© 2025
In touch with the world ... at home on the High Plains
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
KZNA-FM 90.5 serving northwest Kansas will be off the air starting the afternoon of Monday, October 20 through Friday as we replace its aging and unreliable transmitter. While we're off-air, you can keep listening to our digital stream directly above this alert or on the HPPR mobile app. This planned project is part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining free and convenient access to public radio service via FM radio to everyone in the listening area. For questions please contact station staff at (800) 678-7444 or by emailing hppr@hppr.org

Who Has The Bigger Economy, Russia Or Texas?

Texas has long been known as an economic powerhouse among states, but High Plains residents may not be aware of just how powerful the Lone Star State is on the world stage.

According to a new editorial in Forbes, the economy of Texas dwarfs that of Russia, which is by far the largest country in the world by area.

While the population of Russia is almost five times that of Texas, Texas outpaces Russia when it comes to GDP. Russia’s gross domestic product amounts to about 1.3 trillion, while the Lone Star State’s comes to about 1.7 trillion.

That means Texas crushes Russia when it comes to per capita GDP. The per person GDP for a Russian is around $9,000, while in Texas the GDP averages out to almost $59,000 per person. What’s more, while the Russian economy almost exclusively revolves around crude oil production, Texas has been diversifying its economy for decades. The second-largest state now leads the nation in wind energy, and is “a leading hub for advanced technology and manufacturing, aeronautics, biotechnology and life sciences.”

Something to think about, given the outsized effect Russia has been playing in American politics lately.