Fact check: How would removing Texas affect US global GDP ranking?

1. Summary of the results

Removing Texas from the US would have a substantial impact on the US GDP and global ranking. As of 2024, Texas contributes $2.709 trillion to the total US GDP of $29.184 trillion, representing approximately 9.3% of the total US economy ^[1]. Texas currently ranks as the second-largest economy among US states ^[1] and would rank as the 9th largest economy globally if it were an independent nation ^[2]. The state's GDP has shown significant growth over time, rising from $1.9 trillion in 2020 ^[3] to $2.4 trillion in 2022 ^[4], and reaching $2.709 trillion in 2024 ^[1].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual factors need to be considered:

• Texas's economic contribution goes beyond just GDP numbers - it contributes $336 billion in taxes annually and pays $120 billion more into the federal system than it receives back ^[5]
• The state's economy is comparable to that of entire developed nations, specifically Italy ^[6]
• Texas, along with California and New York, is one of the key states driving US economic growth ^[7]
• The state's global economic ranking has improved over time, moving from 12th largest economy to 9th ^[4]
• Texas has potential for even stronger economic performance due to its energy resources and trade relationships ^[3]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question itself oversimplifies a complex economic relationship:

• Some sources show clear bias toward Texas independence, potentially overstating the state's economic self-sufficiency ^[5]
• Different sources report varying GDP figures for the same years, suggesting possible discrepancies in measurement or reporting methods:
• 2022: $2.4 trillion ^[4] vs $2.56 trillion ^[6]
• 2024: $2.709 trillion ^[1] vs $2.7 trillion with US total GDP of $28 trillion ^[2]
• Pro-independence groups would benefit from emphasizing Texas's economic strength and self-sufficiency, while federal authorities might benefit from emphasizing the interdependence of state and national economies