# List of U.S. states and territories by population

See this article's self&#x2D;explanatory title and [[WP:SDNONE]]
The states and territories included in the United States Census Bureau's statistics for the United States population, ethnicity, and most other categories include the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Separate statistics are maintained for the five permanently inhabited territories of the United States: Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
As of April 1, 2020, the date of the 2020 United States census, the nine most populous U.S. states contain slightly more than half of the total population. The 25 least populous states contain less than one-sixth of the total population. California, the most populous state, contains more people than the 21 least populous states combined, and Wyoming, the least populous state, has a population less than any of the 31 most populous U.S. cities.

## Method

The United States Census counts the persons residing in the United States including citizens, non-citizen permanent residents and non-citizen long-term visitors. Civilian and military federal employees serving abroad and their dependents are counted in their home state.

## Electoral apportionment

Every 10 years, the U.S. Census Bureau is charged with making an actual count of all residents by state and territory. The accuracy of this count is then tested after the fact, and sometimes statistically significant undercounts or overcounts occur. For example, for the 2020 decennial census, 14 states had significant miscounts ranging from 1.5% to 6.6%. While these adjustments may be reflected in government programs over the following decade, the 10-year representative apportionments discussed below are not changed to reflect the miscount.

### House of Representatives

Based on this decennial census, each state is allocated a portion of the 435 fixed seats in the United States House of Representatives (until the early 20th century, the apportionment process generally increased the size of the House based on the results of the census until the size of the House was capped by the Reapportionment Act of 1929), with each state guaranteed at least one Representative. The allocation is based on each state's proportion of the combined population of the fifty states (not including the District of Columbia, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, or the United States Virgin Islands).

### Electoral College

The Electoral College, every four years, elects the President and Vice President of the United States based on the popular vote in each state and the District of Columbia. Each state's number of votes in the Electoral College is equal to its number of members in the Senate plus members in the House of Representatives.
The Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution additionally grants the District of Columbia (D.C.), which is not part of any state, as many Electoral College votes as it would have if it were a state, while having no more votes than the least populous state (currently, Wyoming). Since the U.S. Constitution guarantees every state at least one member of the U.S. House of Representatives and two members of the U.S. Senate, every state has at least three Electoral College votes. Thus, the Electoral College has 538 members (100 senators, plus 435 representatives due to the limit imposed by the Reapportionment Act of 1929, plus 3 members for the District of Columbia). Territories of the United States are not included in the Electoral College: people in those territories cannot vote directly for the President of the United States, although they may participate in the partisan nominating primaries and caucuses.

## State and territory rankings

U.S. states and territories by population :
| State or territory | Census population | Census population | Change, 2010–2020 | Change, 2010–2020 | House seats | House seats | Pop. per elec. vote (2020) | Pop. per seat (2020) | % US (2020) | % EC (2020) |
| State or territory | July 1, 2024 (est.) | April 1, 2020 | % | Abs. | Seats | % | Pop. per elec. vote (2020) | Pop. per seat (2020) | % US (2020) | % EC (2020) |
| California | 39,431,263 | 39,538,223 | 6.13% | 2,284,267 | 52 | 11.95% | 732,189 | 760,350 | 11.800% | 10.04% |
| Texas | 31,290,831 | 29,145,505 | 15.91% | 3,999,944 | 38 | 8.74% | 728,638 | 766,987 | 8.698% | 7.43% |
| Florida | 23,372,215 | 21,538,187 | 14.56% | 2,736,877 | 28 | 6.44% | 717,940 | 769,221 | 6.428% | 5.58% |
| New York | 19,867,248 | 20,201,249 | 4.25% | 823,147 | 26 | 5.98% | 721,473 | 776,971 | 6.029% | 5.20% |
| Pennsylvania | 13,078,751 | 13,002,700 | 2.36% | 300,321 | 17 | 3.91% | 684,353 | 764,865 | 3.881% | 3.53% |
| Illinois | 12,710,158 | 12,812,508 | −0.14% | −18,124 | 17 | 3.91% | 674,343 | 753,677 | 3.824% | 3.53% |
| Ohio | 11,883,304 | 11,799,448 | 2.28% | 262,944 | 15 | 3.45% | 694,085 | 786,630 | 3.521% | 3.16% |
| Georgia | 11,180,878 | 10,711,908 | 10.57% | 1,024,255 | 14 | 3.22% | 669,494 | 765,136 | 3.197% | 2.97% |
| North Carolina | 11,046,024 | 10,439,388 | 9.48% | 903,905 | 14 | 3.22% | 652,462 | 745,671 | 3.116% | 2.97% |
| Michigan | 10,140,459 | 10,077,331 | 1.96% | 193,691 | 13 | 2.99% | 671,822 | 775,179 | 3.008% | 2.79% |
| New Jersey | 9,500,851 | 9,288,994 | 5.65% | 497,100 | 12 | 2.76% | 663,500 | 774,083 | 2.772% | 2.60% |
| Virginia | 8,811,195 | 8,631,393 | 7.88% | 630,369 | 11 | 2.53% | 663,953 | 784,672 | 2.576% | 2.42% |
| Washington | 7,958,180 | 7,705,281 | 14.58% | 980,741 | 10 | 2.30% | 642,107 | 770,528 | 2.300% | 2.23% |
| Arizona | 7,582,384 | 7,151,502 | 11.88% | 759,485 | 9 | 2.07% | 650,137 | 794,611 | 2.134% | 2.04% |
| Tennessee | 7,227,750 | 6,910,840 | 8.90% | 564,735 | 9 | 2.07% | 628,258 | 767,871 | 2.062% | 2.04% |
| Massachusetts | 7,136,171 | 7,029,917 | 7.37% | 482,288 | 9 | 2.07% | 639,083 | 781,102 | 2.098% | 2.04% |
| Indiana | 6,924,275 | 6,785,528 | 4.65% | 301,726 | 9 | 2.07% | 616,866 | 753,948 | 2.025% | 2.04% |
| Maryland | 6,263,220 | 6,177,224 | 6.99% | 403,672 | 8 | 1.84% | 617,722 | 772,153 | 1.844% | 1.86% |
| Missouri | 6,245,466 | 6,154,913 | 2.77% | 165,986 | 8 | 1.84% | 615,491 | 769,364 | 1.837% | 1.86% |
| Wisconsin | 5,960,975 | 5,893,718 | 3.64% | 206,732 | 8 | 1.84% | 589,372 | 736,715 | 1.759% | 1.86% |
| Colorado | 5,957,493 | 5,773,714 | 14.80% | 744,518 | 8 | 1.84% | 577,371 | 721,714 | 1.723% | 1.86% |
| Minnesota | 5,793,151 | 5,706,494 | 7.59% | 402,569 | 8 | 1.84% | 570,649 | 713,312 | 1.703% | 1.86% |
| South Carolina | 5,478,831 | 5,118,425 | 10.66% | 493,061 | 7 | 1.61% | 568,714 | 731,204 | 1.528% | 1.67% |
| Alabama | 5,157,699 | 5,024,279 | 5.12% | 244,543 | 7 | 1.61% | 558,253 | 717,754 | 1.499% | 1.67% |
| Louisiana | 4,597,740 | 4,657,757 | 2.74% | 124,385 | 6 | 1.38% | 582,220 | 776,293 | 1.390% | 1.49% |
| Kentucky | 4,588,372 | 4,505,836 | 3.84% | 166,469 | 6 | 1.38% | 563,230 | 750,973 | 1.345% | 1.49% |
| Oregon | 4,272,371 | 4,237,256 | 10.60% | 406,182 | 6 | 1.38% | 529,657 | 706,209 | 1.265% | 1.49% |
| Oklahoma | 4,095,393 | 3,959,353 | 5.54% | 208,002 | 5 | 1.15% | 565,622 | 791,871 | 1.182% | 1.30% |
| Connecticut | 3,675,069 | 3,605,944 | 0.89% | 31,847 | 5 | 1.15% | 515,135 | 721,189 | 1.076% | 1.30% |
| Utah | 3,503,613 | 3,271,616 | 18.37% | 507,731 | 4 | 0.92% | 545,269 | 817,904 | 0.976% | 1.12% |
| Nevada | 3,267,467 | 3,104,614 | 14.96% | 404,063 | 4 | 0.92% | 517,436 | 776,154 | 0.927% | 1.12% |
| Iowa | 3,241,488 | 3,190,369 | 4.73% | 144,014 | 4 | 0.92% | 531,728 | 797,592 | 0.952% | 1.12% |
| Puerto Rico | 3,203,295 | 3,285,874 | −11.81% | −439,915 | 1* | — | — | — | 0.981% | — |
| Arkansas | 3,088,354 | 3,011,524 | 3.28% | 95,606 | 4 | 0.92% | 501,921 | 752,881 | 0.899% | 1.12% |
| Kansas | 2,970,606 | 2,937,880 | 2.97% | 84,762 | 4 | 0.92% | 489,647 | 734,470 | 0.877% | 1.12% |
| Mississippi | 2,943,045 | 2,961,279 | −0.20% | −6,018 | 4 | 0.92% | 493,547 | 740,320 | 0.884% | 1.12% |
| New Mexico | 2,130,256 | 2,117,522 | 2.83% | 58,343 | 3 | 0.69% | 423,504 | 705,841 | 0.632% | 0.93% |
| Nebraska | 2,005,465 | 1,961,504 | 7.40% | 135,163 | 3 | 0.69% | 392,301 | 653,835 | 0.585% | 0.93% |
| Idaho | 2,001,619 | 1,839,106 | 17.32% | 271,524 | 2 | 0.46% | 459,777 | 919,553 | 0.549% | 0.74% |
| West Virginia | 1,769,979 | 1,793,716 | −3.20% | −59,278 | 2 | 0.46% | 448,429 | 896,858 | 0.535% | 0.74% |
| Hawaii | 1,446,146 | 1,455,271 | 6.98% | 94,970 | 2 | 0.46% | 363,818 | 727,636 | 0.434% | 0.74% |
| New Hampshire | 1,409,032 | 1,377,529 | 4.66% | 61,059 | 2 | 0.46% | 344,382 | 688,765 | 0.411% | 0.74% |
| Maine | 1,405,012 | 1,362,359 | 2.56% | 33,998 | 2 | 0.46% | 340,590 | 681,180 | 0.407% | 0.74% |
| Montana | 1,137,233 | 1,084,225 | 9.58% | 94,810 | 2 | 0.46% | 271,056 | 542,113 | 0.324% | 0.74% |
| Rhode Island | 1,112,308 | 1,097,379 | 4.26% | 44,812 | 2 | 0.46% | 274,345 | 548,690 | 0.328% | 0.74% |
| Delaware | 1,051,917 | 989,948 | 10.25% | 92,014 | 1 | 0.23% | 329,983 | 989,948 | 0.295% | 0.56% |
| South Dakota | 924,669 | 886,667 | 8.90% | 72,487 | 1 | 0.23% | 295,556 | 886,667 | 0.265% | 0.56% |
| North Dakota | 796,568 | 779,094 | 15.83% | 106,503 | 1 | 0.23% | 259,698 | 779,094 | 0.233% | 0.56% |
| Alaska | 740,133 | 733,391 | 3.26% | 23,160 | 1 | 0.23% | 244,464 | 733,391 | 0.219% | 0.56% |
| District of Columbia | 702,250 | 689,545 | 14.60% | 87,822 | 1* | — | 229,848 | — | 0.206% | 0.56% |
| Vermont | 648,493 | 643,077 | 2.77% | 17,336 | 1 | 0.23% | 214,359 | 643,077 | 0.192% | 0.56% |
| Wyoming | 587,618 | 576,851 | 2.35% | 13,225 | 1 | 0.23% | 192,284 | 576,851 | 0.172% | 0.56% |
| Guam | 172,952 | 153,836 | −3.47% | −5,522 | 1* | — | — | — | 0.046% | — |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | 104,917 | 87,146 | −18.10% | −19,259 | 1* | — | — | — | 0.026% | — |
| American Samoa | 47,521 | 49,710 | −10.46% | −5,809 | 1* | — | — | — | 0.015% | — |
| Northern Mariana Islands | 45,143 | 47,329 | −12.16% | −6,554 | 1* | — | — | — | 0.014% | — |
| Contiguous United States | 337,924,709 | 329,260,619 | 7.36% | 22,585,613 | 432 (+1*) | 99.31% | 623,600 | 756,921 | 98.265% | 98.70% |
| The 50 states | 339,408,738 | 330,759,736 | 7.34% | 22,615,921 | 435 | 100% | 618,242 | 760,367 | 98.713% | 99.44% |
| The 50 states and D.C. | 340,110,988 | 331,449,281 | 7.35% | 22,703,743 | 435 (+1*) | 100% | 616,077 | — | 98.918% | 100% |
| Total US and territories | N/A | 335,073,176 | 7.10% | 22,226,684 | 435 (+6*) | 100% | — | — | 100% | — |
* — non-voting member of the House of Representatives.
* 1 2 3 Resident population only; does not include overseas population. In 2022, the Census Bureau announced the following undercounts (missed residents) in the 2020 census: Arkansas (−5.04%), Florida (−3.48%), Illinois (−1.97%), Mississippi (−4.11%), Tennessee (−4.78%) and Texas (−1.92%). These were the overcounts: Delaware (+5.45%), Hawaii (+6.79%), Massachusetts (+2.24%), Minnesota (+3.84%), New York (+3.44%), Ohio (+1.49%), Rhode Island (+5.05%) and Utah (+2.59%).
* ↑ Effective from 2022 onward.
* ↑ Effective from the 2022 elections onward. Each state has a number of votes in the Electoral College equal to its number of senators (two) and representatives in the Congress, while D.C. is granted three electoral votes. The Electoral College is used to elect the President and Vice President of the United States.

## Summary of population by region

* Legend
* Division totals – 9 divisions for 50 states and District of Columbia
* Region totals – 4 regions (2 or 3 divisions each)
* Individual territories
* Total U.S. territories
* 50 states + District of Columbia
* Divisions & regions as defined by U.S. Census Bureau
* Last col. shows larger region which contains entity in col. 1
Column header abbreviations: # = Rank, Geo. = Geographic
Population of states, territories, divisions and region :
| State/federal district/territory/ division/region | # | 2020 pop. | # | 2010 pop. | # | 2000 pop. | # | 2010– 2020 change | Geo. sort |
| Massachusetts | 15 | 7,029,917 | 14 | 6,547,629 | 13 | 6,349,097 | 21 | 7.4% | NEng |
| Connecticut | 29 | 3,605,944 | 29 | 3,574,097 | 29 | 3,405,565 | 47 | 0.9% | NEng |
| New Hampshire | 41 | 1,377,529 | 42 | 1,316,470 | 41 | 1,235,786 | 30 | 4.6% | NEng |
| Maine | 42 | 1,362,359 | 41 | 1,328,361 | 40 | 1,274,923 | 42 | 2.6% | NEng |
| Rhode Island | 43 | 1,097,379 | 43 | 1,052,567 | 43 | 1,048,319 | 31 | 4.3% | NEng |
| Vermont | 49 | 643,077 | 49 | 625,741 | 49 | 608,827 | 40 | 2.8% | NEng |
| New England | 9 | 15,116,205 | 9 | 14,444,865 | 9 | 13,922,517 | 7 | 4.6% | NEast |
| New York | 4 | 20,201,249 | 3 | 19,378,102 | 3 | 18,976,457 | 32 | 4.2% | MAtl |
| Pennsylvania | 5 | 13,002,700 | 6 | 12,702,379 | 6 | 12,281,054 | 43 | 2.4% | MAtl |
| New Jersey | 11 | 9,288,994 | 11 | 8,791,894 | 9 | 8,414,350 | 25 | 5.7% | MAtl |
| Mid-Atlantic | 4 | 42,492,943 | 4 | 40,872,375 | 4 | 39,671,861 | 8 | 4.0% | NEast |
| Northeast | 4 | 57,609,148 | 4 | 55,317,240 | 4 | 53,594,378 | 3 | 4.1% | USA |
| Florida | 3 | 21,538,187 | 4 | 18,801,310 | 4 | 15,982,378 | 8 | 14.6% | SAtl |
| Georgia | 8 | 10,711,908 | 9 | 9,687,653 | 10 | 8,186,453 | 12 | 10.6% | SAtl |
| North Carolina | 9 | 10,439,388 | 10 | 9,535,483 | 11 | 8,049,313 | 15 | 9.5% | SAtl |
| Virginia | 12 | 8,631,393 | 12 | 8,001,024 | 12 | 7,078,515 | 18 | 7.9% | SAtl |
| Maryland | 18 | 6,177,224 | 19 | 5,773,552 | 19 | 5,296,486 | 22 | 7.0% | SAtl |
| South Carolina | 23 | 5,118,425 | 24 | 4,625,364 | 26 | 4,012,012 | 10 | 10.7% | SAtl |
| West Virginia | 39 | 1,793,716 | 37 | 1,852,994 | 37 | 1,808,344 | 50 | −3.2% | SAtl |
| Delaware | 45 | 989,948 | 45 | 897,934 | 45 | 783,600 | 13 | 10.2% | SAtl |
| District of Columbia | – | 689,545 | – | 601,723 | – | 572,059 | – | 14.6% | SAtl |
| South Atlantic | 1 | 66,089,734 | 1 | 59,777,037 | 1 | 51,769,160 | 3 | 10.6% | South |
| Tennessee | 16 | 6,910,840 | 17 | 6,346,105 | 16 | 5,689,283 | 17 | 8.9% | ESC |
| Alabama | 24 | 5,024,279 | 23 | 4,779,736 | 23 | 4,447,100 | 27 | 5.1% | ESC |
| Kentucky | 26 | 4,505,836 | 26 | 4,339,367 | 25 | 4,041,769 | 33 | 3.8% | ESC |
| Mississippi | 34 | 2,961,279 | 31 | 2,967,297 | 31 | 2,844,658 | 49 | −0.2% | ESC |
| East South Central | 8 | 19,402,234 | 8 | 18,432,505 | 8 | 17,022,810 | 6 | 5.3% | South |
| Texas | 2 | 29,145,505 | 2 | 25,145,561 | 2 | 20,851,820 | 3 | 15.9% | WSC |
| Louisiana | 25 | 4,657,757 | 25 | 4,533,372 | 22 | 4,468,976 | 41 | 2.7% | WSC |
| Oklahoma | 28 | 3,959,353 | 28 | 3,751,351 | 27 | 3,450,654 | 26 | 5.5% | WSC |
| Arkansas | 33 | 3,011,524 | 32 | 2,915,918 | 33 | 2,673,400 | 35 | 3.3% | WSC |
| West South Central | 5 | 40,774,139 | 5 | 36,346,202 | 5 | 31,444,850 | 2 | 12.2% | South |
| South | 1 | 126,266,107 | 1 | 114,555,744 | 1 | 100,236,820 | 1 | 10.2% | USA |
| Illinois | 6 | 12,812,508 | 5 | 12,830,632 | 5 | 12,419,293 | 48 | −0.1% | ENC |
| Ohio | 7 | 11,799,448 | 7 | 11,536,504 | 7 | 11,353,140 | 45 | 2.3% | ENC |
| Michigan | 10 | 10,077,331 | 8 | 9,883,640 | 8 | 9,938,444 | 46 | 2.0% | ENC |
| Indiana | 17 | 6,785,528 | 15 | 6,483,802 | 14 | 6,080,485 | 29 | 4.7% | ENC |
| Wisconsin | 20 | 5,893,718 | 20 | 5,686,986 | 18 | 5,363,675 | 34 | 3.6% | ENC |
| East North Central | 3 | 47,368,533 | 3 | 46,421,564 | 2 | 45,155,037 | 9 | 2.0% | MWest |
| Missouri | 19 | 6,154,913 | 18 | 5,988,927 | 17 | 5,595,211 | 39 | 2.8% | WNC |
| Minnesota | 22 | 5,706,494 | 21 | 5,303,925 | 21 | 4,919,479 | 19 | 7.6% | WNC |
| Iowa | 31 | 3,190,369 | 30 | 3,046,355 | 30 | 2,926,324 | 28 | 4.7% | WNC |
| Kansas | 35 | 2,937,880 | 33 | 2,853,118 | 32 | 2,688,418 | 37 | 3.0% | WNC |
| Nebraska | 37 | 1,961,504 | 38 | 1,826,341 | 38 | 1,711,263 | 20 | 7.4% | WNC |
| South Dakota | 46 | 886,667 | 46 | 814,180 | 46 | 754,844 | 16 | 8.9% | WNC |
| North Dakota | 47 | 779,094 | 48 | 672,591 | 47 | 642,200 | 4 | 15.8% | WNC |
| West North Central | 7 | 21,616,921 | 7 | 20,505,437 | 6 | 19,237,739 | 5 | 5.4% | MWest |
| Midwest | 3 | 68,985,454 | 3 | 66,927,001 | 2 | 64,392,776 | 4 | 3.1% | USA |
| Arizona | 14 | 7,151,502 | 16 | 6,392,017 | 20 | 5,130,632 | 9 | 11.9% | Mtn |
| Colorado | 21 | 5,773,714 | 22 | 5,029,196 | 24 | 4,301,261 | 6 | 14.8% | Mtn |
| Utah | 30 | 3,271,616 | 34 | 2,763,885 | 34 | 2,233,169 | 1 | 18.4% | Mtn |
| Nevada | 32 | 3,104,614 | 35 | 2,700,551 | 35 | 1,998,257 | 5 | 15.0% | Mtn |
| New Mexico | 36 | 2,117,522 | 36 | 2,059,179 | 36 | 1,819,046 | 38 | 2.8% | Mtn |
| Idaho | 38 | 1,839,106 | 39 | 1,567,582 | 39 | 1,293,953 | 2 | 17.3% | Mtn |
| Montana | 44 | 1,084,225 | 44 | 989,415 | 44 | 902,195 | 14 | 9.6% | Mtn |
| Wyoming | 50 | 576,851 | 50 | 563,626 | 50 | 493,782 | 44 | 2.3% | Mtn |
| Mountain | 6 | 24,919,150 | 6 | 22,065,451 | 7 | 18,172,295 | 1 | 12.9% | West |
| California | 1 | 39,538,223 | 1 | 37,253,956 | 1 | 33,871,648 | 24 | 6.1% | Pac |
| Washington | 13 | 7,705,281 | 13 | 6,724,540 | 15 | 5,894,121 | 7 | 14.6% | Pac |
| Oregon | 27 | 4,237,256 | 27 | 3,831,074 | 28 | 3,421,399 | 11 | 10.6% | Pac |
| Hawaii | 40 | 1,455,271 | 40 | 1,360,301 | 42 | 1,211,537 | 23 | 7.0% | Pac |
| Alaska | 48 | 733,391 | 47 | 710,231 | 48 | 626,932 | 36 | 3.3% | Pac |
| Pacific | 2 | 53,669,422 | 2 | 49,880,102 | 3 | 45,025,637 | 4 | 7.6% | West |
| West | 2 | 78,588,572 | 2 | 71,945,553 | 3 | 63,197,932 | 2 | 9.2% | USA |
| 50 states and District of Columbia | – | 331,449,281 | – | 308,745,538 | – | 281,421,906 | – | 7.4% | NAmer |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | 3,285,874 | 1 | 3,725,789 | 1 | 3,808,610 | 3 | −11.8% | I.A. |
| Guam | 2 | 153,836 | 2 | 159,358 | 2 | 154,805 | 1 | −3.5% | I.A. |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | 3 | 87,146 | 3 | 106,405 | 3 | 108,612 | 2 | −18.1% | I.A. |
| American Samoa | 4 | 49,710 | 4 | 55,519 | 5 | 57,291 | 4 | −7.7% | I.A. |
| Northern Mariana Islands | 5 | 47,329 | 5 | 53,883 | 4 | 69,221 | 5 | −14.8% | I.A. |
| U.S. Minor Outlying Islands | 6 | | 6 | | 6 | 316 | 6 | — | I.A. |
| Island Areas (Territories) | – | 3,623,895 | – | 4,100,954 | – | 4,198,855 | – | −11.6% | USA |
| State/federal district/territory/ division/region | # | 2020 pop. | # | 2010 pop. | # | 2000 pop. | # | 2010– 2020 change | Geo. sort |