RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Largest veteran population, US states · 2020

US states home to the most civilian veterans 18 and over, as of the 2020 American Community Survey. Ranked by number of veterans, not the veteran share. California leads at 1,525,746. 51 states qualify in total. The top 25 average 584,595, against an all-states median of 266,895.

All statesAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities Counties Metros

YEAR2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPVETERAN POPULATIONVS –

USUnited States5.4% of US population331,449,28117,835,456–

01California, CACA39,287,3771,525,746–

02Texas, TXTX30,188,4241,435,527–

03Florida, FLFL22,416,0771,416,472–

04Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,639731,411–

05Ohio, OHOH11,810,293685,905–

06New York, NYNY19,852,366676,295–

07Virginia, VAVA8,705,170674,242–

08North Carolina, NCNC10,730,404654,365–

09Georgia, GAGA10,940,407625,251–

10Illinois, ILIL12,694,798553,593–

11Michigan, MIMI10,077,761532,394–

12Washington, WAWA7,816,116517,912–

13Arizona, AZAZ7,378,838491,239–

14Tennessee, TNTN7,066,383428,519–

15Missouri, MOMO6,191,814391,513–

16Indiana, ININ6,851,073372,074–

17Colorado, COCO5,862,189370,677–

18South Carolina, SCSC5,296,225360,355–

19Maryland, MDMD6,206,011357,261–

20Alabama, ALAL5,086,768324,857–

21Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,872319,280–

22New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,809313,928–

23Minnesota, MNMN5,739,445291,453–

24Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,056290,648–

25Oregon, OROR4,254,293273,946–

26Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,634266,895–

27Kentucky, KYKY4,534,824257,452–

28Louisiana, LALA4,611,961239,881–

29Nevada, NVNV3,184,612205,659–

30Arkansas, ARAR3,049,391191,786–

31Iowa, IAIA3,210,507178,481–

32Kansas, KSKS2,947,197172,750–

33Mississippi, MSMS2,946,779164,687–

34Connecticut, CTCT3,624,508160,142–

35New Mexico, NMNM2,120,246141,558–

36West Virginia, WVWV1,778,373125,084–

37Utah, UTUT3,392,331120,198–

38Idaho, IDID1,934,262115,549–

39Nebraska, NENE1,978,707113,567–

40Maine, MEME1,387,817101,652–

41Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23597,478–

42New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86893,326–

43Montana, MTMT1,116,87585,401–

44Delaware, DEDE1,021,19165,065–

45Alaska, AKAK735,70664,765–

46South Dakota, SDSD907,42855,969–

47Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80152,128–

48North Dakota, NDND784,84146,288–

49Wyoming, WYWY582,39744,403–

50Vermont, VTVT647,10634,915–

51District of Columbia, DCDC681,29425,514–

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 veteran population?

California ranks #1 with 1,525,746 (2020 Decennial Census).

What are the top 5 states by veteran population?

California, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio.

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 veteran population measured?

Number of civilian veterans 18 and over (ACS B21001). The raw-count companion to the veteran share. Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census.