Flickr/Visit St. Pete/Clearwater
- Florida has one of the biggest economies in the United States.
- Two of its most famous industries include tourism and agriculture, which contribute to the state’s $1 trillion GDP.
- Here are 13 surprising facts about Florida’s economy.
- Visit MarketsInsider.com for more stories.
Florida is one of the United States’ economic powerhouses.
It’s the third biggest state in the country by population, and has the fourth biggest economy. In fact, its GDP is larger than all but 16 countries.
Florida’s economy is extremely diverse, with tourism and agriculture among its top industries.
Today, climate change is threatening the state’s economy, as rising seas and increasing natural disasters are costing the state millions. But Florida is investing in new technology that it hopes will keep the state thriving for years to come.
Here are 13 surprising facts about Florida’s economy.
If Florida were a country, it would rank 17th in GDP
Shutterstock / Sean Pavone
Florida’s gross domestic product reached $1 trillion in 2018. If Florida were an independent nation, it would have the 17th-largest GDP in the world, ranking just behind Indonesia and above Turkey, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and Argentina.
Disney World employs more people at a single location than any other company in the US
Walt Disney World/Facebook
Disney World’s Magic Kingdom calls itself the "Happiest Place on Earth," and the theme park is also one of the busiest.
The greater Walt Disney World Resort has 70,000 employees. According to Disney, that’s the largest number of people employed by one company in a single location anywhere in the US.
Disney World needs that huge staff to entertain and serve the huge numbers of visitors that pour through its gates each year. In 2017, 20.45 million people explored the Magic Kingdom. That’s almost as many people as live in Florida (20.98 million), the third most populous US state.
There are actually scammers in Florida who try to sell people swampland
Shutterstock/jaimie tuchman
"If you believe that, I’ve got some swampland in Florida to sell you."
People use that phrase to suggest the person they’re talking to is gullible, and it’s based on the real experience of unfortunate purchasers in Florida who found themselves strapped with land that was too swampy to build on.
According to Florida’s attorney general, land scams are not just a thing of the past. If you’re buying real estate in Florida, make sure you inspect the property in person first to make sure you’re getting what you expect.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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- BANK OF AMERICA: Buy these 14 stocks, which will surge even as the US hurtles toward a full-blown trade war with China
Source: Business Insider – feedback@businessinsider.com (Laura McCamy)