RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Largest by population, US states · 2020

The most populous US states as of the 2020 population estimates. California leads at 39,538,223. 51 states qualify in total. The top 25 average 11,091,057, against an all-states median of 4,505,836.

All statesAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities Counties Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATETOTAL POPULATIONVS 2000

USUnited States331,449,281–

01California, CACA39,538,223+17%

02Texas, TXTX29,145,505+40%

03Florida, FLFL21,538,187+35%

04New York, NYNY20,201,249+6%

05Pennsylvania, PAPA13,002,700+6%

06Illinois, ILIL12,812,508+3%

07Ohio, OHOH11,799,448+4%

08Georgia, GAGA10,711,908+31%

09North Carolina, NCNC10,439,388+30%

10Michigan, MIMI10,077,331+1%

11New Jersey, NJNJ9,288,994+10%

12Virginia, VAVA8,631,393+22%

13Washington, WAWA7,705,281+31%

14Arizona, AZAZ7,151,502+39%

15Massachusetts, MAMA7,029,917+11%

16Tennessee, TNTN6,910,840+21%

17Indiana, ININ6,785,528+12%

18Maryland, MDMD6,177,224+17%

19Missouri, MOMO6,154,913+10%

20Wisconsin, WIWI5,893,718+10%

21Colorado, COCO5,773,714+34%

22Minnesota, MNMN5,706,494+16%

23South Carolina, SCSC5,118,425+28%

24Alabama, ALAL5,024,279+13%

25Louisiana, LALA4,657,757+4%

26Kentucky, KYKY4,505,836+11%

27Oregon, OROR4,237,256+24%

28Oklahoma, OKOK3,959,353+15%

29Connecticut, CTCT3,605,944+6%

30Utah, UTUT3,271,616+47%

31Iowa, IAIA3,190,369+9%

32Nevada, NVNV3,104,614+55%

33Arkansas, ARAR3,011,524+13%

34Mississippi, MSMS2,961,279+4%

35Kansas, KSKS2,937,880+9%

36New Mexico, NMNM2,117,522+16%

37Nebraska, NENE1,961,504+15%

38Idaho, IDID1,839,106+42%

39West Virginia, WVWV1,793,716−1%

40Hawaii, HIHI1,455,271+20%

41New Hampshire, NHNH1,377,529+11%

42Maine, MEME1,362,359+7%

43Rhode Island, RIRI1,097,379+5%

44Montana, MTMT1,084,225+20%

45Delaware, DEDE989,948+26%

46South Dakota, SDSD886,667+17%

47North Dakota, NDND779,094+21%

48Alaska, AKAK733,391+17%

49District of Columbia, DCDC689,545+21%

50Vermont, VTVT643,077+6%

51Wyoming, WYWY576,851+17%

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 39,538,223 (2020 Decennial Census).

What are the top 5 states by total population?

California, Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2020 Decennial Census data.

How is total population measured?

Total resident population. Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census.