Assahafa.com
The U.S. state of California has achieved a major economic milestone, surpassing Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy in terms of nominal gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024.
According to data released by official economic institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), California’s nominal GDP reached approximately $4.1 trillion, exceeding Japan’s estimated $4.02 trillion.
Global Economic Rankings
Based on these figures, the world’s largest economies are ranked as follows:
United States
China
Germany
California (if considered as an independent economic entity)
Japan
If California were a sovereign nation, it would rank fourth globally, ahead of several major industrialized countries.
Key Drivers of California’s Economy
California’s strong performance is driven by a diverse and highly dynamic economy, supported by key sectors such as:
technology and innovation, particularly Silicon Valley;
the entertainment and media industry;
high-value agriculture;
advanced financial and business services.
Large-scale investments and the continued growth of major technology companies have further strengthened the state’s global economic standing.
Economic Context
Economists note that this shift also reflects the impact of currency exchange rates, particularly the depreciation of the Japanese yen against the U.S. dollar, which affected Japan’s nominal GDP ranking. Future rankings may change depending on global economic developments and market conditions.
