New York leads U.S. states by GDP per capita in 2026 at ~$120,000, followed by Massachusetts, California, and Washington. Mississippi sits at the bottom around $48,000. Here are the complete 2026 GDP per capita rankings for all 50 U.S. states + D.C.
U.S. States Ranked by GDP Per Capita (2026)
New York has the highest GDP per capita of any U.S. state in 2026 at approximately $120,000 per person, followed by Massachusetts ($118,500), California ($106,000), Washington ($103,500), and North Dakota ($89,000). The national average is $84,500. At the bottom of the rankings, Mississippi has the lowest GDP per capita at roughly $48,000 — about 40% of New York's. This article provides the complete 2026 ranking of all 50 U.S. states plus Washington, D.C., powered by the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau.
Top 10 Richest U.S. States by GDP Per Capita (2026)
| Rank | State | GDP Per Capita (2026) | vs. U.S. Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $120,000 | +42% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $118,500 | +40% |
| 3 | California | $106,000 | +25% |
| 4 | Washington | $103,500 | +22% |
| 5 | North Dakota | $89,000 | +5% |
| 6 | Connecticut | $88,500 | +5% |
| 7 | Alaska | $87,000 | +3% |
| 8 | Wyoming | $86,500 | +2% |
| 9 | New Jersey | $85,800 | +2% |
| 10 | Colorado | $85,200 | +1% |
Bottom 10: Lowest GDP Per Capita U.S. States (2026)
| Rank | State | GDP Per Capita (2026) | vs. U.S. Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | Mississippi | $48,000 | -43% |
| 49 | West Virginia | $53,500 | -37% |
| 48 | Arkansas | $58,000 | -31% |
| 47 | Kentucky | $60,000 | -29% |
| 46 | South Carolina | $62,500 | -26% |
| 45 | Alabama | $62,800 | -26% |
| 44 | New Mexico | $63,200 | -25% |
| 43 | Idaho | $64,500 | -24% |
| 42 | Maine | $65,800 | -22% |
| 41 | Montana | $66,400 | -21% |
Why Do GDP Per Capita Rankings Vary So Much by State?
The ~$72,000 gap between New York ($120K) and Mississippi ($48K) reflects several structural factors:
- Industry mix: States dominated by high-productivity sectors (finance in New York, biotech in Massachusetts, tech in California and Washington) generate enormous output per worker. States dominated by agriculture, low-wage services, or extractive industries produce far less per capita.
- Urbanization & education: Top states cluster around major metros with concentrated college-educated workforces.
- Energy and resource booms: North Dakota, Wyoming, and Alaska rank surprisingly high thanks to oil, gas, and mining sectors with very high output per worker.
- Cost of living offset: A $120K-per-capita state isn't necessarily 2.5× richer in real terms — New York and California have housing costs that consume much of that lead. See our Cost of Living By State data to adjust the rankings for purchasing power.
How Has GDP Per Capita Changed by State Since 2015?
The fastest-growing states by per-capita output since 2015 are Washington, California, Massachusetts, and Texas — driven by the tech and biotech booms. The slowest-growing are West Virginia, Louisiana, and Alaska, all dragged down by long-term declines in mining, oil & gas, and refining.
Explore Related Data
- GDP Per Capita By State (interactive map)
- GDP By State — Total Economic Output Rankings
- Median Household Income By State
- Cost of Living By State
- USA vs China GDP 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which U.S. state has the highest GDP per capita in 2026?
New York has the highest GDP per capita at approximately $120,000 per person in 2026, followed closely by Massachusetts at $118,500.
Which U.S. state has the lowest GDP per capita?
Mississippi has the lowest GDP per capita at approximately $48,000 — about 57% of the U.S. national average of $84,500.
What is the U.S. national GDP per capita in 2026?
The U.S. national GDP per capita in 2026 is approximately $84,500, calculated as total U.S. GDP ($28.8 trillion) divided by total U.S. population (~340 million).
Why is New York's GDP per capita so high?
New York's GDP per capita is inflated by the enormous output of the New York City finance, technology, media, and professional-services sectors. Wall Street alone contributes hundreds of billions in financial services output, raising the statewide per-capita figure.
Methodology & Sources
GDP per capita is calculated as a state's nominal GDP divided by its resident population. State GDP figures from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) State GDP series; population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program. Figures are 2026 BEA preliminary estimates, rounded to the nearest $100 for readability. Some smaller states have higher year-to-year volatility due to commodity price swings.
