U.S. States Ranked by Population (Latest 2025 Estimates)
America's population is always shifting—people moving for jobs, weather, or new adventures! As of early 2026, the U.S. has about 347 million people, with big states like California still leading but Texas closing the gap fast. Here's the full list of 50 states ranked by population (using the most recent projections and estimates from sources like World Population Review and Census data). We've added a kid-friendly fun fact for each—because who doesn't love Hollywood stars or giant redwoods?
Quick Insights
|
Rank
|
State
|
Population (2025 est.)
|
Fun Fact for Kids
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
California
|
~39.4 million
|
Home to Hollywood—where movies and Disneyland magic happen!
|
|
2
|
Texas
|
~31 million
|
Bigger than many countries; has its own giant rodeos and BBQ!
|
|
3
|
Florida
|
~23 million
|
Sunny beaches, alligators, and the Kennedy Space Center!
|
|
4
|
New York
|
~20 million
|
The Big Apple (NYC) has the Statue of Liberty and Times Square lights!
|
|
5
|
Pennsylvania
|
~13 million
|
Where the Liberty Bell cracked and chocolate heaven (Hershey) began!
|
|
6
|
Illinois
|
~12.5 million
|
Chicago's deep-dish pizza and the tallest building in the Midwest!
|
|
7
|
Ohio
|
~11.8 million
|
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the first man on the moon (Neil Armstrong) from here!
|
|
8
|
Georgia
|
~11 million
|
Peaches, Coca-Cola invented here, and home to giant aquariums!
|
|
9
|
North Carolina
|
~10.8 million
|
First in flight—Wright Brothers flew here!
|
|
10
|
Michigan
|
~10 million
|
Great Lakes beaches and Motown music birthplace!
|
|
11
|
New Jersey
|
~9.3 million
|
Most diners per person—perfect for pancakes anytime!
|
|
12
|
Virginia
|
~8.8 million
|
Jamestown, first English settlement; full of history!
|
|
13
|
Washington
|
~8 million
|
Rainy Seattle, Space Needle, and volcanoes!
|
|
14
|
Arizona
|
~7.5 million
|
Grand Canyon—nature's giant hole!
|
|
15
|
Tennessee
|
~7.2 million
|
Nashville's country music and Elvis's Graceland!
|
|
16
|
Massachusetts
|
~7 million
|
Boston Tea Party started here—history + clam chowder!
|
|
17
|
Indiana
|
~6.9 million
|
Indy 500 car race—fastest laps ever!
|
|
18
|
Missouri
|
~6.2 million
|
Gateway Arch in St. Louis—tallest monument!
|
|
19
|
Maryland
|
~6.2 million
|
Crabs and the Star-Spangled Banner written here!
|
|
20
|
Wisconsin
|
~5.9 million
|
Cheese capital—home to giant wheels and Packers football!
|
|
21
|
Colorado
|
~5.9 million
|
Rocky Mountains and snowy ski fun!
|
|
22
|
Minnesota
|
~5.7 million
|
10,000 lakes—perfect for fishing and hockey!
|
|
23
|
South Carolina
|
~5.5 million
|
Beautiful beaches and first golf course in America!
|
|
24
|
Alabama
|
~5.1 million
|
Space rockets built here—NASA's home base!
|
|
25
|
Louisiana
|
~4.6 million
|
Mardi Gras parades and yummy gumbo!
|
|
26
|
Kentucky
|
~4.5 million
|
Kentucky Derby horse race and fried chicken!
|
|
27
|
Oregon
|
~4.3 million
|
Crater Lake—deepest lake in America!
|
|
28
|
Oklahoma
|
~4.1 million
|
Tornado Alley—wild weather adventures!
|
|
29
|
Connecticut
|
~3.6 million
|
First hamburger invented here!
|
|
30
|
Utah
|
~3.5 million
|
Salt Lake and epic national parks!
|
|
31
|
Iowa
|
~3.2 million
|
Corn fields and state fair butter cows!
|
|
32
|
Nevada
|
~3.2 million
|
Las Vegas lights and Hoover Dam!
|
|
33
|
Arkansas
|
~3.1 million
|
Diamonds found in a state park!
|
|
34
|
Kansas
|
~3 million
|
Wizard of Oz inspiration—yellow brick roads!
|
|
35
|
Mississippi
|
~2.9 million
|
Blues music birthplace!
|
|
36
|
New Mexico
|
~2.1 million
|
Hot air balloons and alien stories (Roswell)!
|
|
37
|
Nebraska
|
~2 million
|
Cornhuskers football and chimneys rock!
|
|
38
|
Idaho
|
~2 million
|
Famous potatoes and beautiful mountains!
|
|
39
|
West Virginia
|
~1.8 million
|
Almost heaven—rolling hills and coal mines!
|
|
40
|
Hawaii
|
~1.4 million
|
Volcanoes, surf, and pineapples!
|
|
41
|
New Hampshire
|
~1.4 million
|
First primary election state—politics start here!
|
|
42
|
Maine
|
~1.4 million
|
Lobster capital and rocky coasts!
|
|
43
|
Montana
|
~1.1 million
|
Big Sky Country—glaciers and grizzlies!
|
|
44
|
Rhode Island
|
~1.1 million
|
Smallest state but longest name!
|
|
45
|
Delaware
|
~1 million
|
First state to ratify Constitution!
|
|
46
|
South Dakota
|
~920,000
|
Mount Rushmore faces!
|
|
47
|
North Dakota
|
~780,000
|
Peace Garden State—cold winters!
|
|
48
|
Alaska
|
~730,000
|
Biggest state, northern lights!
|
|
49
|
Vermont
|
~650,000
|
Maple syrup heaven!
|
|
50
|
Wyoming
|
~580,000
|
Least populated—Yellowstone geysers!
|
- Biggest jump: Texas and Florida are growing fast—sun and jobs!
- Smallest: Wyoming could fit everyone in a big football stadium!
- Total U.S.: Around 347 million (including D.C. and territories).
