California Overtakes Japan to Become World's Fourth-Largest Economy

California Overtakes Japan to Become World's Fourth-Largest Economy

California has officially surpassed Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy, with its 2024 nominal GDP reaching approximately $4.1 trillion, according to newly released figures from the International Monetary Fund and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

The Golden State’s economy now accounts for about 14% of total U.S. output, trailing only the United States, China, and Germany globally. Meanwhile, Japan’s economy, hampered by aging demographics and slow growth of just 0.1%, has slipped to fifth place with a $4 trillion GDP.

California’s economic surge has been powered by its trillion-dollar tech industry, a manufacturing workforce of 1.1 million, a booming $150 billion tourism sector, thriving agriculture, and nearly $675 billion in annual trade