Comparing each state's GDP to countries around the world

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January 23, 2020
Craig Zerbe // Shutterstock

Comparing each state's GDP to countries around the world

As 2020 opens, uncertainty in trade, uncertainty in politics, and unstable business relations with countries like China and Russia weigh on economies at home and abroad. While economists, politicians, and stockbrokers fret over each decimal point of movement in an area's gross domestic product (GDP), sometimes it's good to keep a frame of reference in mind. To that end, 麻豆原创 compiled a list comparing every state's GDP to countries around the world. The list was created using 2018 GDP data (released in 2019) from and the . Additional sources of info were the , the CIA's World Factbook, , and newspaper and business journal articles.

We found that most states have a unique industry that inflates their GDP. In Wisconsin, it's cheese. North Carolina has long been considered by many the "furniture capital of the world." In line with always being known for its apples, Washington is creating new super apples to keep the market strong. Michigan, of course, is the center of America's auto industry, but electric cars and worries over global warming keep that industry on its toes as it looks to maintain its grip.

Just because a country (or two) may have more residents than a U.S. state, this does not mean its GDP is healthy. Even tiny Rhode Island produces a higher GDP than nations with millions of more citizens. Factors like the European Union instability, Brexit, and protests in Hong Kong are hampering markets around the world. At home, environmental factors, new technology, and ever-changing laws cause the GDPs of some states to stagnate. Still, there are four states with GDPs over $1 trillion.

A common debate at the bar and on the internet regularly centers on how one state could stand on its own independently. Click through and decide how you think your home state would fair independently when compared to other countries with similar GDPs.

1 / 50
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Alabama

- 2018 state GDP: $221.7 billion
- GDP higher than: 161 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Greece ($218 billion) plus Suriname ($3.6 billion)

Thanks to the in Huntsville and surrounding areas, Alabama鈥檚 GDP received a boost of $22 billion. That puts Alabama鈥檚 GDP above the total for Greece, which is from high rates of unemployment, thanks to increased GDP from mining.

2 / 50
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Alaska

- 2018 state GDP: $54.7 billion
- GDP higher than: 129 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Slovenia ($54 billion) plus American Samoa ($0.6 billion)

Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, plus transportation and warehousing are two key contributors to Alaska鈥檚 GDP. While Alaska had one of the lowest GDPs in 2018, it still tops the combined total of Slovenia and American Samoa. Slovenia still has , while American Samoa has seen slight economic growth thanks to fixed private investment and export of goods.

3 / 50
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Arizona

- 2018 state GDP: $348.3 billion
- GDP higher than: 174 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Colombia ($331 billion) plus Mali ($17.2 billion)

State leaders in Arizona are promising more education spending made possible by economic growth that includes a $750 million surplus for the 2021 budget year. Finance, insurance, real estate, rental, and leasing are some key reasons for Arizona鈥檚 robust GDP, which surpasses Colombia, a country that is being aided by investment and tax reforms, but is still plagued by .

4 / 50
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Arkansas

- 2018 state GDP: $128.4 billion
- GDP higher than: 153 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Morocco ($117.9 billion) plus Benin ($10.4 billion)

Arkansas, the state where Wal-Mart was founded, is heavily reliant on manufacturing. Arkansas鈥檚 GDP tops Morocco鈥檚, even though the country boasts a diverse economy made up from lively agriculture, aerospace, and phosphates industries. Benin, meanwhile, is relatively reliant on cotton.

5 / 50
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California

- 2018 state GDP: $3 trillion
- GDP higher than: 208 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: United Kingdom ($2.9 trillion) plus Kuwait ($140.6 billion)

California has the country's highest GDP. Tech industries have certainly boosted the Golden State's economy鈥擳he Guardian recently noted how Silicon Valley alone would be . California barely edges out the entire GDP of the U.K., whose economy is struggling because of the .

6 / 50
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Colorado

- 2018 state GDP: $371.7 billion
- GDP higher than: 180 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Israel ($370.6 billion) plus Turks and Caicos Islands ($1 billion)

Colorado is projected to have slower growth in its economy, but have brightened its financial forecast. In particular, ranchers and farmers are continuing to thrive in Colorado. That鈥檚 enough for now to hold off Israel, a country that continues to have a rapidly growing economy, thanks to .

7 / 50
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Connecticut

- 2018 state GDP: $275.7 billion
- GDP higher than: 169 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Bangladesh ($274 billion) plus San Marino ($1.6 billion)

A majority of Connecticut鈥檚 GDP comes from private industries: manufacturing, wholesale trade, and real estate and rental leasing among the major contributors. in Bangladesh has the Asian country close to surpassing Connecticut鈥檚 GDP, while is heavily dependent on Italy.

8 / 50
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Delaware

- 2018 state GDP: $73.5 billion
- GDP higher than: 141 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Myanmar ($71.2 billion) plus Central African Republic ($2.2 billion)

Delaware is often the butt of a joke as one of the smaller American states鈥"The Simpsons" once mocked that one of their main industries is screen door factories. In reality, an abundance of clams, crabs, soybeans, milk, paper, rubber, metals, and sand and gravel. Despite having almost 57 million less residents, Delaware鈥檚 mighty economy trumps that of Myanmar and the Central African Republic.

9 / 50
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Florida

- 2018 state GDP: $1 trillion
- GDP higher than: 196 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Netherlands ($913.7 billion) plus Morocco ($117.9 billion)

Construction, real estate and rental and leasing, and health care and social assistance are a few industries that make Florida鈥檚 GDP so robust. As one of only a few U.S. states whose GDP tops $1 trillion, Florida brings in more than the Netherlands (which yes, does get an economic boost ) and Morocco, whose top exports are

10 / 50
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Georgia

- 2018 state GDP: $592.2 billion
- GDP higher than: 192 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Poland ($585.7 billion) plus Liechtenstein ($6.2 billion)

One key contributor to Georgia's economy is a . Shows like "The Walking Dead" have made the Peach State home, helping boost its GDP past tiny Liechtenstein, and Poland, which has the sixth largest economy in the European Union.

11 / 50
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Hawaii

- 2018 state GDP: $93.8 billion
- GDP higher than: 147 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Sri Lanka ($88.9 billion) plus Somalia ($4.7 billion)

While Hawaii exports goods like pineapples and macadamia nuts, oil is its biggest export. In Sri Lanka, government debt accounts for about 79% of its GDP. In Somalia, livestock and telecommunications provide some economic help.

12 / 50
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Idaho

- 2018 state GDP: $77.1 billion
- GDP higher than: 141 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Myanmar ($71.2 billion) plus Bermuda ($5.6 billion)

Yes, Idaho鈥檚 economy is boosted by potatoes, but . Myanmar is trying to spur economic growth through reforms that . Bermuda is heavily dependent on tourism for its GDP.

13 / 50
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Illinois

- 2018 state GDP: $865.3 billion
- GDP higher than: 195 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Saudi Arabia ($786.5 billion) plus Guatemala ($78.5 billion)

Manufacturing, and finance and insurance are two pillars of Illinois鈥 GDP. Surprisingly, this state tops Middle East power Saudi Arabia in GDP, and Guatemala, whose top exports include .

14 / 50
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Indiana

- 2018 state GDP: $366.8 billion
- GDP higher than: 178 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Singapore ($364.2 billion) plus Eritrea ($2.6 billion)

While manufacturing is a leader in helping Indiana鈥檚 GDP, 鈥渁dministrative and support and waste management and remediation services,鈥 plus health care and social assistance, are two notable areas of contribution. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Singapore is tethered to , with Eritrea reliant on mining.

15 / 50
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Iowa

- 2018 state GDP: $189.7 billion
- GDP higher than: 158 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Kazakhstan ($179.3 billion) plus Benin ($10.4 billion)

Iowa is in the of low unemployment and not enough wage growth. Kazakhstan stays afloat on strongholds in oil, iron, steel, and copper. Benin's new free market economy is showing signs of growth, with cotton as an anchor.

16 / 50
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Kansas

- 2018 state GDP: $168.3 billion
- GDP higher than: 156 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Hungary ($157.9 billion) plus Benin ($10.4 billion)

Kansas is a major producer of . Although Dorothy landed in Oz and not Hungary, her home state surpasses the Central European nation known for machinery, construction materials, and processed foods.

17 / 50
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Kentucky

- 2018 state GDP: $208.1 billion
- GDP higher than: 160 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: New Zealand ($204.9 billion) plus Curacao ($3.1 billion)

Kentucky has a , notable for whiskies, horse breeding, and a relatively new industry of antisera. New Zealand鈥檚 top exports are more basic鈥攄airy, meat, and wood鈥攁nd Curacao banks on factors like tourism and offshore finance.

18 / 50
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Louisiana

- 2018 state GDP: $257.3 billion
- GDP higher than: 168 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Egypt ($250.9 billion) plus Liechtenstein ($6.2 billion)

The Bayou State is big on manufacturing, and professional, scientific, and technical services (beignets and gumbo, while delicious, probably only amount to a small amount of the state鈥檚 economy). Egypt鈥檚 economy is hard to gauge due to political factors, but have traditionally buttressed the country.

19 / 50
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Maine

- 2018 state GDP: $64.9 billion
- GDP higher than: 136 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Croatia ($61 billion) plus Guyana ($3.9 billion)

Yes, lobsters are a main part of , but so are circuits and Atlantic salmon. Croatia creates fabricated metals and machine tools, while Guyana has seen a boost in gold production, which has compensated for declining sugar production.

20 / 50
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Maryland

- 2018 state GDP: $412.6 billion
- GDP higher than: 182 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Nigeria ($397.3 billion) plus Albania ($15.1 billion)

Professional, scientific, and technical services boost Maryland's GDP, but liquified natural gas is a new economic stimulator. Nigeria depends on oil, shipping, and cocoa, while Albania's market is in flux due to close ties with Greece and Italy, countries with volatile economies.

21 / 50
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Massachusetts

- 2018 state GDP: $569.5 billion
- GDP higher than: 191 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Sweden ($556.1 billion) plus Nicaragua ($13.1 billion)

have made Massachusetts a state with a healthy GDP, and the Bay State sends goods to India, China, and Singapore with regularity. Motor vehicles, iron, and steel buoy Sweden鈥檚 economy. Nicaragua counts on beef, gold, and coffee.

22 / 50
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Michigan

- 2018 state GDP: $527.1 billion
- GDP higher than: 189 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Argentina ($519.9 billion) plus Monaco ($7.2 billion)

The has been a beacon of Michigan鈥檚 economy for almost a century. Motor vehicles and parts also are important to Argentina鈥檚 GDP. As Monaco doesn鈥檛 have an income tax, the country is known as a tax haven.

23 / 50
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Minnesota

- 2018 state GDP: $368.9 billion
- GDP higher than: 179 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: South Africa ($368.3 billion) plus Dominica ($0.6 billion)

A bustling medical industry and retail giants like Target are the backbone of Minnesota鈥檚 GDP. Ores, precious stones, and metals are important to South Africa鈥檚 GDP. Dominica鈥檚 economy has shifted from bananas to tourism.

24 / 50
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Mississippi

- 2018 state GDP: $114.8 billion
- GDP higher than: 152 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Ecuador ($108.4 billion) plus Liechtenstein ($6.2 billion)

Outside of government and government enterprises, real estate and rental and leasing are major factors in Mississippi鈥檚 GDP. In Ecuador鈥檚 economy, are bountiful.

25 / 50
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Missouri

- 2018 state GDP: $318.9 billion
- GDP higher than: 172 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Pakistan ($314.6 billion) plus Sierra Leone ($4.1 billion)

Missouri counts on motor vehicles (), corn, and pork to steady their economy. Pakistan relies on mostly textiles and some pharmaceuticals to build its GDP. Sierra Leone is almost exclusively reliant on mining.

26 / 50
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Montana

- 2018 state GDP: $50.3 billion
- GDP higher than: 125 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Libya ($48.4 billion) plus St. Lucia ($1.9 billion)

Three Cs: Cigarettes, coal, and copper are crucial to Montana鈥檚 economic stability. Less stable is Libya鈥檚 economy, which suffers from political insecurity, power outages, and a booming black market.

27 / 50
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Nebraska

- 2018 state GDP: $124 billion
- GDP higher than: 153 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Morocco ($117.9 billion) plus Guam ($5.9 billion)

Nebraska鈥檚 bread and butter is in . Agriculture is key to Morocco鈥檚 GDP too, but so are aerospace and tourism. U.S. national defense spending is the heart and soul of Guam鈥檚 economy.

28 / 50
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Nevada

- 2018 state GDP: $169.3 billion
- GDP higher than: 156 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Hungary ($157.9 billion) plus Chad ($11.3 billion)

Nevada鈥檚 GDP profile, but real estate is also a solid contributor. Roulette and slot machines are less prevalent in Chad, which banks on oil and agriculture.

29 / 50
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New Hampshire

- 2018 state GDP: $84.5 billion
- GDP higher than: 144 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Ethiopia ($84.4 billion) plus Tuvalu ($42.6 million)

New Hampshire is another state where are prime exports. Ethiopia is still a country with extreme poverty, but is seeing rapid growth thanks to agriculture. In Tuvalu, are two notable parts of its small economy.

30 / 50
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New Jersey

- 2018 state GDP: $622 billion
- GDP higher than: 192 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Poland ($585.7 billion) plus Latvia ($34.4 billion)


The Garden State has a rich mix of chemicals, gambling, agriculture, and even perfumes that contribute toward its GDP. Latvia, meanwhile is all about processing鈥斺攁s part of its trade strategy.

31 / 50
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New Mexico

- 2018 state GDP: $100.3 billion
- GDP higher than: 148 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Cuba ($100 billion) plus Marshall Islands ($0.2 billion)

New Mexico鈥檚 GDP is becoming heavily influenced by the . Last decade, Cuba opened up its borders to more trade, but slowed oil trade with Venezuela is stagnating growth. U.S. military money and agriculture sustain the small economy of the Marshall Islands.

32 / 50
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New York

- 2018 state GDP: $1.7 trillion
- GDP higher than: 202 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Russian Federation ($1.7 trillion) plus Chad ($11.3 billion)

With New York City often considered the epicenter of the world and a place that attracts opulence, it makes sense that New York is a big exporter of . New York鈥檚 economy is so diverse that it equals the GDP of Russia, a country that is a major world power player in moving oil, gas, and metals.

33 / 50
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North Carolina

- 2018 state GDP: $563.7 billion
- GDP higher than: 191 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Sweden ($556.1 billion) plus Tajikistan ($7.5 billion)

North Carolina is considered by some as the 鈥,鈥 but it boasts strong finance and insurance industries, too. The way North Carolina relies on furniture, Tajikistan is reliant on minerals.

34 / 50
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North Dakota

- 2018 state GDP: $56.1 billion
- GDP higher than: 130 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Macao SAR, China ($55.1 billion) plus Vanuatu ($0.9 billion)

into North Dakota鈥檚 GDP numbers over the past decade. That oil may go to fueling the aircrafts that regularly fly into Macau, which is a . Vanuatu has more basic industries for income, including food and fish freezing, and meat canning.

35 / 50
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Ohio

- 2018 state GDP: $675.9 billion
- GDP higher than: 192 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Poland ($585.7 billion) plus Sri Lanka ($88.9 billion)

make up some staples of Ohio's GDP figures. Tobacco is also an anchor of Sri Lanka's economy, along with oil and tea.

36 / 50
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Oklahoma

- 2018 state GDP: $202.6 billion
- GDP higher than: 159 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Qatar ($191.4 billion) plus Guinea ($10.9 billion)

For almost two centuries, to Oklahoma鈥檚 economy. In contrast, gases, oils, and fertilizers make up a strong portion of Qatar鈥檚 GDP.

37 / 50
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Oregon

- 2018 state GDP: $239.8 billion
- GDP higher than: 164 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Romania ($239.6 billion) plus Marshall Islands ($0.2 billion)

Wheat, once a strength of Oregon鈥檚 economy, . Internal corruption and uncertainty in the European Union have similarly worsened Romania鈥檚 economic outlook.

38 / 50
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Pennsylvania

- 2018 state GDP: $783.2 billion
- GDP higher than: 194 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Turkey ($771.4 billion) plus Channel Islands ($11.5 billion)

Pennsylvania, particularly in its southwest counties, is . It is the coal production that helps put Pennsylvania past Turkey in GDP, despite Turkey鈥檚 solid production of textiles, iron, and steel. Tourism is a major draw in and around the Channel Islands.

39 / 50
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Rhode Island

- 2018 state GDP: $60.6 billion
- GDP higher than: 135 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Costa Rica ($60.1 billion) plus Tonga ($0.5 billion)

Our smallest state is a giant in the . Costa Rica sends out tons of precision instruments and prepared foods. Squash, vanilla beans, and yams are plentiful in Tonga.

40 / 50
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South Carolina

- 2018 state GDP: $233.9 billion
- GDP higher than: 163 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Iraq ($224.2 billion) plus Haiti ($9.7 billion)

Among the specialized products South Carolina creates are . Iraq specializes in oil. Haiti, which once specialized in sugar, is seeing its economy drastically decline.

41 / 50
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South Dakota

- 2018 state GDP: $52 billion
- GDP higher than: 127 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Serbia ($50.6 billion) plus Solomon Islands ($1.4 billion)

South Dakota has become a . A lack of private sector job creation has affected Serbia鈥檚 GDP. The Solomon Islands鈥 economy relies on agriculture, fishing, and forestry remain constants in.

42 / 50
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Tennessee

- 2018 state GDP: $364.1 billion
- GDP higher than: 177 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Hong Kong SAR, China ($362.7 billion) plus Solomon Islands ($1.4 billion)

Cotton and whisky are two notable industries in Tennessee. The presence of Chinese firms have long boosted Hong Kong鈥檚 GDP, but the there makes the future of the economy uncertain.

43 / 50
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Texas

- 2018 state GDP: $1.8 trillion
- GDP higher than: 203 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Canada ($1.7 trillion) plus Sri Lanka ($88.9 billion)

While confronted with , oil and gas remain a driving force of the economy in Texas. Oil and gas are similarly important to Canada鈥檚 GDP, with Western Canada as .

44 / 50
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Utah

- 2018 state GDP: $178.1 billion
- GDP higher than: 157 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Algeria ($173.8 billion) plus Sierra Leone ($4.1 billion)

Mining, , is a big industry in Utah. In Algeria, oil, gas, and inorganic chemicals stabilize the economy.

45 / 50
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Vermont

- 2018 state GDP: $33.3 billion
- GDP higher than: 111 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Zimbabwe ($31 billion) plus Central African Republic ($2.2 billion)

Offering more than just Ben & Jerry's, Vermont is a state becoming recognized for its . A into uncertainty, but mining has always been a staple.

46 / 50
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Virginia

- 2018 state GDP: $532.9 billion
- GDP higher than: 189 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Argentina ($519.9 billion) plus North Macedonia ($12.7 billion)

Among Virginia鈥檚 major exports are road tractors for semi-trailers, spacecraft, and tobacco. In its third decade of existence, North Macedonia is finally seeing .

47 / 50
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Washington

- 2018 state GDP: $565.8 billion
- GDP higher than: 191 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Sweden ($556.1 billion) plus Haiti ($9.7 billion)

Corn, soy, and are Washington GDP heavyweights. Washington apple producers are hoping for even more gains with the apple.

48 / 50
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West Virginia

- 2018 state GDP: $77.4 billion
- GDP higher than: 141 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Myanmar ($71.2 billion) plus Liechtenstein ($6.2 billion)

West Virginia鈥檚 GDP owes a lot to income from mining and plastics. However, the mass presence of fossil fuels in the state鈥檚 economic process from some circles.

49 / 50
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Wisconsin

- 2018 state GDP: $336.3 billion
- GDP higher than: 174 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Colombia ($331 billion) plus Mauritania ($5.2 billion)

Yes, cheese is a major contributor to Wisconsin鈥檚 GDP, but a recent by consumers has created concern. In Mauritania, the economy is focused on agriculture and raising livestock.

50 / 50
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Wyoming

- 2018 state GDP: $39.1 billion
- GDP higher than: 114 of 212 countries
- GDP equal to: Cameroon ($38.7 billion) plus Sao Tome and Principe ($0.4 billion)

Mining has always been a rock for Wyoming's GDP, but might force the state to look to more modern industries to maintain its economy. Aluminum is one of Cameroon's main industries, while Sao Tome and Principe is known for its cocoa bean industry.

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