How does California's GDP per capita compare to other US states in 2024-2025?
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Executive summary
California’s GDP per person in 2024 was $85,340, below several high‑productivity states but above the national average; New York led states at about $117,332 in 2024 while the District of Columbia’s per‑person GDP was far higher (about $263,220) [1] [2]. California’s total 2024 nominal GDP ranged from about $3.9 trillion (2023 BEA figure cited by state sources) up to $4.1 trillion in some 2024/2025 estimates — the exact total and per‑capita ranking depend on the data source and whether one uses BEA, state, or derivative compilations [3] [4] [2].
1. California’s 2024 GDP per capita: where it stands
California’s GDP per person in 2024 was reported as $85,340 by USAFacts, which notes a 3.0% increase from 2023 and ranks California fourth among states on a real per‑person basis in 2024 [1]. That $85,340 figure places California around the U.S. national average range reported elsewhere (BEA national average roughly in the mid‑$80,000s in related compilations) but clearly below the highest state figures such as New York and Massachusetts [1] [2].
2. How other states compare — leaders and laggards
BEA‑based compilations and summaries show New York with one of the highest state GDP per capita values in 2024 — about $117,332 — and Massachusetts and Washington also above $100,000, while states at the bottom include Mississippi (~$53,061) and Arkansas (~$60,276) [2]. The District of Columbia’s per‑person GDP dwarfs all states — BEA and secondary summaries report figures near $260,000 — highlighting that DC is a special case because of its concentrated federal, legal and professional services output [2] [5].
3. Why California isn’t top on per‑person GDP despite its huge total
California’s total economy is enormous — BEA and state releases put California’s GDP in the multi‑trillion dollar range ($3.9 trillion in 2023; some 2024 estimates and BEA‑based tabulations list roughly $4.1 trillion) — but its large population dilutes per‑person output relative to smaller, highly concentrated economies like New York or Massachusetts [3] [4] [2]. In short: California wins on total size, but productivity per resident depends on industry mix and population density of high‑value workers [6] [7].
4. Data sources and why rankings vary
Different outlets use slightly different BEA releases, calendar years, or calculations (nominal vs. real, current dollars vs. chained dollars), producing different totals and per‑capita rankings. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis is the underlying source for most state GDP tables; derivatives (USAFacts, state press releases, Visual Capitalist, and others) republish or interpret BEA data, which explains discrepancies such as the $3.9 trillion versus $4.1 trillion (2024 BEA revisions/estimates) totals cited by state officials and other sources [8] [3] [4] [1].
5. What the per‑capita figure does — and doesn’t — tell us
GDP per capita measures average economic output per resident but does not equal household income, cost of living, or distribution of wealth. California’s high housing costs and regional variation mean a relatively high GDP per person can coexist with affordability and poverty challenges in parts of the state — reporting from state and think‑tank sources emphasizes large regional disparities within California despite strong statewide output [6] [7].
6. Competing narratives and implicit agendas to watch
State press offices and governors’ statements stress headline totals (e.g., California as a top world economy or record GDP growth) to signal economic strength; independent data aggregators focus on per‑capita rankings to show comparative productivity [4] [3] [2]. When officials quote “California’s economy is 4th largest in the world” or cite $4.1 trillion, they are using nominal GDP comparisons and sometimes different vintages of BEA/IMF data — those numbers are accurate in context but chosen for political communications [4] [3].
7. Bottom line for 2024–2025 comparisons
Available sources report California’s 2024 GDP per capita at $85,340 (USAFacts) and show that several states — notably New York, Massachusetts, and Washington — had higher per‑person GDPs in 2024, while the District of Columbia was an outlier far above any state [1] [2]. Exact ranking depends on which BEA release or aggregator one uses; consult the BEA state GDP tables for the definitive line‑by‑line numbers and methodology if you need a single canonical ranking [8] [2].
Limitations: this piece relies exclusively on the provided reporting and data summaries; detailed BEA interactive tables and the latest quarterly revisions are referenced in those sources but not reproduced here — consult BEA’s interactive application for raw tables [8] [9].