Mississippi (the poorest US state) edged ahead of the UK in nominal per capita GDP

[IdeomotorPrisoner]

[Image: https://denyignorance.com/uploader/image...89f595.gif][Image: https://denyignorance.com/uploader/image...89f595.gif][Image: https://denyignorance.com/uploader/image...89f595.gif][Image: https://denyignorance.com/uploader/image...89f595.gif]

When asked, Britons place the UK 7th among US states, on average, in terms of GDP per capita
believing it is richer than 43 of America's States.

In reality, the UK ranks last, 51st, behind every single US state.

And yet we are still behind the Irish, because Nominal GDP per capita rankings inflate tax havens.

United Nations average:

1. Monaco - $288,000 *
2. Liechtenstein - $207,000 *
3. Luxembourg- $138,000 *
4. Bermuda - $136,000 *
5. Ireland- $109,000 **
6. Switzerland $103,000 *
7. Caymen Islands $102,000 *
8. Singapore $93,000 **
9. Norway $86,000
10. United States $84,000

* = Full tax havens
** = Corporate tax havens

So Norway and USA have the highest "non tax haven" nominal GDP on earth. 

Mississippi has a $55,800 nominal per capita GDP. 

UK is £39, 500 ($53,500) per capita.

But since this has taken a "My country is better than yours" tone, should everyone look at a fuller picture?

Many random stats to choose from.

UK homicide rate 1.2/100,000 ✅️
US homicide rate = 6.2/100,000

UK incarceration rate: 170/100,000✅️
US incarceration rate: 541/100,000

UK rough sleeping rate: 0.69/1,000 ✅️
US rough sleeping rate: 0.90/1,000 

UK Gender gap pay disparity: 93% ✅️
US Gender gap pay disparity: 82%

UK Average debt per capita: £27,500 ✅️
US Average debt per capita: $104,700

UK min wage: £12.71 ($17.20) ✅️
US min wage: $7.25 (£5.35)

UK Personal Freedom index 2024: 19th
US Personal Freedom index 2024: 15th ✅️

UK Adults reading below 6th grade: 18% ✅️
US Adults reading below 6th grade: 54%

UK per capita health cost 2024: £4,660 ✅️
US per capita health cost 2024: $15,474

UK inflation rate (march): 3.5%
US inflation rate (march): 3.3% ✅️

UK Gini coefficient scale: 0.34 ✅️
US Gini coefficient scale: 0.45

UK relative poverty (<60%): 21%
US relative poverty (<60%): 18% ✅️

UK life expectancy: 83.0/79.1 ✅️
US life expectancy: 81.4/76.5

UK Average Rainy Days: 170 per year
US Average Rainy Days: 145 per year ✅️

[ReturnofBroccoli]

And yet we are still behind the Irish, because Nominal GDP per capita rankings inflate tax havens.

United Nations average:

1. Monaco - $288,000 *
2. Liechtenstein - $207,000 *
3. Luxembourg- $138,000 *
4. Bermuda - $136,000 *
5. Ireland- $109,000 **
6. Switzerland $103,000 *
7. Caymen Islands $102,000 *
8. Singapore $93,000 **
9. Norway $86,000
10. United States $84,000

* = Full tax havens
** = Corporate tax havens

So Norway and USA have the highest "non tax haven" nominal GDP on earth. 

Mississippi has a $55,800 nominal per capita GDP. 

UK is £39, 500 ($53,500) per capita.

But since this has taken a "My country is better than yours" tone, should everyone look at a fuller picture?

Many random stats to choose from.

UK homicide rate 1.2/100,000 ✅️
US homicide rate = 6.2/100,000

UK incarceration rate: 170/100,000✅️
US incarceration rate: 541/100,000

UK rough sleeping rate: 0.69/1,000 ✅️
US rough sleeping rate: 0.90/1,000 

UK Gender gap pay disparity: 93% ✅️
US Gender gap pay disparity: 82%

UK Average debt per capita: £27,500 ✅️
US Average debt per capita: $104,700

UK min wage: £12.71 ($17.20) ✅️
US min wage: $7.25 (£5.35)

UK Personal Freedom index 2024: 19th
US Personal Freedom index 2024: 15th ✅️

UK Adults reading below 6th grade: 18% ✅️
US Adults reading below 6th grade: 54%

UK per capita health cost 2024: £4,660 ✅️
US per capita health cost 2024: $15,474

UK inflation rate (march): 3.5%
US inflation rate (march): 3.3% ✅️

UK Gini coefficient scale: 0.34 ✅️
US Gini coefficient scale: 0.45

UK relative poverty (<60%): 21%
US relative poverty (<60%): 18% ✅️

UK life expectancy: 83.0/79.1 ✅️
US life expectancy: 81.4/76.5

UK Average Rainy Days: 170 per year
US Average Rainy Days: 145 per year ✅️

Well the Irish have leprechauns with pots of gold how do you expect anyone to compete with that
also I still feel it doesnt do any good to compare the U.S. to the UK because of population difference the U.S. has 5x the population

[putnam6]

It is important to note that 8 of the "fuller" select statistics provided are not relevant to the forum topic of "global meltdown" or financial issues in general.

This divergence may lead to confusion and detract from the main discussion points related to the specific topic.

I did learn about the Gini coefficient. How socialistic is that?
 We even have a global meltdown icon of the stock market big board

How do these fit in a global meltdown forum? 

UK homicide rate 1.2/100,000 ✅️
US homicide rate = 6.2/100,000

UK incarceration rate: 170/100,000✅️
US incarceration rate: 541/100,000

UK rough sleeping rate: 0.69/1,000 ✅️
US rough sleeping rate: 0.90/1,000 

UK Personal Freedom index 2024: 19th
US Personal Freedom index 2024: 15th ✅️

UK Adults reading below 6th grade: 18% ✅️
US Adults reading below 6th grade: 54%

UK life expectancy: 83.0/79.1 ✅️
US life expectancy: 81.4/76.5

UK Average Rainy Days: 170 per year
US Average Rainy Days: 145 per year ✅️

Mississippi, the poorest state in America, has a population that the average Mississippian outproduces the average Brit

 
The cost of living is higher in the UK than in Mississippi. Multiple direct comparisons show the UK as 15–35% more expensive overall, depending on the source and exact categories measured. 
Key Category Breakdowns

• Housing: Often the biggest expense. Mississippi has one of the lowest housing costs in the US, with a cost-of-living index around 83–87 (well below the US average of ~100–103). Median home prices and rents are notably affordable (e.g., average rent for a two-bedroom around $991 in some reports). In the UK, average private rents are higher (e.g., ~£1,367/month nationally, much more in cities like London), and housing contributes to the UK being ~20% more expensive in this category in head-to-head comparisons. 
  
• Transportation: Significantly more expensive in the UK (up to ~89% higher in some breakdowns), due to fuel, vehicle ownership, and public transit dynamics. Mississippi benefits from lower overall transport costs as one of the cheapest states. 
  
• Restaurants and Entertainment: UK tends to be 15%+ more expensive.
  
• Groceries: Mixed but often slightly cheaper or comparable in the UK (sometimes 10–12% less than Mississippi in certain data), though this doesn't offset other areas. 
  
• Utilities and Childcare: UK utilities can be notably higher; childcare is also more expensive in the UK.
  

Direct comparisons (e.g., UK vs. Mississippi) indicate the UK is roughly 35% more expensive overall in one analysis, while another frames Mississippi as ~15% cheaper than the UK. City-level data (e.g., London vs. Jackson, MS) shows even larger gaps, with Jackson substantially cheaper (cost of living ~34% lower excluding rent). 
Broader Context
Mississippi has the lowest (or near-lowest) cost of living among US states, driven by cheap housing, lower utilities in many cases, and overall goods/services pricing. The UK, as a whole (with regional variation—London is far pricier than rural areas), ranks as more expensive on international indices. Note that the UK often has advantages like more accessible public transit in cities and national healthcare (NHS), which can reduce out-of-pocket medical costs compared to the US system (where Mississippi residents pay privately or via insurance).
These figures are based on recent 2025–2026 data from sources like Numbeo, MyLifeElsewhere, RentCafe, and cost-of-living indices. Actual costs vary by lifestyle, location (e.g., rural Mississippi vs. urban UK), family size, and inflation (UK CPIH around 3.2% recently). Purchasing power and after-tax income also matter: Mississippi's lower costs pair with its status as the US's poorest state by some income metrics, while UK wages and benefits differ. For a personalized view, tools like Numbeo or local calculators can adjust for specific cities.

 

On raw nominal GDP per capita, Mississippi has pulled ahead of the UK recently (as Carswell and the IEA note), making the "poorest US state richer than Britain per person" talking point accurate in that metric.
 
 Mississippi has surpassed the UK in recent years (overtaking around 2023–2024, with the gap holding or widening into 2025–2026).  and it's supported by multiple analyses.
 
Latest Figures (Nominal GDP per Capita in Current USD)

• Mississippi: Roughly $53,000–$55,000+ range in recent quarters (e.g., ~$53,872 in Q3 2024 data; state total GDP reached ~$165 billion in 2025 estimates). 
  
• UK: Around $53,000–$53,300 for 2024 (World Bank/ONS-linked), with IMF projections rising to ~$56,661 in 2025 and ~$61,000 in 2026. 
  

Mississippi (often the lowest or near-lowest US state) edged ahead in raw nominal terms, while the UK has lagged in productivity and growth post-2008/ Brexit-era trends. Sources like the IEA, Euronews/Yahoo Finance, Mises Institute, and others confirm Mississippi now ranks ahead of the UK (and sometimes France/Italy) on this metric.

[Vermilion]

Mississippi after finding out they have more wealth than Great Britain
https://x.com/JVegas2013/status/2044842054040092777

Comedy gold in the comments Lol

[SomeStupidName]

That poster gets his or her jollies from having a pop at Brits.

I wonder, does Mississippi have an army, a navy, an air force?

A Commonwealth?

Just a muddy old tired river that even the Catfish hold their noses in, apparently.

The Thames river in London remined a lot of Mississippi river.

Every state has its own gaurd units, that's in addition to the regular branches of the armed forces.
 

Mississippi, known as the Magnolia State, features a mix of municipalities, including major cities like Jackson (capital), Gulfport, Southaven, Hattiesburg, Biloxi, and Tupelo. The state is divided into counties, with municipalities classified as cities, towns, or villages, alongside special private charters for some older cities.

[SomeStupidName]

The difference is we don't need to be patriotic here in the UK.

There's no obligation in the same way that materialises across the pond.

We don't claim that we are the best at everything, or have the biggest, or are the richest, because it simply is not true anymore, if it ever was. 
 
In our nation, people can feel proud, critical, indifferent, and even detached without being held to account or fingers pointed.

Patriotism is a personal choice, not a requirement.

Which is handy if you think about it, considering the state of the place and predicament in which we find ourselves. 

Our patriotism and exceptionalism is only part the reason the rest of the world can't get enough of us, we are the cream of the crop.

[putnam6]

for perspective....since Ireland was mentioned

The cost of living is higher in Ireland than in Mississippi. Direct comparisons indicate Ireland is approximately 32–33% more expensive overall than Mississippi (or Mississippi is about 32% cheaper than places like Dublin).
This gap is larger than the UK vs. Mississippi difference, primarily due to Mississippi having one of the lowest costs of living among all US states.
Key Category Breakdowns (based on 2026 data)
• Housing: A major driver of the difference. Mississippi has extremely low housing costs (one of the cheapest in the US), with a state cost-of-living index around 83–87 (well below the US average of ~100–103). Median home prices are low (around $140,000–$150,000 range in recent data), and average rent for a two-bedroom is about $991. In Ireland, rents are significantly higher, especially in cities like Dublin (where 1-bedroom city-center apartments often exceed €1,500–2,000+), though rural or smaller Irish areas are more affordable. Overall, housing in Ireland is roughly 24% more expensive than in Mississippi.
• Transportation: Much more expensive in Ireland (often 2x or more, up to 100%+ higher in some metrics), driven by higher fuel prices, vehicle costs, and public transit. Mississippi benefits from low transport costs as one of the cheapest states in this category.
• Restaurants and Entertainment: Ireland is 20–60% more expensive (restaurants ~23% higher; entertainment/sports up to 60% higher).
• Groceries: Mixed or slightly favorable to Ireland in some comparisons (Ireland ~1–16% cheaper than the US average in certain breakdowns, though Mississippi's groceries are already below the US norm). This doesn't offset other categories.
• Other (Clothing, Childcare, Utilities): Clothing is notably more expensive in Ireland (~33% higher). Childcare can be cheaper in Ireland in some data points, but utilities and overall services vary. Healthcare in Ireland (via public system) reduces some out-of-pocket costs compared to the US private/insurance model in Mississippi.
City-level examples:
• Dublin (Ireland) is around 32–33% more expensive than Jackson, Mississippi.
• Limerick (Ireland) is about 16% more expensive than Jackson.
Broader Context
Mississippi consistently ranks as the lowest or near-lowest cost-of-living state in the US, with advantages in housing, utilities, and transportation. Ireland's costs are elevated by a competitive housing market (especially in urban areas), higher energy/fuel prices, and import dynamics, though it offers benefits like strong public services (e.g., healthcare access) and generally higher average wages/salaries in many sectors. Ireland as a whole is only modestly more expensive than the US average (~4–8% higher), but Mississippi pulls the comparison strongly in the cheaper direction due to its position as an outlier on the low end.

[putnam6]

Let's not forget about the old bugaboo, taxation.

Didn't the Beatles do a song about that...

Bottom line: Yes — for most people, Mississippi state taxes + federal taxes = noticeably lower total tax load than the UK, especially on property, sales/VAT, and combined income/NICs. This contributes to why Mississippi's low cost of living feels even more advantageous. The difference can be several thousand pounds/dollars per year, depending on your income and spending.

[putnam6]

Mississippi after finding out they have more wealth than Great Britain
https://x.com/JVegas2013/status/2044842054040092777

Comedy gold in the comments Lol

The comments are hilarious... Mississippians likely have better teefies than the Brits, too

[putnam6]

Poverty rates are about the same

On the headline figures most often quoted:
• UK relative poverty (AHC): ~20%
• Mississippi official poverty: 17.8%
• The rates are quite similar in raw percentage terms, with the UK slightly higher on its preferred relative measure and Mississippi slightly lower on the US absolute measure.
• Mississippi consistently ranks among the two or three poorest US states by official poverty rate (usually behind or very close to Louisiana).
Important Differences in How Poverty Is Measured
Direct apples-to-apples comparison is tricky because the two countries use fundamentally different approaches:
• UK (relative poverty): Poverty line moves with median income each year. It captures inequality and living standards relative to society. After housing costs are deducted (which are high in the UK, especially in cities like London). This can make the rate appear higher even if absolute living standards improve.
• US (official poverty): Absolute threshold set in the 1960s and updated only for inflation. It does not adjust for rising living standards or regional cost differences. It is based on pre-tax cash income and excludes many in-kind benefits (like food stamps/SNAP value in some calculations). The Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM), which is broader, is usually a bit higher nationally (~12.9% in 2024).
Because the UK uses a relative measure tied to the median, its poverty rate tends to stay more stable over time (often around 20–22% AHC for two decades). The US absolute measure can fall more noticeably when the economy grows.
Other Context
• Children: UK child poverty is higher on the relative AHC measure (~27–31% in recent data). US child poverty is also elevated but varies by state; Mississippi's overall rate already reflects significant challenges for families.
• Depth of poverty: In the UK, a growing share of those in poverty are in "very deep" poverty (far below the line). In Mississippi and other high-poverty US states, deep poverty (below 50% of the threshold) is also a noted issue.
• Cost of living and benefits: The UK has a more comprehensive welfare system (universal healthcare via NHS, housing support, etc.), which some analyses suggest improves material conditions for the bottom income groups compared to the US, even if relative poverty rates look similar. Conversely, lower US costs in some areas (especially outside big cities) and different benefit structures affect real purchasing power.
• Trends: UK poverty has been broadly flat for many years. Mississippi's rate has declined from peaks above 20–24% in earlier years (e.g., post-recession) but remains stubbornly high compared to the US national average.
In short: Mississippi has a poverty rate comparable to or slightly below the UK's most commonly cited relative poverty figure, despite the US using an absolute measure that typically produces lower national numbers. Both face persistent challenges with child poverty and deeper deprivation among the poorest households.