The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released economic data for 2021, showing outdoor recreation’s powerful economic impact on the U.S. economy. These new numbers show outdoor recreation generates $862 billion in economic output, with recreational boating and fishing the number one contributor to the outdoor recreation economy and the largest recreational activity in 27 states and the District of Columbia.

The outdoor recreation economy employs 4.5 million Americans and accounts for 1.9 percent of U.S. GDP. This is the fifth consecutive year that BEA has released government data on this industry sector. The release includes national and state level data. To see more information on the data, click here.