RANKING · 2000 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Largest by population, US states · 2000

The most populous US states as of the 2000 population estimates. California leads at 33,871,648. 51 states qualify in total. The top 25 average 9,399,218, against an all-states median of 4,012,012.

All statesAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities Counties Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATETOTAL POPULATIONVS 1990

USUnited States281,421,906–

01California, CACA33,871,648+14%

02Texas, TXTX20,851,820+23%

03New York, NYNY18,976,457+5%

04Florida, FLFL15,982,378+24%

05Illinois, ILIL12,419,293+9%

06Pennsylvania, PAPA12,281,054+3%

07Ohio, OHOH11,353,140+5%

08Michigan, MIMI9,938,444+7%

09New Jersey, NJNJ8,414,350+9%

10Georgia, GAGA8,186,453+26%

11North Carolina, NCNC8,049,313+21%

12Virginia, VAVA7,078,515+14%

13Massachusetts, MAMA6,349,097+6%

14Indiana, ININ6,080,485+10%

15Washington, WAWA5,894,121+21%

16Tennessee, TNTN5,689,283+17%

17Missouri, MOMO5,595,211+9%

18Wisconsin, WIWI5,363,675+10%

19Maryland, MDMD5,296,486+11%

20Arizona, AZAZ5,130,632+40%

21Minnesota, MNMN4,919,479+12%

22Louisiana, LALA4,468,976+6%

23Alabama, ALAL4,447,100+10%

24Colorado, COCO4,301,261+31%

25Kentucky, KYKY4,041,769+10%

26South Carolina, SCSC4,012,012+15%

27Oklahoma, OKOK3,450,654+10%

28Oregon, OROR3,421,399+20%

29Connecticut, CTCT3,405,565+4%

30Iowa, IAIA2,926,324+5%

31Mississippi, MSMS2,844,658+11%

32Kansas, KSKS2,688,418+9%

33Arkansas, ARAR2,673,400+14%

34Utah, UTUT2,233,169+30%

35Nevada, NVNV1,998,257+66%

36New Mexico, NMNM1,819,046+20%

37West Virginia, WVWV1,808,344+1%

38Nebraska, NENE1,711,263+8%

39Idaho, IDID1,293,953+29%

40Maine, MEME1,274,923+4%

41New Hampshire, NHNH1,235,786+11%

42Hawaii, HIHI1,211,537+9%

43Rhode Island, RIRI1,048,319+4%

44Montana, MTMT902,195+13%

45Delaware, DEDE783,600+18%

46South Dakota, SDSD754,844+8%

47North Dakota, NDND642,200+1%

48Alaska, AKAK626,932+14%

49Vermont, VTVT608,827+8%

50District of Columbia, DCDC572,059−6%

51Wyoming, WYWY493,782+9%

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS

Frequently asked

Which state has the highest total population?

California ranks #1 with 33,871,648 (2000 Decennial Census).

What are the top 5 states by total population?

California, Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2000 Decennial Census data.

How is total population measured?

Total resident population. Source: US Census Bureau, 2000 Decennial Census.