March accounts valued the 2024 outdoor-recreation economy at $696.7 billion

The Bureau of Economic Analysis released its 2024 outdoor-recreation accounts on March 5, 2026, estimating $696.7 billion in value added. That represented 2.4% of national GDP in current dollars. The publication date marks a release, while the activity being measured occurred two years earlier. ^[1]

After adjusting for inflation, the sector grew 2.7%, compared with 2.8% for the overall economy. Outdoor-recreation employment increased 1.1% and compensation rose 5.2%. Those measures answer different questions: a dollar contribution to GDP is not itself an inflation-adjusted growth rate or a count of workers. ^[1]

The accounts cover more than equipment and participation fees. Conventional activities represented 29.5% of value added, other outdoor activities 19%, and supporting activities 51.5%. Travel, tourism, construction and related spending explain why the economic footprint extends beyond people directly hiking, fishing or boating. ^[1]

Hawaii had the largest outdoor-recreation share of its economy at 6.1%; the District of Columbia’s was 1%. BEA also updated estimates for 2020 through 2023 using revised national and regional data. Comparisons should use those updated earlier years rather than mix different statistical vintages. ^[1]

About this item: Retrospective source brief. No first-hand reporting or independent testing is claimed. Corrections policy.