State Liability System Costs

(as a share of state GDP)

Description

This variable ranks the costs of tort systems by state, as a share of that state’s GDP. Data come from the report Tort Costs in America, Third Edition, published by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform in November 2024. This variable reflects tort costs in 2022.

Current (2025)

Current values and ranks for the 2025 edition of Rich States, Poor States.

State Liability System Costs Rank

Worst Best

ME 14

VT 19

NH 6

WA 5

ID 26

MT 45

ND 1

MN 15

IL 33

WI 12

MI 29

NY 47

RI 41

MA 23

OR 25

NV 42

WY 4

SD 3

IA 10

IN 18

OH 8

PA 37

NJ 43

CT 39

CA 30

UT 22

CO 27

NE 11

MO 35

KY 27

WV 13

VA 7

MD 21

DE 50

AZ 30

NM 36

KS 16

AR 34

TN 19

NC 8

SC 44

OK 24

LA 48

MS 40

AL 38

GA 46

AK 2

HI 17

TX 32

FL 49

State	Value	Rank
Alabama	2.26%	38^th
Alaska	1.30%	2^nd
Arizona	1.99%	30^th
Arkansas	2.08%	34^th
California	1.99%	30^th
Colorado	1.92%	27^th
Connecticut	2.27%	39^th
Delaware	3.46%	50^th
Florida	3.35%	49^th
Georgia	2.60%	46^th
Hawaii	1.64%	17^th
Idaho	1.91%	26^th
Illinois	2.07%	33^rd
Indiana	1.67%	18^th
Iowa	1.51%	10^th
Kansas	1.61%	16^th
Kentucky	1.92%	27^th
Louisiana	2.65%	48^th
Maine	1.58%	14^th
Maryland	1.78%	21^st
Massachusetts	1.82%	23^rd
Michigan	1.98%	29^th
Minnesota	1.60%	15^th
Mississippi	2.28%	40^th
Missouri	2.10%	35^th
Montana	2.58%	45^th
Nebraska	1.54%	11^th
Nevada	2.40%	42^nd
New Hampshire	1.42%	6^th
New Jersey	2.52%	43^rd
New Mexico	2.11%	36^th
New York	2.61%	47^th
North Carolina	1.50%	8^th
North Dakota	1.28%	1^st
Ohio	1.50%	8^th
Oklahoma	1.84%	24^th
Oregon	1.88%	25^th
Pennsylvania	2.14%	37^th
Rhode Island	2.36%	41^st
South Carolina	2.54%	44^th
South Dakota	1.32%	3^rd
Tennessee	1.73%	19^th
Texas	2.01%	32^nd
Utah	1.80%	22^nd
Vermont	1.73%	19^th
Virginia	1.47%	7^th
Washington	1.41%	5^th
West Virginia	1.57%	13^th
Wisconsin	1.55%	12^th
Wyoming	1.38%	4^th

U.S. Trends

Overview of states' State Liability System Costs over time.

Historical Ranks

Historical state ranks for State Liability System Costs across editions of the Rich States, Poor States.

State	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Alabama	4^th	4^th	4^th	4^th	4^th	8^th	8^th	8^th	5^th	5^th	7^th	7^th	9^th	9^th	9^th	9^th	9^th	38^th
Alaska	8^th	30^th	30^th	17^th	17^th	38^th	38^th	38^th	39^th	39^th	45^th	45^th	46^th	46^th	46^th	46^th	46^th	2^nd
Arizona	36^th	36^th	36^th	38^th	38^th	34^th	34^th	34^th	26^th	26^th	26^th	26^th	34^th	34^th	34^th	34^th	34^th	30^th
Arkansas	10^th	16^th	16^th	7^th	7^th	15^th	15^th	15^th	10^th	10^th	15^th	15^th	21^st	21^st	21^st	21^st	21^st	34^th
California	6^th	7^th	7^th	5^th	5^th	4^th	4^th	4^th	4^th	4^th	4^th	4^th	3^rd	3^rd	3^rd	3^rd	3^rd	30^th
Colorado	30^th	42^nd	42^nd	43^rd	43^rd	28^th	28^th	28^th	34^th	34^th	16^th	16^th	30^th	30^th	30^th	30^th	30^th	27^th
Connecticut	36^th	32^nd	32^nd	27^th	27^th	26^th	26^th	26^th	29^th	29^th	35^th	35^th	48^th	48^th	48^th	48^th	48^th	39^th
Delaware	50^th	50^th	50^th	50^th	50^th	50^th	50^th	50^th	50^th	50^th	39^th	39^th	50^th	50^th	50^th	50^th	50^th	50^th
Florida	15^th	9^th	9^th	9^th	9^th	10^th	10^th	10^th	7^th	7^th	5^th	5^th	5^th	5^th	5^th	5^th	5^th	49^th
Georgia	20^th	23^rd	23^rd	24^th	24^th	27^th	27^th	27^th	20^th	20^th	12^th	12^th	10^th	10^th	10^th	10^th	10^th	46^th
Hawaii	9^th	6^th	6^th	16^th	16^th	22^nd	22^nd	22^nd	21^st	21^st	28^th	28^th	36^th	36^th	36^th	36^th	36^th	17^th
Idaho	21^st	24^th	24^th	33^rd	33^rd	45^th	45^th	45^th	45^th	45^th	48^th	48^th	42^nd	42^nd	42^nd	42^nd	42^nd	26^th
Illinois	5^th	5^th	5^th	6^th	6^th	5^th	5^th	5^th	3^rd	3^rd	3^rd	3^rd	1^st	1^st	1^st	1^st	1^st	33^rd
Indiana	43^rd	47^th	47^th	48^th	48^th	37^th	37^th	37^th	33^rd	33^rd	36^th	36^th	20^th	20^th	20^th	20^th	20^th	18^th
Iowa	46^th	44^th	44^th	46^th	46^th	40^th	40^th	40^th	47^th	47^th	38^th	38^th	28^th	28^th	28^th	28^th	28^th	10^th
Kansas	38^th	41^st	41^st	37^th	37^th	46^th	46^th	46^th	32^nd	32^nd	33^rd	33^rd	18^th	18^th	18^th	18^th	18^th	16^th
Kentucky	18^th	22^nd	22^nd	11^th	11^th	13^th	13^th	13^th	12^th	12^th	9^th	9^th	11^th	11^th	11^th	11^th	11^th	27^th
Louisiana	3^rd	2^nd	2^nd	2^nd	2^nd	2^nd	2^nd	2^nd	2^nd	2^nd	1^st	1^st	2^nd	2^nd	2^nd	2^nd	2^nd	48^th
Maine	46^th	48^th	48^th	39^th	39^th	39^th	39^th	39^th	37^th	37^th	42^nd	42^nd	48^th	48^th	48^th	48^th	48^th	14^th
Maryland	22^nd	21^st	21^st	31^st	31^st	18^th	18^th	18^th	23^rd	23^rd	32^nd	32^nd	24^th	24^th	24^th	24^th	24^th	21^st
Massachusetts	33^rd	33^rd	33^rd	41^st	41^st	32^nd	32^nd	32^nd	34^th	34^th	37^th	37^th	23^rd	23^rd	23^rd	23^rd	23^rd	23^rd
Michigan	28^th	18^th	18^th	21^st	21^st	24^th	24^th	24^th	27^th	27^th	29^th	29^th	18^th	18^th	18^th	18^th	18^th	29^th
Minnesota	49^th	40^th	40^th	40^th	40^th	47^th	47^th	47^th	37^th	37^th	47^th	47^th	30^th	30^th	30^th	30^th	30^th	15^th
Mississippi	2^nd	3^rd	3^rd	3^rd	3^rd	3^rd	3^rd	3^rd	8^th	8^th	7^th	7^th	4^th	4^th	4^th	4^th	4^th	40^th
Missouri	17^th	20^th	20^th	14^th	14^th	17^th	17^th	17^th	9^th	9^th	2^nd	2^nd	7^th	7^th	7^th	7^th	7^th	35^th
Montana	11^th	13^th	13^th	8^th	8^th	6^th	6^th	6^th	17^th	17^th	24^th	24^th	44^th	44^th	44^th	44^th	44^th	45^th
Nebraska	48^th	49^th	49^th	47^th	47^th	49^th	49^th	49^th	48^th	48^th	44^th	44^th	43^rd	43^rd	43^rd	43^rd	43^rd	11^th
Nevada	23^rd	11^th	11^th	23^rd	23^rd	14^th	14^th	14^th	16^th	16^th	14^th	14^th	21^st	21^st	21^st	21^st	21^st	42^nd
New Hampshire	43^rd	35^th	35^th	35^th	35^th	30^th	30^th	30^th	46^th	46^th	46^th	46^th	30^th	30^th	30^th	30^th	30^th	6^th
New Jersey	25^th	16^th	16^th	19^th	19^th	19^th	19^th	19^th	13^th	13^th	10^th	10^th	8^th	8^th	8^th	8^th	8^th	43^rd
New Mexico	12^th	14^th	14^th	9^th	9^th	7^th	7^th	7^th	6^th	6^th	18^th	18^th	28^th	28^th	28^th	28^th	28^th	36^th
New York	32^nd	26^th	26^th	28^th	28^th	33^rd	33^rd	33^rd	30^th	30^th	22^nd	22^nd	15^th	15^th	15^th	15^th	15^th	47^th
North Carolina	35^th	30^th	30^th	34^th	34^th	31^st	31^st	31^st	44^th	44^th	18^th	18^th	35^th	35^th	35^th	35^th	35^th	8^th
North Dakota	31^st	38^th	38^th	49^th	49^th	43^rd	43^rd	43^rd	36^th	36^th	33^rd	33^rd	45^th	45^th	45^th	45^th	45^th	1^st
Ohio	27^th	19^th	19^th	22^nd	22^nd	21^st	21^st	21^st	24^th	24^th	24^th	24^th	15^th	15^th	15^th	15^th	15^th	8^th
Oklahoma	13^th	34^th	34^th	20^th	20^th	9^th	9^th	9^th	18^th	18^th	20^th	20^th	37^th	37^th	37^th	37^th	37^th	24^th
Oregon	33^rd	37^th	37^th	30^th	30^th	23^rd	23^rd	23^rd	19^th	19^th	29^th	29^th	26^th	26^th	26^th	26^th	26^th	25^th
Pennsylvania	18^th	15^th	15^th	17^th	17^th	11^th	11^th	11^th	14^th	14^th	13^th	13^th	12^th	12^th	12^th	12^th	12^th	37^th
Rhode Island	16^th	12^th	12^th	13^th	13^th	20^th	20^th	20^th	25^th	25^th	27^th	27^th	27^th	27^th	27^th	27^th	27^th	41^st
South Carolina	14^th	8^th	8^th	12^th	12^th	11^th	11^th	11^th	14^th	14^th	17^th	17^th	14^th	14^th	14^th	14^th	14^th	44^th
South Dakota	40^th	39^th	39^th	41^st	41^st	40^th	40^th	40^th	42^nd	42^nd	50^th	50^th	41^st	41^st	41^st	41^st	41^st	3^rd
Tennessee	43^rd	29^th	29^th	32^nd	32^nd	25^th	25^th	25^th	28^th	28^th	20^th	20^th	17^th	17^th	17^th	17^th	17^th	19^th
Texas	7^th	10^th	10^th	15^th	15^th	15^th	15^th	15^th	11^th	11^th	11^th	11^th	13^th	13^th	13^th	13^th	13^th	32^nd
Utah	42^nd	46^th	46^th	44^th	44^th	42^nd	42^nd	42^nd	41^st	41^st	39^th	39^th	30^th	30^th	30^th	30^th	30^th	22^nd
Vermont	24^th	43^rd	43^rd	25^th	25^th	35^th	35^th	35^th	49^th	49^th	49^th	49^th	40^th	40^th	40^th	40^th	40^th	19^th
Virginia	39^th	45^th	45^th	45^th	45^th	44^th	44^th	44^th	40^th	40^th	39^th	39^th	39^th	39^th	39^th	39^th	39^th	7^th
Washington	26^th	24^th	24^th	25^th	25^th	29^th	29^th	29^th	22^nd	22^nd	22^nd	22^nd	25^th	25^th	25^th	25^th	25^th	5^th
West Virginia	1^st	1^st	1^st	1^st	1^st	1^st	1^st	1^st	1^st	1^st	6^th	6^th	6^th	6^th	6^th	6^th	6^th	13^th
Wisconsin	41^st	27^th	27^th	29^th	29^th	36^th	36^th	36^th	31^st	31^st	31^st	31^st	37^th	37^th	37^th	37^th	37^th	12^th
Wyoming	29^th	28^th	28^th	36^th	36^th	48^th	48^th	48^th	43^rd	43^rd	43^rd	43^rd	46^th	46^th	46^th	46^th	46^th	4^th

Historical Values

Historical values for State Liability System Costs. The years listed correspond to the actual data years, not necessarily the publication of Rich States, Poor States.

State	2006	2008	2010	2012	2015	2016	2017	2019	2025
Alabama	50.70%	47.50%	45.50%	52.80%	55.10%	61.10%	61.10%	65.60%	2.26%
Alaska	56.00%	62.60%	56.60%	69.10%	68.10%	73.80%	73.80%	73.10%	1.30%
Arizona	66.30%	65.30%	65.00%	66.80%	65.40%	69.80%	69.80%	70.80%	1.99%
Arkansas	56.50%	58.00%	48.70%	57.20%	57.70%	67.20%	67.20%	69.50%	2.08%
California	53.50%	51.80%	47.20%	50.60%	49.90%	60.00%	60.00%	60.20%	1.99%
Colorado	65.10%	67.50%	65.80%	64.20%	67.80%	67.60%	67.60%	70.70%	1.92%
Connecticut	66.30%	63.20%	62.10%	63.80%	65.90%	71.80%	71.80%	73.80%	2.27%
Delaware	75.60%	71.50%	77.20%	75.80%	76.50%	72.80%	72.80%	76.30%	3.46%
Florida	58.20%	54.90%	53.90%	55.30%	56.00%	60.50%	60.50%	62.30%	3.35%
Georgia	61.20%	61.40%	60.90%	64.00%	62.40%	64.40%	64.40%	66.10%	2.60%
Hawaii	56.30%	51.50%	56.40%	62.50%	62.80%	70.00%	70.00%	71.10%	1.64%
Idaho	61.30%	61.50%	63.90%	70.50%	70.50%	75.00%	75.00%	72.20%	1.91%
Illinois	50.80%	51.30%	47.90%	51.30%	48.00%	59.10%	59.10%	59.60%	2.07%
Indiana	68.20%	69.10%	69.90%	69.00%	67.70%	71.90%	71.90%	68.90%	1.67%
Iowa	68.90%	68.00%	69.40%	69.50%	72.20%	72.60%	72.60%	70.60%	1.51%
Kansas	66.70%	66.70%	64.60%	70.60%	67.60%	71.50%	71.50%	68.80%	1.61%
Kentucky	60.80%	61.30%	54.40%	56.80%	59.00%	61.70%	61.70%	66.50%	1.92%
Louisiana	47.30%	42.90%	39.60%	46.50%	46.50%	56.60%	56.60%	60.00%	2.65%
Maine	68.90%	69.30%	65.20%	69.20%	68.00%	73.20%	73.20%	73.80%	1.58%
Maryland	61.70%	60.60%	63.20%	58.30%	63.90%	70.80%	70.80%	69.70%	1.78%
Massachusetts	65.70%	63.50%	65.60%	66.30%	67.80%	72.10%	72.10%	69.60%	1.82%
Michigan	64.20%	59.70%	59.50%	63.00%	65.50%	70.40%	70.40%	68.80%	1.98%
Minnesota	70.60%	66.50%	65.30%	71.40%	68.00%	74.20%	74.20%	70.70%	1.60%
Mississippi	46.10%	43.70%	40.00%	46.60%	56.30%	61.10%	61.10%	61.90%	2.28%
Missouri	60.00%	60.10%	56.10%	57.80%	56.60%	58.10%	58.10%	64.40%	2.10%
Montana	57.20%	57.30%	52.40%	52.20%	60.50%	68.70%	68.70%	72.50%	2.58%
Nebraska	70.00%	71.30%	69.70%	74.10%	73.00%	73.50%	73.50%	72.30%	1.54%
Nevada	62.00%	56.90%	59.80%	57.00%	60.40%	66.60%	66.60%	69.50%	2.40%
New Hampshire	68.20%	64.70%	64.20%	65.70%	70.70%	73.90%	73.90%	70.70%	1.42%
New Jersey	63.40%	58.00%	57.80%	60.10%	59.30%	63.80%	63.80%	65.40%	2.52%
New Mexico	57.50%	57.50%	53.90%	52.70%	55.20%	68.20%	68.20%	70.60%	2.11%
New York	65.60%	61.60%	62.50%	66.40%	66.30%	68.40%	68.40%	67.70%	2.61%
North Carolina	65.90%	62.60%	64.00%	65.80%	70.20%	68.20%	68.20%	70.90%	1.50%
North Dakota	65.40%	65.60%	71.10%	69.80%	67.90%	71.50%	71.50%	72.60%	1.28%
Ohio	63.90%	60.00%	59.70%	62.10%	64.20%	68.70%	68.70%	67.70%	1.50%
Oklahoma	57.70%	64.20%	59.00%	55.00%	61.00%	68.30%	68.30%	71.20%	1.84%
Oregon	65.70%	65.40%	63.00%	62.60%	61.20%	70.40%	70.40%	69.90%	1.88%
Pennsylvania	60.80%	57.80%	56.60%	56.30%	59.40%	66.30%	66.30%	66.60%	2.14%
Rhode Island	58.50%	57.10%	55.20%	60.90%	64.60%	69.90%	69.90%	70.50%	2.36%
South Carolina	58.10%	54.50%	55.10%	56.30%	59.40%	67.70%	67.70%	67.60%	2.54%
South Dakota	67.00%	65.70%	65.60%	69.50%	69.50%	75.30%	75.30%	72.00%	1.32%
Tennessee	68.20%	62.30%	63.70%	63.70%	65.70%	68.30%	68.30%	68.30%	1.73%
Texas	54.30%	56.80%	56.30%	57.20%	58.50%	64.30%	64.30%	67.10%	2.01%
Utah	67.70%	68.60%	67.80%	69.70%	69.00%	72.80%	72.80%	70.70%	1.80%
Vermont	62.50%	67.60%	61.60%	67.10%	73.80%	75.20%	75.20%	71.70%	1.73%
Virginia	66.90%	68.40%	68.10%	70.20%	68.30%	72.80%	72.80%	71.30%	1.47%
Washington	63.70%	61.50%	61.60%	65.40%	63.80%	68.40%	68.40%	69.80%	1.41%
West Virginia	38.00%	42.40%	35.10%	44.80%	46.30%	60.60%	60.60%	63.30%	1.57%
Wisconsin	67.50%	61.80%	62.80%	68.40%	66.60%	70.70%	70.70%	71.20%	1.55%
Wyoming	64.70%	62.10%	64.50%	72.60%	69.70%	73.30%	73.30%	73.10%	1.38%

Description

Current (2025)

U.S. Trends

Historical Ranks

Historical Values

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Rich States, Poor States 18th Edition

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