The U.S. unemployment rate is calculated from the monthly Current Population Survey, a sample of about 60,000 households. It divides the number of unemployed people actively seeking work by the total labor force. The rate excludes people not in the labor force and is not based on unemployment insurance claims.
Five U.S. states lost residents between July 2024 and July 2025, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates: Vermont, Hawaii, West Virginia, New Mexico, and California. The declines were small but reflect a broader slowdown in national population growth to 0.5%, driven by a sharp drop in net international migration.
Wyoming is the least populated U.S. state, with 588,753 residents according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates for July 1, 2025. Vermont and Alaska follow as the next smallest states. This article examines the ranking, historical context, and factors behind Wyoming’s position.
The U.S. median household income was $83,730 in 2024, not statistically different from $82,690 in 2023. The official poverty rate fell to 10.6%, while income changes varied by race and ethnicity. This article explains how the figure is calculated, what it means, and why it matters.
The U.S. median household income reached $83,730 in 2024, up 3.9% from the preceding period. Massachusetts led the states shown with $113,900, while Louisiana had the lowest at $60,740. This article breaks down the latest state-level data, year-over-year changes, and historical trends.
Mississippi has the lowest median household income among U.S. states at $54,203, followed by West Virginia ($55,948) and Louisiana ($58,229). These states are concentrated in the Deep South and Appalachia, where incomes trail the national median by $20,000 or more, though lower living costs partly offset the gap.
The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.1% in July 2026, down from 4.2% in June, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It measures the share of the labor force that is actively looking for work but not currently employed. The rate remains near historically low levels after a sharp pandemic spike and gradual cooling.
U.S. employment reached 158.46 million total nonfarm employees in 2025, up 0.48% from 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A separate Census Bureau series reported 137.46 million U.S. employment in 2023. The long-run trend shows strong growth from 29.9 million in 1939, with a sharp pandemic drop in 2020 and a rapid recovery.
Per capita personal income varies widely across U.S. states, from $54,531 in Mississippi to $116,121 in the District of Columbia in 2025. Connecticut leads states at $98,879, while the national average is $76,393. This article breaks down the latest BEA data, rankings, and factors behind the differences.
The U.S. resident population reached an estimated 342.4 million in December 2025, up from 341.0 million in 2024 and 76.1 million in 1900. Census Bureau annual estimates and historical series show steady long-term growth, with the most recent year-over-year increase reflecting continued natural change and net international migration. This article summarizes official population totals by year, key milestones, and the methods behind the estimates.