GDP per Capita by State: 2025 Rankings and Key Trends

Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita is one of the most widely used indicators of economic well-being at the state level. According to the most recent data for 2025, the District of Columbia leads the nation with a GDP per capita of $274,286, while Mississippi ranks last at $56,100. The national average across all 50 states and D.C. is $88,400, with a median of $81,600, underscoring significant regional disparities in productivity and income.

Key Numbers

• Highest GDP per capita: District of Columbia — $274,286
• Lowest GDP per capita: Mississippi — $56,100
• National average: $88,400
• National median: $81,600
• Second highest: New York — $124,208
• Third highest: Massachusetts — $114,922
• Q3 2025 real GDP growth (U.S.): 4.4% annual rate
• Fastest-growing state (Q3 2025): Kansas — 6.5%

Explanation

GDP per capita is calculated by dividing a state’s total gross domestic product by its resident population. It represents the average value of goods and services produced per person within the state’s borders during a given year. Unlike personal income, it measures production rather than income received by households.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) estimates state GDP by summing the value added across all industries in each state. Population estimates come from the U.S. Census Bureau. The per capita figure is then derived by dividing total GDP (in current or chained dollars) by the July 1 population estimate for that year.

Higher GDP per capita generally correlates with greater productivity, higher wages, and a higher standard of living, but the relationship is not perfect. Some states with high output per person may also have high costs of living or significant income inequality.

Definition

GDP per capita is the total economic output of a state divided by its population. It is expressed in dollars per person and serves as a rough measure of average economic productivity. The term ‘gross domestic product’ refers to the market value of all final goods and services produced within a state’s borders in a given year.

How the Statistic Is Calculated

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) produces state-level GDP estimates by aggregating value added across 23 industry groups. The U.S. Census Bureau provides annual population estimates as of July 1. Dividing total GDP by population yields GDP per capita. For example, the District of Columbia’s 2025 GDP per capita of $274,286 reflects its large government and professional services sector relative to a population of about 700,000.

Nominal vs Real GDP

Nominal GDP per capita uses current-dollar values and can be influenced by inflation. Real GDP per capita adjusts for price changes using chained dollars, allowing comparisons over time. The 2025 state figures cited here are nominal (current-dollar) values, while BEA’s quarterly growth rates are based on real GDP.

When comparing states in a single year, nominal values are appropriate; for tracking changes over time, real values are preferred.

State Comparison

There is a wide gap between the highest- and lowest-performing states. The top states tend to have large financial, technology, or energy sectors, while the lowest-ranking states often have lower urbanization and less capital-intensive industries.

Note: The full ranking includes all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The table above highlights the top 10 and the lowest-ranked state.

National Comparison

Compared with the national average of $88,400, the District of Columbia’s GDP per capita is more than three times higher. New York and Massachusetts are about 40% above the national average. In contrast, Mississippi’s figure is about 36% below the national average. The median of $81,600 indicates that half of states fall below this level, reflecting a right-skewed distribution driven by a few very high-output jurisdictions.

For context, the U.S. average GDP per capita is among the highest in the world, but state-level variation is substantial.

Year-over-Year Change

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, real GDP increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in the third quarter of 2025. The national real GDP grew at an annual rate of 4.4%. Kansas had the fastest growth at 6.5%, while North Dakota had the slowest at 0.4%. Information, finance and insurance, and professional, scientific, and technical services were the leading contributors to national growth.

• Fastest-growing state (Q3 2025): Kansas — 6.5%
• Slowest-growing state (Q3 2025): North Dakota — 0.4%
• Leading industries: Information; finance and insurance; professional, scientific, and technical services

Factors Behind the Trend

Several factors explain the wide disparities in GDP per capita:

• Industry mix: States with large finance, technology, or energy sectors tend to have higher output per worker.
• Urbanization: Dense urban areas generate more economic activity per resident.
• Education and skills: Higher levels of educational attainment correlate with higher productivity.
• Natural resources: States like North Dakota and Alaska benefit from oil and gas extraction.
• Cost of living: High-cost states often have higher nominal GDP per capita, but real purchasing power may differ.

Why It Matters

GDP per capita is a key indicator of economic prosperity and standard of living. Policymakers, businesses, and researchers use it to compare economic performance across states, identify regional disparities, and inform decisions about investment, taxation, and workforce development. However, it does not capture income inequality, environmental quality, or non-market activities.

Limitations of the Data

While useful, GDP per capita has limitations. It is an average and can be skewed by a small number of high-income earners or capital-intensive industries. It does not account for income distribution within a state, commuting patterns (e.g., D.C. workers who live in Maryland or Virginia), or the cost of living. Additionally, nominal figures can be affected by price levels, so real GDP per capita is better for long-term comparisons.

The District of Columbia’s extremely high GDP per capita partly reflects the large number of commuters who work in the city but reside elsewhere, inflating output relative to resident population.

Map

If displayed as a map, the geographic pattern of GDP per capita would show a concentration of high values in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and West Coast, along with energy-rich states like North Dakota and Alaska. Lower values cluster in the Southeast and parts of the Midwest. The District of Columbia stands out as an outlier far above all states.

• High GDP per capita regions: Northeast, West Coast, energy-producing states
• Low GDP per capita regions: Southeast, parts of the South and Midwest
• Outlier: District of Columbia

Historical Trend

Between 2023 and 2025, the District of Columbia’s GDP per capita rose from nearly $260,000 to $274,286, according to data from Visual Capitalist and StatsPanda. This reflects continued growth in federal government activities, professional services, and the information sector. Most states also saw increases in nominal GDP per capita over this period, driven by economic expansion and moderate population growth.

Real GDP growth in the third quarter of 2025 was broad-based, with all states expanding, suggesting a sustained economic recovery and expansion phase.

Source & Data Date

Primary data on 2025 GDP per capita by state comes from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and the U.S. Census Bureau, as compiled by StatsPanda and last updated July 7, 2026. Quarterly real GDP growth rates are from the BEA’s Gross Domestic Product by State and Personal Income by State release for the third quarter of 2025, published January 23, 2026. Historical 2023 figures are from Visual Capitalist’s mapping of BEA and Census data.