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July 8, 2026 Editing Design Mapped: The States Driving America’s Economic Growth

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Key Takeaways

Florida and South Carolina recorded the fastest real GDP growth in 2025, each expanding by 3.1%.

Sun Belt states generally outperformed the national average, while the Plains and Great Lakes regions lagged.

North Dakota (0.3%) and Washington, D.C. (0.4%) posted the slowest growth, though every state economy expanded.

The U.S. economy grew 2.1% in real terms in 2025, but that national figure tells only part of the story. While every state economy expanded, some grew nearly ten times faster than others.

Using the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), this map compares real GDP growth across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

The Sun Belt Ascendant

No states grew more in 2025 than Florida and South Carolina, which both expanded by 3.1%. Their strong growth rates reflect the continued economic momentum of the American South and the broader Sun Belt.

Arkansas (2.2%), North Carolina (2.7%), and Texas (2.5%) also performed better than the national average.

This data table ranks U.S. states based on their 2025 real GDP growth, measuring the change in overall economic output after adjusting for inflation.

RankState or DistrictReal GDP growth in 2025 (%)

1	Florida	3.1
2	South Carolina	3.1
3	New York	2.9
4	Alaska	2.8
5	Utah	2.8
6	North Carolina	2.7
7	California	2.5
8	Hawaii	2.5
9	Indiana	2.5
10	Texas	2.5
11	Connecticut	2.4
12	Massachusetts	2.4
13	Delaware	2.3
14	Arkansas	2.2
15	Montana	2.2
16	Washington	2.2
17	🇺🇸 U.S.	2.1
18	Colorado	2.1
19	New Hampshire	2.1
20	Tennessee	2.1
21	Alabama	2
22	Arizona	2
23	Idaho	2
24	Kansas	2
25	Georgia	1.9
26	Pennsylvania	1.9
27	New Jersey	1.8
28	Nevada	1.7
29	Ohio	1.7
30	Virginia	1.7
31	Illinois	1.6
32	Minnesota	1.6
33	Mississippi	1.6
34	New Mexico	1.5
35	Oklahoma	1.5
36	Wisconsin	1.5
37	Nebraska	1.4
38	South Dakota	1.4
39	Vermont	1.4
40	Missouri	1.3
41	Iowa	1.2
42	Michigan	1.2
43	Louisiana	1.1
44	Rhode Island	1.1
45	Kentucky	1
46	Oregon	1
47	Maryland	0.7
48	Maine	0.6
49	West Virginia	0.5
50	Wyoming	0.5
51	D.C.	0.4
52	North Dakota	0.3

Both the Southeast and Southwest regions grew by an average of 2.3% in 2025. Increasingly, these Sun Belt regions have benefited from favorable corporate tax regimes and lower costs of living relative to more traditional growth hubs such as the Northeast and Far West.

Population growth has also become an important driver of the region’s economic expansion. Lower housing costs in many markets, business-friendly tax policies, and continued migration from other parts of the country have supported stronger demand, investment, and job creation across much of the Sun Belt. Two-thirds of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. are southern Sun Belt cities, often in Florida or Texas.

The Continued Strength of California and New York

However, strong growth was not limited to the South. California, the nation’s largest state economy, saw growth of 2.5%.

Despite record domestic migration outflows, the Golden State remains a major economic force with sustained, above-average growth. Similarly, New York registered 2.9% growth in real GDP in 2025, third-highest in the country.

Growth within these traditional heavyweights was powered by robust private investment and strong years for sectors such as technology, healthcare, finance, and professional services.

The Slowest Growth in the Nation

Nationwide, the slowest growth was registered in North Dakota (0.3%), followed by West Virginia and Wyoming at 0.5% each. No state’s GDP contracted in 2025, while Washington, D.C. saw just 0.4% annual growth.

At the regional level, the Plains (1.4%) and Great Lakes (1.7%) regions lagged the rest of the country. These regions were particularly hurt by downturns in agriculture and a manufacturing slump, both of which were impacted by trade disruptions.

Meanwhile, a record-long government shutdown in late 2025 also affected many local communities dependent on federal agricultural financing.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

Wondering how these state-level growth patterns fit into the national picture? Check out OECD Cuts U.S. Growth Forecast Over Tariffs, Policy Uncertainty on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.