Economy of Virginia

Economy of Virginia

Seal of Virginia
Statistics
GDP	$712.9 billion[1]
GDP rank	13th
GDP per capita	$81,794[2]
Population below poverty line	9.49%[3]
Gini coefficient	0.456[4]
Human Development Index	0.930
Labor force	4,518,998[5]
Unemployment	3.2%[6]
Public finances
Revenues	$47.7 billion[7]
Expenses	$50.3 billion[8]

The economy of the Commonwealth of Virginia is well balanced with diverse sources of income. From the Hampton Roads area to Richmond and down to Lee County in the southwest includes military installations, cattle, tobacco and peanut farming in Southside Virginia. Tomatoes recently surpassed soy as the most profitable crop in Virginia. Tobacco, peanuts and hay are also important agricultural products from the commonwealth.^[9] Wineries and vineyards in the Northern Neck and along the Blue Ridge Mountains also have become increasingly popular. Northern Virginia (once considered the state's dairy capital) hosts software, communications, consulting, defense contracting, diplomats, and considerable components of the professional government sector. As of the 2000 census, Virginia had the highest number of counties and independent cities (15) in the top 100 wealthiest jurisdictions in the United States based upon median income, in addition, Virginia tied with Colorado as having the most counties (10) in the top 100 based on per capita income. Loudoun and Fairfax counties in Northern Virginia have the highest and second highest median household income, respectively, of all counties in the United States as of 2017^[update].

Virginia, with a GDP of $712.9 billion, ranked as the 13th largest state in terms of GDP among the 50 states of the United States. Virginia’s economy is larger than countries such as Belgium, Sweden, Ireland, and Norway. Virginia is also among the wealthiest states in the US, boasting a GDP per capita of $81,794, which ranks 19th as of 2023.