Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased in 2,357 counties, decreased in 734 counties, and was unchanged in 23 counties in 2023, according to estimates released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The percent change in real GDP ranged from 125.8 percent in Throckmorton County, TX, to –39.6 percent in Lincoln County, WA (table 1).
GDP is the value of final goods and services produced within a county. The size of a county’s economy as measured by GDP varies considerably across the United States. In 2023, the total level of real GDP ranged from $17.0 million in Petroleum County, MT, to $802.0 billion in Los Angeles County, CA.
Highlights
In large counties (147 counties with populations greater than 500,000 in 2023):
- Real GDP increased in 142 counties and decreased in five counties.
- GDP ranged from $17.7 billion in Pasco County, FL, to $802.0 billion in Los Angeles County, CA.
- San Mateo County, CA, had the largest increase, at 7.7 percent. The information industry was the leading contributor to the county’s growth.
- Nassau County, NY, had the largest decrease, at –1.0 percent. The finance and insurance industry was the leading contributor to the decline.
In medium counties (478 counties with populations between 100,000 and 500,000 in 2023):
- Real GDP increased in 428 counties, decreased in 45 counties, and was unchanged in five counties.
- GDP ranged from $2.5 billion in Liberty County, TX, to $45.9 billion in Somerset County, NJ.
- Midland County, TX, had the largest increase, at 32.3 percent. The mining industry was the leading contributor to the county’s growth.
- Elkhart County, IN, had the largest decrease, at –9.3 percent. The durable-goods manufacturing industry was the leading contributor to the decline.
In small counties (2,489 counties with populations less than 100,000 in 2023):
- Real GDP increased in 1,787 counties, decreased in 684 counties, and was unchanged in 18 counties.
- GDP ranged from $17.0 million in Petroleum County, MT, to $11.6 billion in Reeves County, TX.
- Throckmorton County, TX, had the largest increase, at 125.8 percent. The utilities industry was the leading contributor to the county’s growth.
- Lincoln County, WA, had the largest decrease, at –39.6 percent. The agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industry was the leading contributor to the decline.
Metropolitan area and industry detail statistics are available on BEA’s website.
Annual update of county and metropolitan area statistics
The estimates for 2023 incorporate the results of BEA’s annual update of GDP by county and metropolitan area that are also being released today. The annual estimates of GDP by county and metropolitan area from 2019 to 2022 were revised. This update incorporates new and revised source data that are more complete and more detailed than previously available and aligns the counties and metropolitan areas with the annual update of the National Income and Product Accounts and the GDP by industry statistics released on September 26, 2024, and the GDP by state statistics released on September 27, 2024. Our online journal, the Survey of Current Business, will include an article in 2025 describing the results of BEA’s annual update of county and metropolitan area statistics.
Starting on December 3, 2025, BEA will begin to regularly publish annual GDP and personal income by county and metropolitan area together in a single news release, providing a fuller picture of the economies of all counties. The combined news release will replace the publication of two separate releases issued on different days.
Release of additional comprehensive update regional statistics
Today, BEA released GDP by state quarterly statistics for the first quarter of 2005 through the fourth quarter of 2018 as part of the 2023 comprehensive update of the Regional Economic Accounts. This completes the 2023 comprehensive update of the Regional Economic Accounts.
Next release: December 3, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. EST
Gross Domestic Product by County and Metropolitan Area and Personal Income by County and Metropolitan Area, 2024
Note: Regional Economic Accounts news releases will no longer include a separate “Release Highlights” document as part of the releases’ “Related Materials.” Information previously included in Highlights will continue to be available in the news releases and on BEA’s website.
