California has officially surpassed Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy. According to the latest data from the International Monetary Fund and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, California’s nominal gross domestic product reached approximately 4.1 trillion US dollars, exceeding Japan’s roughly 4.0 trillion US dollars. Only the United States as a whole, China, and Germany now have larger economies.
California’s economic strength is driven by its dominant technology sector centered in Silicon Valley, the global entertainment industry based in Southern California, a highly productive agricultural sector, advanced manufacturing, and extensive international trade. Together, these industries generate economic output comparable to that of major nations.
If California were an independent country, its economy would rank among the most powerful in the world, underscoring the scale and global influence of a single U.S. state in the modern global economy.
Sources:
International Monetary Fund. (2024). World Economic Outlook Database. IMF.
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. (2024). Gross Domestic Product by State. BEA.
California Governor’s Office. (2024). California economic performance overview.
