GA has one of best economies among the states, new study shows. Where it ranks and why

Georgia continues to build its reputation as one of the South’s economic powerhouses, landing in the top 15 in a new national ranking of state economies.

According to WalletHub’s 2026 Best & Worst State Economies report, which evaluated all 50 states and the District of Columbia across 28 metrics, Georgia ranks 12th overall.

How Georgia stacks up

The study scored states across three categories: economic activity, economic health and innovation potential.

Georgia’s data:

• Overall rank: 12th
• Economic Activity rank: 10th
• Economic Health rank: 21st
• Innovation Potential rank: 25th

How the rankings are calculated

WalletHub scored all 50 states and D.C. across three equally weighted categories using 28 metrics total.

Economic Activity (33% of score)

• GDP growth
• Share of fast-growing firms
• Startup activity (rate of newly established firms)
• Exports per capita
• State gross public debt as a percent of GDP

Economic Health (33% of score)

• Unemployment and underemployment rates
• Change in nonfarm payrolls
• Median household income adjusted for cost of living
• Growth in personal income
• Poverty rate and share of uninsured population
• Foreclosure rate
• Building permit activity
• State fiscal health and unfunded pension obligations
• Educational attainment of people moving into the state

Innovation Potential (33% of score)

• Share of jobs in high-tech industries
• STEM employment share
• Independent inventor patents per capita
• Industry R&D investment per employed worker
• Non-industry R&D as a share of GDP
• Entrepreneurial activity (Kauffman Index)

What the ranking means for residents

According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Georgia Chamber Foundation, the state’s economy is built on a diversified mix of industries, strategic infrastructure and a business-friendly environment that keeps attracting major investment.

• Business climate: Georgia has been named the No. 1 state for doing business for a record 11 consecutive years, according to Site Selection Magazine.
• Major investment and job creation: In fiscal year 2025, Georgia announced more than 400 facility expansions and new projects, representing $26.3 billion in investment and 23,200 new private sector jobs.
• Manufacturing: Georgia has the 10th-highest number of manufacturing jobs in the nation, with 11% job growth projected in that sector over the next decade.
• Ports and logistics: The Georgia Ports Authority had 8.9% growth in container trade in fiscal year 2025, cementing the state’s role as a Southeast trade hub.
• Film and entertainment: Film and television productions spent $2.6 billion in Georgia during fiscal year 2024, and the state hosted 273 productions in that period. The industry supports nearly 60,000 jobs and generates $6.30 in economic benefit for every $1 in tax incentives.
• Growth beyond Atlanta: 83% of expansions and new business locations in the most recent fiscal year were outside the 10-county Atlanta region, representing more than 18,300 new jobs and $12.5 billion in investment statewide.

The top 5 state economies

Top 5 states:

• Massachusetts
• Washington
• Utah
• California
• Delaware

Bottom 5 states:

• Rhode Island
• Maine
• Louisiana
• Kentucky
• West Virginia

This story was originally published June 16, 2026 at 6:00 AM with the headline "GA has one of best economies among the states, new study shows. Where it ranks and why."