Analysis: Outdoor recreation a boon to Nevada’s economy

Outdoor recreation accounted for more than $6.1 billion of Nevada’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022, according to a U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis report released this week.

Accounting for 2.7 percent of the state’s GDP, the $6.1 billion generated by the state’s outdoor recreation economy last year was among the highest in the nation, outperforming the national average of 2.2 percent.

The state also saw an 8.2 percent increase in outdoor recreation-related employment in 2022, higher than the national average of 7.4 percent.

Outdoor recreation is divided into three categories: traditional activities such as hiking, biking and hunting; activities such as gardening and outdoor concerts; and supporting activities such as travel and construction. Traditional outdoor activities accounted for about a quarter of the state’s outdoor-related GDP.

Nationwide, outdoor recreation accounted for $536.7 billion of the nation’s GDP in 2022.

This story was published Nov. 28 by The Nevada Independent and is republished here with permission.