The United States is the most populous country in North America and the third-most populous in the world, after India and China.
More than 340 million people are distributed very unevenly across its 50 states.
A small number of states account for a disproportionately large share of the national population, while many others remain relatively sparsely populated by comparison.
The table below ranks all US states by population using the most recent US Census Bureau estimates and shows how each state compares as a share of the total US population.
Total population of the United States
The total population of the United States includes residents of all 50 states.
- Estimated population: ~340,110,988 (2024 census)
- Number of states: 50
- Average population per state: ~6.8 million
Despite this average, population levels vary widely, with the most populous states containing many times the population of the smallest states.
Most populous US states
A small group of states accounts for a large share of the US population.
The most populous US states are:
- California
- Texas
- Florida
- New York
- Pennsylvania
Least populous US states
At the opposite end of the scale are states with very small populations, most of which are either sparsely populated interior states or geographically remote.
The least populous US states are:
- Wyoming
- Vermont
- Alaska
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
Despite relatively large land areas, populations remain under one million in these states.
US states by population
The table below ranks all US states by total population, from largest to smallest.
Population figures are based on US Census Bureau estimates and represent resident population counts. National share percentages show each state’s proportion of the total US population.
| State ranking | State name | Population | Population share (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 39,431,263 | 11.59% |
| 2 | Texas | 31,290,831 | 9.20% |
| 3 | Florida | 23,372,215 | 6.87% |
| 4 | New York | 19,867,248 | 5.84% |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 13,078,751 | 3.85% |
| 6 | Illinois | 12,710,158 | 3.74% |
| 7 | Ohio | 11,883,304 | 3.49% |
| 8 | Georgia | 11,180,878 | 3.29% |
| 9 | North Carolina | 11,046,024 | 3.25% |
| 10 | Michigan | 10,140,459 | 2.98% |
| 11 | New Jersey | 9,500,851 | 2.79% |
| 12 | Virginia | 8,811,195 | 2.59% |
| 13 | Washington | 7,958,180 | 2.34% |
| 14 | Arizona | 7,582,384 | 2.23% |
| 15 | Tennessee | 7,227,750 | 2.13% |
| 16 | Massachusetts | 7,136,171 | 2.10% |
| 17 | Indiana | 6,924,275 | 2.04% |
| 18 | Maryland | 6,263,220 | 1.84% |
| 19 | Missouri | 6,245,466 | 1.84% |
| 20 | Wisconsin | 5,960,975 | 1.75% |
| 21 | Colorado | 5,957,493 | 1.75% |
| 22 | Minnesota | 5,793,151 | 1.70% |
| 23 | South Carolina | 5,478,831 | 1.61% |
| 24 | Alabama | 5,157,699 | 1.52% |
| 25 | Louisiana | 4,597,740 | 1.35% |
| 26 | Kentucky | 4,588,372 | 1.35% |
| 27 | Oregon | 4,272,371 | 1.26% |
| 28 | Oklahoma | 4,095,393 | 1.20% |
| 29 | Connecticut | 3,675,069 | 1.08% |
| 30 | Utah | 3,503,613 | 1.03% |
| 31 | Nevada | 3,267,467 | 0.96% |
| 32 | Iowa | 3,241,488 | 0.95% |
| 33 | Arkansas | 3,088,354 | 0.91% |
| 34 | Kansas | 2,970,606 | 0.87% |
| 35 | Mississippi | 2,943,045 | 0.87% |
| 36 | New Mexico | 2,130,256 | 0.63% |
| 37 | Nebraska | 2,005,465 | 0.59% |
| 38 | Idaho | 2,001,619 | 0.59% |
| 39 | West Virginia | 1,769,979 | 0.52% |
| 40 | Hawaii | 1,446,146 | 0.43% |
| 41 | New Hampshire | 1,409,032 | 0.41% |
| 42 | Maine | 1,405,012 | 0.41% |
| 43 | Montana | 1,137,233 | 0.33% |
| 44 | Rhode Island | 1,112,308 | 0.33% |
| 45 | Delaware | 1,051,917 | 0.31% |
| 46 | South Dakota | 924,669 | 0.27% |
| 47 | North Dakota | 796,568 | 0.23% |
| 48 | Alaska | 740,133 | 0.22% |
| 49 | Vermont | 648,493 | 0.19% |
| 50 | Wyoming | 587,618 | 0.17% |
Washington, DC population
The District of Columbia is not a US state and is therefore excluded from state population rankings.
As of the most recent US Census Bureau estimate, Washington, DC has a population of approximately 702,250 people.
If ranked alongside states, DC would fall between Alaska and Vermont by population.
Population distribution across US states
Population in the United States is highly concentrated. States with large metropolitan areas and diversified economies tend to attract and retain far more residents than states with largely rural populations and economies shaped by agriculture, energy production, or geographic isolation.
Coastal states and major economic centers generally have much higher population totals, while many interior states remain lightly populated despite their size. As a result, population density and total population often differ sharply from land-area rankings.
US population by region
The United States is divided into four main Census Bureau regions, each with very different population concentrations.
| Region | Population (millions) |
|---|---|
| South | 132.7 |
| West | 80.0 |
| Midwest | 69.6 |
| Northeast | 57.8 |
South
The South is the most populous US region, with almost 40% of the population residing there.
Texas and Florida have been leading population growth in recent years, adding the largest numbers of new residents and posting some of the highest growth rates among all states.
West
The West is the second-most populous region, with a 23.5% share of the population. Dominated by California, it remains the most populous US state in the country despite recent slowdowns.
Large land areas and major metropolitan centers shape population distribution across the region.
Midwest
The Midwest has a substantial 20.5% share of the population but fewer larger states than other US regions.
Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan are the only Midwestern states with populations above 10 million, while most others fall well below that threshold.
Several Midwestern states have experienced slower population growth in recent years compared with faster-growing regions such as the South.
Northeast
The Northeast is the least populous region, despite its high population density. Much of the region’s population is concentrated in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, while the remaining New England states contribute relatively small populations individually.
Related US states resources
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. With seven years of teaching experience and a background in educational content, she specialises in creating clear reference resources about countries, geography and global topics.