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North Dakota Score and Ranking
| CATEGORY | 2026 SCORE | 2026 RANK | 2025 RANK | 2026 GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INFRASTRUCTURE | 199 | 34 | 37 | D+ |
| ECONOMY | 171 | 42 | 43 | D |
| WORKFORCE | 138 | 46 | 46 | F |
| QUALITY OF LIFE | 186 | 9 | 7 | B+ |
| COST OF DOING BUSINESS | 159 | 22 | 17 | B- |
| TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION | 96 | 42 | 37 | D+ |
| BUSINESS FRIENDLINESS | 199 | 1 | 1 | A+ |
| ACCESS TO CAPITAL | 22 | 45 | 37 | F |
| EDUCATION | 63 | 11 | 25 | B+ |
| COST OF LIVING | 41 | 2 | 4 | A+ |
| OVERALL | 1274 | 29 | 25 |
Economic Profile
Governor: Kelly Armstrong, Republican
Population: 799,358
GDP growth (Q1 2026): 0.10%
Unemployment rate (May 2026): 2.40%
Top corporate tax rate: 4.31%
Top individual income tax rate: 2.50%
Gasoline tax: 41.43 cents/gallon
Bond rating (Moody's/S&P): Aa1, Stable/AA+, Stable
Economic profile sources: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federation of Tax Administrators, American Petroleum Institute (including 18.40 cent/gallon federal tax), Moody's Investor Service, S&P Global Market Intelligence
