636.7bn), according to the latest BEA data.
A major player in America’s Deep South, Georgia’s pro-business policies, low corporate tax rates, and generous incentives are key to its staggering wealth, which again outstrips the GDP of Taiwan. Global giants like Coca-Cola, UPS, and Delta Air Lines all call the state home, while hit productions like Stranger Things and The Walking Dead have transformed the state into a multi-billion-dollar film and TV hotspot.
Add to that a fast-growing fintech sector and the Port of Savannah – one of the busiest ports in the US – and Georgia stands out in the south with a GDP of $882.5 billion (£657.9bn).
For much of the 20th century, Ohio was an industrial giant producing steel, cars, tyres, and glass. By the 1970s, global competition and automation had gutted these sectors, leaving much of the Rust Belt in economic decline. But fast-forward to 2025, and Ohio has rewritten its story. While still a manufacturing force, it now also thrives in healthcare, finance, logistics, agribusiness, and tech.
It's not set to slow down either. In 2022, Intel announced it had started building a multibillion-dollar semiconductor chip plant near Columbus, expected to create tens of thousands of jobs in the Buckeye State. The result? A booming GDP of $927 billion (£691.1bn), putting Ohio just behind wealthy Switzerland ($947bn/£706bn) and Poland ($980bn/£730.6bn). Its GDP would place the state 22nd among the world’s richest economies if it were a country, as per the IMF’s April 2025 World Economic Outlook.
Popular for its vibrant cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has a diverse and resilient economy. Its biggest industries –manufacturing, healthcare, education, and energy – have helped the state evolve well beyond its industrial roots. Due to its location, it's a national leader in natural gas production and a key transport and logistics hub for the East Coast and Midwest.
Last year, its GDP hit the $1 trillion mark (£745.6bn), comfortably outstripping both Switzerland ($947bn/£706bn) and Poland ($980bn/£730.6bn), and landing just shy of Saudi Arabia ($1.08tn/£805.2bn). According to the IMF’s April 2025 World Economic Outlook, Pennsylvania would rank as the world’s 20th-largest economy if it were its own country.
Like Ohio, Illinois took a hit when traditional manufacturing began to fade in the late 20th century. Add in a shrinking population – with the decline driven by concerns over taxes, crime, and job prospects – and things looked uncertain. But nothing could knock the Midwestern state down for long.
Illinois is a heavyweight in private equity, fintech, logistics, and AI, helping power its impressive $1.1 trillion (£820.1bn) economy. The state is also betting big on green energy, biotech, and advanced manufacturing. It's now wealthier than Saudi Arabia ($1.08tn/£805.2bn) and comparable to the Netherlands ($1.27tn/£946.7bn).
According to the IMF's April 2025 World Economic Outlook, Illinois would rank 19th among the world’s richest countries by nominal GDP if it were a nation. And with Chicago’s food scene now a TV star thanks to The Bear, the state is once again drawing tourists, creative industries, and – after nearly a decade of decline – new residents, too.
Florida might be facing rising seas, wild hurricanes, and a shaky insurance market, but that hasn’t slowed its booming $1.71 trillion (£1.26tn) GDP. The Sunshine State's most profitable industries are real estate and business services, with healthcare, tourism, and a fast-growing manufacturing and aerospace scene – fueled by SpaceX, Blue Origin, and NASA – not far behind.
On top of all of this, the sunshine-soaked money-magnet has zero state income tax, with Miami a hotspot for wealthy individuals and companies that are drawing in wealth. If Florida were its own nation-state, it would place 15th in the world’s richest countries by nominal GDP, according to the IMF’s April 2025 World Economic Outlook. This makes it wealthier than Indonesia ($1.43tn/£1.06tn), Turkey ($1.44tn/£1.07tn), and Mexico ($1.69tn/£1.26tn), and directly comparable to Australia ($1.77tn/£1.31tn).
Home to possibly the most famous city in the world, New York attracts millions of visitors to its world-leading attractions every year. But the iconic state is just as prosperous with or without tourism. Driven by Wall Street, which accounts for nearly 30% of the state's output, New York boasts a staggering GDP of $2.30 trillion (£1.71tn) in 2025. Amazingly, this is roughly the same as the GDP of Canada ($2.23tn/£1.66tn) and larger than those of South Korea ($1.79tn/£1.33tn), Spain ($1.8tn/£1.34tn), Russia ($2.08tn/£1.55tn), and Brazil ($2.13tn/£1.58tn).
If it were its own country, New York would rank 9th among the world’s wealthiest economies by nominal GDP, according to the IMF’s April 2025 World Economic Outlook.
Texas is a financial juggernaut with a jaw-dropping GDP of $2.7 trillion (£2.01tn). Taking a closer look, it's no surprise why. Texas is the leading producer of oil and gas in the US and is also emerging as a leader in wind and solar energy.
Its largest industry is business services, followed closely by housing and commercial development. Meanwhile, high-tech manufacturing, including aerospace, semiconductors, and vehicles, is the third-largest sector, according to recent BEA data. Add in its no-income-tax policy, and Texas is truly an economic haven for some (including the world's richest man Elon Musk, who relocated to the Lone Star State from California).
If it were its own nation-state, Texas would rank 8th in the world by nominal GDP, according to the IMF’s April 2025 World Economic Outlook. It's richer than Canada ($2.23tn/£1.66tn) and Italy ($2.42tn/£1.8tn), and its GDP sits just shy of France’s $3.2 trillion (£2.38tn).
If California were its own country, it would be the sixth-largest economy with a colossal GDP of $4.10 trillion (£3.05tn), according to the latest BEA data. Up from $3.8 trillion (£2.83tn) the previous year, its consistent growth is powered by tech giants in Silicon Valley, Hollywood’s lucrative productions, and a sprawling agricultural sector.
Cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego are key to the state's success, and some of the world's biggest brands – including Apple, Google, and Meta – call it home. Elsewhere, professional services, healthcare, real estate, and finance all fuel this economic juggernaut.
The Golden State is wealthier than the United Kingdom ($3.84tn/£2.86tn), while its GDP is most comparable to those of Japan ($4.19tn/£3.12tn) and India ($4.19tn/£3.12tn).
Now discover the world's richest countries in 2025, ranked