RANKING · 2024 ACS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Largest veteran population, US states

US states home to the most civilian veterans 18 and over, as of the 2024 American Community Survey. Ranked by number of veterans, not the veteran share. Texas leads at 1,402,357. 51 states qualify in total. The top 25 average 530,777, against an all-states median of 240,929.

All statesAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities Counties Metros

YEAR2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPVETERAN POPULATIONVS 2020

USUnited States4.8% of US population334,922,49916,185,883–

01Texas, TXTX30,188,4241,402,357−2%

02Florida, FLFL22,416,0771,327,071−6%

03California, CACA39,287,3771,305,453−14%

04Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,639632,183−14%

05Virginia, VAVA8,705,170629,500−7%

06North Carolina, NCNC10,730,404615,509−6%

07Ohio, OHOH11,810,293605,840−12%

08Georgia, GAGA10,940,407601,304−4%

09New York, NYNY19,852,366581,776−14%

10Illinois, ILIL12,694,798478,196−14%

11Washington, WAWA7,816,116473,124−9%

12Michigan, MIMI10,077,761460,783−13%

13Arizona, AZAZ7,378,838452,729−8%

14Tennessee, TNTN7,066,383399,814−7%

15Missouri, MOMO6,191,814347,543−11%

16South Carolina, SCSC5,296,225343,824−5%

17Colorado, COCO5,862,189342,276−8%

18Indiana, ININ6,851,073328,414−12%

19Maryland, MDMD6,206,011327,493−8%

20Alabama, ALAL5,086,768303,253−7%

21Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,872288,078−10%

22New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,809273,031−13%

23Minnesota, MNMN5,739,445259,988−11%

24Oregon, OROR4,254,293246,300−10%

25Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,056243,596−16%

26Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,634240,929−10%

27Kentucky, KYKY4,534,824228,692−11%

28Louisiana, LALA4,611,961212,834−11%

29Nevada, NVNV3,184,612196,013−5%

30Arkansas, ARAR3,049,391173,377−10%

31Iowa, IAIA3,210,507160,571−10%

32Mississippi, MSMS2,946,779151,757−8%

33Kansas, KSKS2,947,197151,597−12%

34Connecticut, CTCT3,624,508134,265−16%

35New Mexico, NMNM2,120,246130,343−8%

36Idaho, IDID1,934,262116,723+1%

37Utah, UTUT3,392,331111,760−7%

38West Virginia, WVWV1,778,373104,941−16%

39Nebraska, NENE1,978,707102,710−10%

40Maine, MEME1,387,81795,013−7%

41Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23587,697−10%

42New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86886,727−7%

43Montana, MTMT1,116,87579,357−7%

44Delaware, DEDE1,021,19159,557−8%

45Alaska, AKAK735,70657,477−11%

46South Dakota, SDSD907,42853,890−4%

47Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80145,406−13%

48North Dakota, NDND784,84142,380−8%

49Wyoming, WYWY582,39740,253−9%

50Vermont, VTVT647,10632,714−6%

51District of Columbia, DCDC681,29419,465−24%

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES

Frequently asked

Which state has the highest veteran population?

Texas ranks #1 with 1,402,357 (2024 American Community Survey).

What are the top 5 states by veteran population?

Texas, Florida, California, Pennsylvania, Virginia.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2024 ACS 5-year data.

How is veteran population measured?

Number of civilian veterans 18 and over (ACS B21001). The raw-count companion to the veteran share. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024).