Personal income, in current dollars, increased in 2,814 counties, decreased in 295, and was unchanged in five counties in 2023, according to statistics released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Personal income increased 6.0 percent in the metropolitan portion of the United States and 4.7 percent in the nonmetropolitan portion (table A). In metropolitan counties, the percent change in personal income ranged from 17.3 percent in Oldham County, TX, to −8.6 percent in Oliver County, ND. In nonmetropolitan counties, it ranged from 38.7 percent in Sherman County, TX, to −29.1 percent in Sheridan County, ND (BEA interactive data).
Per capita personal income. In the metropolitan portion of the United States, per capita personal income—personal income divided by population—increased 5.5 percent in 2023, up from 2.8 percent in 2022. In the nonmetropolitan portion of the United States, per capita personal income increased 4.4 percent, up from 2.6 percent. Table 1 presents estimates of per capita personal income by state and county.
| Personal income | Per capita personal income |
Population | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | |
| United States | 3.1 | 5.9 | 2.8 | 5.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 |
| Metropolitan portion | 3.2 | 6.0 | 2.8 | 5.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 |
| Nonmetropolitan portion | 2.7 | 4.7 | 2.6 | 4.4 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis | ||||||
The county personal income estimates released today provide more geographic detail on the nation’s personal income for 2023. National estimates of personal income for 2023 were first released in February 2024, followed by preliminary state personal income estimates in March. The estimates released today provide the first glimpse of personal income for 2023 in counties and metropolitan statistical areas. Real personal income for states, metropolitan areas, and state metropolitan and nonmetropolitan portions of the United States will be released on December 12, 2024.
Update of county and metropolitan area statistics
The estimates for 2023 incorporate the results of BEA’s annual update of personal income by county and metropolitan area that was also released today. The annual estimates of personal income 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, the results of the September 26, 2024, annual update of the National Income and Product Accounts, and the results of the September 27, 2024, annual update of state personal income. Our online journal, the Survey of Current Business, will publish an article in 2025 describing the results.
BEA released new estimates of per capita personal income for 2023. BEA used U.S. Census Bureau population figures to calculate per capita personal income estimates for 2020 through 2023. For earlier estimates, BEA used intercensal population statistics that it developed based on Census Bureau methodology. See “Note on Per Capita Personal Income and Population.”
Starting on December 3, 2025, BEA will begin to regularly publish gross domestic product and personal income by county and metropolitan area together in a single news release, providing a fuller picture of the economies of all counties and metropolitan areas. The combined news release will replace the publication of two separate releases issued on different days.
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.
