The US states richer than entire countries (copy)
Daniel Coughlin
27 June 2018
The states that outclass whole nations economically
America's GDP hit a staggering $19.32 trillion in 2017, beating every other economy on the planet. The USA is so incredibly wealthy, many states are actually richer than entire countries, including affluent nations like Switzerland and Saudi Arabia. Here are some comparisons you really won't believe.
Oregon: $236.22 billion
The 25th richest state, Oregon has a lucrative mix of traditional industries such as construction, forestry and mining, and cutting-edge industries from IT to advanced and hi-tech manufacturing. Its GDP of $236.22 billion is greater than that of...
Vietnam: $220.41 billion
The southeast Asian country has a socialist-oriented mixed economy that has seen rapid growth during the past 30 years or so. A major agricultural exporter and manufacturer, Vietnam has become a prime tourist destination too.
Louisiana: $246.26 billion
The economy of Louisiana is fueled by the state's energy industry, along with tourism, agriculture and fisheries – Louisiana is one of the world's leading producers of crawfish and catfish. Last year, its GDP totaled $246.26 billion, surpassing...
Egypt: $237.01 billion
Egypt, which has almost 20 times the population of Louisiana, is largely dependent on natural gas, steel and cotton exports, as well as tourism. The economy, which has been in bad shape for the past few years, is growing at a rapid rate thanks to the improving security situation in the country.
Connecticut: $260.83 billion
Connecticut certainly lives up to its reputation as an affluent place. The Nutmeg State's key sectors of finance, insurance and real estate generate vast sums of money – its GDP of $260.83 billion eclipses that of...
Finland: $253.24 billion
A wealthy country, Finland has a highly industrialized mixed economy. The principal industries in the Nordic nation include advanced and hi-tech manufacturing, chemicals and the more traditional forestry and agriculture.
Missouri: $304.9 billion
Healthcare, retail and advanced and hi-tech manufacturing are key industries in the Show-Me State, which is also a major producer of soybeans, pork, dairy products and corn. Last year, its GDP hit $304.9 billion, outperforming...
Bangladesh: $261.37 billion
Boasting one of the fastest-growing economies on the planet, Bangladesh is booming right now. The dominant industries in the developing Asian country include natural gas extraction, garment manufacturing and agriculture, which are thriving at the current time.
Arizona: $319.85 billion
Advanced and hi-tech manufacturing, mining and tourism are the mainstays of Arizona's flourishing economy, but agriculture and construction are also important. In 2017, the state's GDP amounted to $319.85 billion, greater than that of...
Colombia: $309.2 billion
Latin America's fourth biggest economy, Colombia is a major manufacturing country and oil exporter. The nation's other money-spinning industries include mining and agriculture, as well as tourism.
Wisconsin: $324.06 billion
Renowned for its dairy products, Wisconsin has a substantial farming industry, but manufacturing, IT and tourism are crucial to its economic wellbeing too. The 20th richest state, last year Wisconsin's GDP was $324.06 billion, beating...
Singapore: $323.9 billion
Singapore, which has more or less an identical population as Wisconsin, is almost as wealthy as the Badger State, though many people might assume it would be richer. Advanced and hi-tech manufacturing and services drive the economy, which is considered the most business-friendly in the world.
Colorado: $342.75 billion
Advanced and hi-tech manufacturing, healthcare, tourism and food processing are the most important industries in the Centennial State. In 2017, Colorado's GDP climbed to $342.75 billion, topping that of...
Denmark: $324.48 billion
Like Wisconsin and Singapore, Colorado and Denmark are very similar in population size, but the American state is more productive. Denmark's mixed economy is based on advanced and hi-tech manufacturing and services, as well as hi-tech agriculture.
Tennessee: $345.22 billion
Richer than you may think, Tennessee has a number of important industries that generate massive amounts of money. These include advanced and hi-tech manufacturing, agriculture and tourism. Last year's GDP is recorded at $345.22 billion, which outshines two countries...
Qatar & Algeria: $344.61 billion
Believe it or not, Tennessee is wealthier than two of the world's largest oil exporters, Qatar and Algeria. Together they have a GDP of $344.61 billion. Qatar is the richer of the pair and boasts one of the highest GDPs per capita on the planet.
Minnesota: $351.11 billion
The North Star State has a diverse economy, with a lucrative mix of industries that turn over hundreds of billions of dollars annually. They range from agriculture and mining to biomedical engineering and retail. In 2017, Minnesota's GDP was $351.11 billion, which is larger than that of...
South Africa: $349.3 billion
South Africa has the second largest economy on the African continent after Nigeria. The key sectors driving the economy of this prosperous middle-income country are mining, agriculture, manufacturing and services.
Indiana: $359.12 billion
An industrial powerhouse, Indiana is America's number one steel producer and a major manufacturer of vehicles, machinery, electrical equipment, and more. Last year, the Hoosier State had a GDP of $359.12 billion, beating two places...
New Zealand & Hungary: $353.77 billion
Indiana's economy outclasses not just one but two high-income economies. While very different, the economies of both New Zealand and Hungary are dominated by services, manufacturing and hi-tech agriculture.
Maryland: $393.63 billion
An affluent state, Maryland has a rich diversity of industries. IT, advanced and hi-tech manufacturing and biomedical engineering pull in the most money, but commercial fishing and tourism are also important. In 2017, Maryland's GDP reached $393.63 billion, surpassing...
United Arab Emirates: $377.4 billion
The UAE is the richest country in the Middle East after Saudi Arabia. Oil is the nation's principal source of income, but the government is in the process of diversifying the economy, and tourism is becoming increasingly important.
Michigan: $505 billion
Though Michigan's auto industry is a shadow of its former self, the state has buoyant advanced and hi-tech manufacturing sectors, and its agricultural and tourism industries are thriving. Last year, Michigan's GDP topped $505 billion, which is greater than that of...
Norway: $396.45 billion
One of Europe's wealthiest nations, Norway is rolling in money. The country produces more oil than any other nation on the continent, enriching its coffers hugely, and has strong shipping, fishing, forestry and tourism industries.
Washington: $506.35 billion
The Evergreen State has more than its fair share of profitable industries. Major names like Boeing, Amazon and Microsoft are headquartered there, and sectors from advanced and hi-tech manufacturing to mining are flourishing. Washington's GDP of $506.35 billion tops those of two nations...
Thailand & Macau: $505.18 billion
The combined GDPs of Thailand and Macau amount to $505.18 billion, just over a billion dollars shy of Washington's total. Thailand's key industries include advanced and hi-tech manufacturing and services, while garment manufacturing, tourism and gambling are the main drivers of Macau's economy.
Virginia: $508.66 billion
The economy of Virginia is enviably diverse and the state's varied industries generate enormous sums of money. Advanced and hi-tech manufacturing, services, defense and agriculture are the key sectors. Last year, Virginia's GDP was $508.66 billion, larger than that of two Middle Eastern countries...
Iran & Oman: $506.49 billion
The world's sixth and 21st largest oil-producing nations respectively, Iran and Oman pump out billions of dollars-worth of the black stuff every year, but their combined GDPs fall some way short of Virginia's.
Massachusetts: $527.45 billion
America's 11th most affluent state, moneyed Massachusetts has a highly sophisticated economy. The state's biggest industries include financial services, healthcare and higher education, and its GDP is an impressive $527.45 billion, surpassing...
Poland: $524.89 billion
Though it has almost six times the population of Massachusetts, Poland has a slightly weaker economy, albeit a very strong one all the same. Advanced and hi-tech manufacturing, steel-making and services dominate the EU's country economy.
North Carolina: $538.3 billion
Three sectors are crucial to North Carolina's economy: agriculture, financial services and manufacturing. The Old North State has more textile factories than any other and is a major center for furniture-making. Last year, its GDP totaled $538.3 billion, outpacing two European nations...
Ireland & Greece: $534.68 billion
These two advanced EU economies have taken a battering in recent years, but have recovered significantly of late. Ireland in particular is booming right now – its economy is the fastest-growing in Europe and is expected to stay that way until at least 2024.
Georgia: $554.3 billion
Georgia has a fantastically diverse economy. Prominent sectors in the state include advanced and hi-tech manufacturing, services and even movies and TV. Georgia's GDP is 36 times greater than that of its namesake country, which totals just $15.23 billion, and also beats...
Sweden: $538.58 billion
Sweden, which is similar in population size to the US state of Georgia, is one of the world's wealthiest nations. The Scandinavian country has a highly advanced mixed economy driven by services, advanced and hi-tech manufacturing, hydropower and forestry.
New Jersey: $591.7 billion
New Jersey is a mega-rich state and a center for healthcare, life sciences and biopharmaceutical companies, as well as IT, advanced manufacturing and financial services. Last year, its GDP was $591.7 billion, outperforming...
Taiwan: $579.30 billion
Asia's seventh richest country, Taiwan is a high-income nation with an advanced economy based on advanced and hi-tech manufacturing. The electronics and IT industries are particularly strong in the Asian country.
Ohio: $639.14 billion
Ohio has experienced a decline in manufacturing over the past several decades, but the state has diversified its economy with great success. Top industries these days include aerospace and defense, bioscience, renewable energy and services. Last year, Ohio's GDP hit $639.14 billion, surpassing...
Argentina: $637.71 billion
Argentina's economy is notoriously up and down, but it remains Latin America's third largest by a long shot. Advanced and hi-tech manufacturing, agriculture, particularly cattle and fruit farming, and services are the economic mainstays.
Pennsylvania: $752.1 billion
Advanced and hi-tech manufacturing, food processing and services are the largest industries in prosperous Pennsylvania, which is America's sixth richest state. Its GDP of $752.1 billion is greater than that of...
Switzerland: $678.58 billion
Think rich country and Switzerland is likely to spring to mind. The service sector dominates in the wealth-packed Alpine nation with financial services and tourism the key industries. Specialized manufacturing such as high-end watchmaking is also important, as are pharmaceuticals.
Illinois: $820.36 billion
With Chicago at the helm, Illinois is one wealthy state. Its economy is extremely diverse and a number of industries are key, including advanced and hi-tech manufacturing, financial services and logistics. Last year, Illinois' GDP reached $820.36 billion, topping...
Saudi Arabia & Kuwait: $804.18 billion
The Prairie State may not be sitting on vast reserves of oil but it's actually richer than Saudi Arabia and Kuwait combined. These Gulf countries are currently oil-dependent, but are busy diversifying their economies to reduce their reliance on the commodity.
Florida: $967.34 billion
Tourism, agriculture and transportation are the linchpins of the Sunshine State's economy, which is the fourth largest in America. GDP in the state is well on the way to hitting $1 trillion. Last year's totaled $967.34 billion, beating...
Netherlands: $825.75 billion
One of the wealthiest nations in Europe and the world, the Netherlands has a highly advanced economy. The main industries in the country range from services to hi-tech agriculture and natural gas production.
New York: $1,547.1 billion
America's third biggest state, New York's economy is dominated by the Big Apple. Financial services, real estate and advanced and hi-tech manufacturing pull in the most cash, but agriculture is also important to the state's economy. Last year, New York's trillion-dollar-plus GDP was $1,547.1 billion, which tops...
Australia: $1,379.55 billion
Australia has one of the world's most developed advanced economies and one of the highest GDPs per capita. The chief money-spinning sectors include mining, services, agriculture, and advanced and hi-tech manufacturing.
Texas: $1,696.2 billion
Everything is big in the Lone Star State, including the economy. In fact, the Texan economy is the second largest in America. Key industries in the state range from energy – Texas has massive deposits of oil and is a world leader in renewables – to aerospace and agriculture. Last year, the state's GDP hit $1,696.2 billion, outpacing...
Canada: $1,652.41 billion
America's northern neighbor is a prosperous nation. Canada has a highly developed mixed economy, which is based on services and energy in the most part. Like Texas, the country has enormous reserves of oil and other natural resources.
California: $2,746.9 billion
California boasts America's largest economy. If the state was a sovereign country, it would be the fifth richest on the planet. Money flows freely in California, which is a hub for everything from the movie and IT industries to winemaking. Last year, its GDP soared to $2,749.9 billion, surpassing...
United Kingdom: $2,624.53 billion
The UK has the world's fifth largest economy, not counting California of course, and accounts for a hefty 3.5% of the planet's GDP. Industries in the highly advanced nation, which was the first in the world to industrialize, are diverse, and include financial services, aerospace, pharmaceuticals and retail.
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