GDP
Delaware's gross domestic product reached approximately $92 billion in 2023, powered heavily by finance, insurance, and its status as the nation's corporate incorporation hub.
Real GDP (chained 2017 dollars)
1997–2025BEA, chained 2017 dollars (FRED DERGSP).
| Indicator | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| GDP (billions) | 92 | 27360 |
- •Delaware is home to over 1.9 million registered business entities, more than its own population.
GDP Growth
Delaware's economy has grown modestly in recent years, with inflation-adjusted GDP growth tracking close to the national average, supported by financial services and logistics.
Real GDP growth
1998–2025Annual % change in BEA real GDP (DERGSP).
| Indicator | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Regional inflation (%) | 3.1 | 3 |
- •Delaware's financial services sector remains a key driver of economic growth.
Personal Income
Delaware's per capita personal income is approximately $70,900, reflecting a strong concentration of high-paying financial and corporate services jobs.
Per capita personal income
1970–2025BEA, current dollars (FRED DEPCPI).
| Indicator | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Personal income per capita ($) | 70900 | 65423 |
- •Wilmington's banking and credit-card industry significantly boosts state personal income.
Median Household Income
Delaware's median household income stood at $82,855 in 2023, slightly above the national median, reflecting a mix of well-paying finance and government jobs.
Median household income (CPS)
1984–2025Census CPS ASEC, current dollars (FRED MEHOINUSDEA646N).
| Indicator | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income ($) | 82855 | 77719 |
- •Delaware's median household income has risen steadily amid strong finance-sector employment.
Poverty Rate
Delaware's poverty rate was 11.4% in 2023, close to the national average, with pockets of higher poverty concentrated in Wilmington and parts of rural Sussex County.
Poverty rate, all ages (SAIPE)
1989–2024Census Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (FRED PPAADE10000A156NCEN).
| Indicator | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate (%) | 11.4 | 11.5 |
- •Poverty in Delaware is most concentrated in the city of Wilmington.
Inflation
Regional inflation in the Delaware area, tracked via the Philadelphia metro CPI, has run close to the national average of around 3.0% in recent years.
CPI inflation, U.S.
2007–2024BLS CPI-U U.S. city average, annual average change (CPIAUCNS).
| Indicator | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Regional inflation (%) | 3.1 | 3 |
- •Delaware has no state sales tax, which softens the effective cost-of-living impact of inflation for consumers.
Economic Output
Delaware's GDP per capita is around $87,600, among the higher figures nationally, reflecting its outsized financial services sector relative to its small population.
Nominal GDP (current dollars)
1997–2025BEA, current dollars (FRED DENGSP).
| Indicator | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| GDP per capita ($) | 87600 | 81695 |
- •Delaware's GDP per capita ranks among the top third of U.S. states.
Industry Breakdown
Delaware's economy is anchored by financial services, insurance, and corporate legal services, alongside healthcare, chemicals, and logistics tied to its I-95 corridor location.
Government jobs
1990–2025BLS Current Employment Statistics, annual average (FRED DEGOVT).
Manufacturing jobs
1990–2025BLS Current Employment Statistics, annual average (FRED DEMFG).
| Indicator | Delaware | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Finance sector dominance (qualitative) | 1 | 1 |
- •More than two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies are incorporated in Delaware.