This map shows which US state has the same GDP as South Africa
One of the USA’s smallest but richest states has the same gross domestic product (GDP) output as South Africa, new data shows.
New data from the USA Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) shows that as of 2015, Maryland, located in the mid-Atlantic region of the US, has a GDP output on par with South Africa.
Maryland has the 15th highest GDP output of all American states at $348.6 billion, coming in a few billion dollars shy of South Africa’s GDP of $350.1 billion.
The US state is the 19th most populous in the country, with a population close to 6 million people, giving it a GDP per capita of around $58,000.
The state is also the 5th most densely populated, with 236 people per square kilometre.
Comparatively, South Africa has a population of over 53 million people, giving it a GDP per capita of $6,603.
In 2014, Nigeria overtook South Africa as the African continent’s biggest GDP contributor, following a rebasing of the country’s economic indicators.
The US state most closely aligned to Nigeria’s GDP output of $573.6 billion is Ohio, which has a GDP of $583.2 billion.
Despite Nigeria’s overall GDP lead on South Africa, it lags behind significantly on a per capita basis, with only $3,300 per 173.6 million of the population.
Ohio, on the other hand, has a GDP per capita of $50,258 for its population of 11.6 million people.
Notably, if California – the USA’s biggest state by GDP – was a country on its own, it would be 8th largest economy in the world at more than $2.3 trillion. This is roughly the same size as Brazil.
This image shows the US states aligned with the GDP outputs of the countries shown.
USA GDP World Map (click to enlarge)
Top 15 US states by GDP and country equivalent (in US$ millions)
| US State | 2014 GDP | Country | 2014 GDP |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $2 311 616 | Brazil | $2 353 025 |
| Texas | $1 648 036 | Canada | $1 788 717 |
| New York | $1 404 518 | Spain | $1 406 855 |
| Florida | $839 944 | Netherlands | $866 354 |
| Illinois | $745 875 | Saudi Arabia | $752 459 |
| Pennsylvania | $662 890 | Switzerland | $712 050 |
| Ohio | $583 261 | Nigeria | $573 652 |
| New Jersey | $549 099 | Poland | $546 644 |
| North Carolina | $483 126 | Taiwan | $529 550 |
| Georgia | $476 483 | Norway | $500 244 |
| Virginia | $463 613 | Austria | $437 123 |
| Massachusetts | $459 937 | Iran | $404 132 |
| Michigan | $451 516 | UAE | $401 647 |
| Washington | $427 052 | Colombia | $384 901 |
| Maryland | $348 631 | South Africa | $350 082 |
The full list can be seen on the American Enterprise Institute’s web page.
More on South Africa
How South Africa can grow its GDP
South Africa tax vs GDP: 1994 – 2014
Government makes a negative contribution to SA GDP
South Africa is one of the most violent and unsafe countries in the world
Loading ...
