RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Largest by population, US states · 1990

The most populous US states as of the 1990 population estimates. California leads at 29,760,021. 51 states qualify in total. The top 25 average 8,308,865, against an all-states median of 3,294,394.

All statesAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities Counties Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATETOTAL POPULATIONVS –

USUnited States248,709,873–

01California, CACA29,760,021–

02New York, NYNY17,990,455–

03Texas, TXTX16,986,510–

04Florida, FLFL12,937,926–

05Pennsylvania, PAPA11,881,643–

06Illinois, ILIL11,430,602–

07Ohio, OHOH10,847,115–

08Michigan, MIMI9,295,297–

09New Jersey, NJNJ7,730,188–

10North Carolina, NCNC6,628,637–

11Georgia, GAGA6,478,216–

12Virginia, VAVA6,187,358–

13Massachusetts, MAMA6,016,425–

14Indiana, ININ5,544,159–

15Missouri, MOMO5,117,073–

16Wisconsin, WIWI4,891,769–

17Tennessee, TNTN4,877,185–

18Washington, WAWA4,866,692–

19Maryland, MDMD4,781,468–

20Minnesota, MNMN4,375,099–

21Louisiana, LALA4,219,973–

22Alabama, ALAL4,040,587–

23Kentucky, KYKY3,685,296–

24Arizona, AZAZ3,665,228–

25South Carolina, SCSC3,486,703–

26Colorado, COCO3,294,394–

27Connecticut, CTCT3,287,116–

28Oklahoma, OKOK3,145,585–

29Oregon, OROR2,842,321–

30Iowa, IAIA2,776,755–

31Mississippi, MSMS2,573,216–

32Kansas, KSKS2,477,574–

33Arkansas, ARAR2,350,725–

34West Virginia, WVWV1,793,477–

35Utah, UTUT1,722,850–

36Nebraska, NENE1,578,385–

37New Mexico, NMNM1,515,069–

38Maine, MEME1,227,928–

39Nevada, NVNV1,201,833–

40New Hampshire, NHNH1,109,252–

41Hawaii, HIHI1,108,229–

42Idaho, IDID1,006,749–

43Rhode Island, RIRI1,003,464–

44Montana, MTMT799,065–

45South Dakota, SDSD696,004–

46Delaware, DEDE666,168–

47North Dakota, NDND638,800–

48District of Columbia, DCDC606,900–

49Vermont, VTVT562,758–

50Alaska, AKAK550,043–

51Wyoming, WYWY453,588–

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS

Frequently asked

Which state has the highest total population?

California ranks #1 with 29,760,021 (1990 Decennial Census).

What are the top 5 states by total population?

California, New York, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 1990 Decennial Census data.

How is total population measured?

Total resident population. Source: US Census Bureau, 1990 Decennial Census.