Short Answer
The U.S. Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 population estimates, released in January 2026, provide the most recent official snapshot of state populations. California remains the nation’s most populous state with 39,355,309 residents, while Wyoming is the least populous with about 593,000. These annual estimates reveal a continuing shift toward the South and West, with Texas and Florida adding the largest numbers of new residents since 2020.
Key Numbers
- Most populous state: California — 39,355,309
- Second most populous: Texas — 31,710,000
- Third most populous: Florida — 23,462,518
- Least populous state: Wyoming — 593,000
- States with more than 10 million residents: 10
- States with fewer than 1 million residents: 5 (Wyoming, Vermont, Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota)
- District of Columbia population: 693,645 (not a state)
- Largest numeric gain 2024–2025: Texas, up about 391,000
Explanation
The U.S. Census Bureau produces annual population estimates for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. These estimates update the decennial census counts using administrative records on births, deaths, and migration. The Vintage 2025 series covers April 1, 2020, to July 1, 2025, and is the most recent completed vintage.
State population rankings are remarkably stable at the top, but the middle and bottom of the list shift as migration and natural change vary. The South and West continue to grow faster than the Northeast and Midwest, a pattern that has held for decades.
Because population determines congressional apportionment and the distribution of hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funds, these annual estimates are closely watched by policymakers, businesses, and researchers.
Definition
Resident population refers to all people whose usual place of residence is in a state, including military personnel stationed in the state and excluding tourists or temporary visitors. The Census Bureau’s estimates are for July 1 of each year.
Unlike the decennial census, which attempts a complete count every ten years, annual estimates are based on administrative data and statistical models. They are revised each year as new data become available.
Historical Data
The 2020 Census established a baseline of 331,449,281 people in the United States. Since then, the population has grown slowly, with the South accounting for most of the increase. The table below shows the five largest states in 2020 and 2025.
| State | 2020 Census | 2025 Estimate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 39,538,223 | 39,355,309 | -182,914 |
| Texas | 29,145,505 | 31,710,000 | +2,564,495 |
| Florida | 21,538,187 | 23,462,518 | +1,924,331 |
| New York | 20,201,249 | 20,002,000 | -199,249 |
| Pennsylvania | 13,002,700 | 13,059,000 | +56,300 |
State Comparison
State populations range from under 600,000 in Wyoming to nearly 40 million in California. The ten largest states hold more than half of the U.S. population, while the ten smallest hold less than 3 percent.
Regional patterns are clear: eight of the ten fastest-growing states since 2020 are in the South or West, while the Northeast and Midwest have seen slower growth or declines.
National Comparison
The four largest states — California, Texas, Florida, and New York — together account for more than one-third of the national population. Texas alone has added more residents since 2020 than any other state, while California has experienced small declines in recent years.
No state has crossed the 40 million mark, but Texas is on track to do so within the next decade if current growth rates continue.
Ranking Table
The table below lists all 50 states by July 1, 2025, resident population, from largest to smallest. Values are rounded to the nearest thousand.
| Rank | State | 2025 Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 39,355,000 |
| 2 | Texas | 31,710,000 |
| 3 | Florida | 23,463,000 |
| 4 | New York | 20,002,000 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 13,059,000 |
| 6 | Illinois | 12,719,000 |
| 7 | Ohio | 11,901,000 |
| 8 | Georgia | 11,303,000 |
| 9 | North Carolina | 11,198,000 |
| 10 | Michigan | 10,128,000 |
| 11 | New Jersey | 9,548,000 |
| 12 | Virginia | 8,880,000 |
| 13 | Washington | 8,001,000 |
| 14 | Arizona | 7,624,000 |
| 15 | Tennessee | 7,315,000 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | 7,154,000 |
| 17 | Indiana | 6,973,000 |
| 18 | Missouri | 6,271,000 |
| 19 | Maryland | 6,265,000 |
| 20 | Colorado | 6,013,000 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | 5,960,000 |
| 22 | Minnesota | 5,793,000 |
| 23 | South Carolina | 5,478,000 |
| 24 | Alabama | 5,193,000 |
| 25 | Louisiana | 4,618,000 |
| 26 | Kentucky | 4,607,000 |
| 27 | Oregon | 4,272,000 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | 4,095,000 |
| 29 | Connecticut | 3,688,000 |
| 30 | Utah | 3,503,000 |
| 31 | Iowa | 3,238,000 |
| 32 | Nevada | 3,267,000 |
| 33 | Arkansas | 3,115,000 |
| 34 | Mississippi | 2,943,000 |
| 35 | Kansas | 2,977,000 |
| 36 | New Mexico | 2,130,000 |
| 37 | Nebraska | 2,005,000 |
| 38 | Idaho | 2,030,000 |
| 39 | West Virginia | 1,768,000 |
| 40 | Hawaii | 1,433,000 |
| 41 | New Hampshire | 1,409,000 |
| 42 | Maine | 1,405,000 |
| 43 | Montana | 1,137,000 |
| 44 | Rhode Island | 1,112,000 |
| 45 | Delaware | 1,060,000 |
| 46 | South Dakota | 928,000 |
| 47 | North Dakota | 796,000 |
| 48 | Alaska | 737,000 |
| 49 | Vermont | 651,000 |
| 50 | Wyoming | 593,000 |
Year-over-Year Change
Between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, Texas added the most residents (about 391,000), followed by Florida (197,000) and North Carolina (146,000). California and Hawaii were among the few states to lose population.
| State | 2024 Population | 2025 Population | Numeric Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 31,319,000 | 31,710,000 | +391,000 |
| Florida | 23,266,000 | 23,463,000 | +197,000 |
| North Carolina | 11,052,000 | 11,198,000 | +146,000 |
| Georgia | 11,204,000 | 11,303,000 | +99,000 |
| Washington | 7,928,000 | 8,001,000 | +73,000 |
| California | 39,365,000 | 39,355,000 | -10,000 |
| Hawaii | 1,435,000 | 1,433,000 | -2,000 |
Largest States
The ten largest states are home to more than half of all Americans. California, Texas, Florida, and New York each exceed 20 million residents.
| Rank | State | 2025 Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 39,355,000 |
| 2 | Texas | 31,710,000 |
| 3 | Florida | 23,463,000 |
| 4 | New York | 20,002,000 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 13,059,000 |
| 6 | Illinois | 12,719,000 |
| 7 | Ohio | 11,901,000 |
| 8 | Georgia | 11,303,000 |
| 9 | North Carolina | 11,198,000 |
| 10 | Michigan | 10,128,000 |
Smallest States
Wyoming has been the least populous state since 1990. Vermont, Alaska, North Dakota, and South Dakota round out the bottom five, each with fewer than one million residents.
| Rank | State | 2025 Population |
|---|---|---|
| 46 | South Dakota | 928,000 |
| 47 | North Dakota | 796,000 |
| 48 | Alaska | 737,000 |
| 49 | Vermont | 651,000 |
| 50 | Wyoming | 593,000 |
Population Change
Population change has three components: births, deaths, and net migration (domestic plus international). Since 2020, the South has attracted large numbers of domestic migrants, while California, New York, and Illinois have lost residents to other states but offset some losses through international migration and natural increase.
Texas and Florida have benefited from both domestic in-migration and international migration, while states like West Virginia and Mississippi have seen natural decrease (more deaths than births) and limited in-migration.
Methodology
The Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program uses a cohort-component method. It starts with the 2020 Census count, adds births, subtracts deaths, and estimates net migration using administrative records such as tax returns, Medicare enrollment, and international migration data.
Estimates are revised annually as new data become available, and the entire series is re-based after each decennial census.
Why It Matters
State population totals determine the apportionment of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. They also guide the distribution of more than $1.5 trillion in federal funds each year for programs such as Medicaid, highway planning, and education.
Businesses use state population data to decide where to locate stores, offices, and distribution centers, while state and local governments use them for planning schools, roads, and public services.
Limitations of the Data
Annual population estimates are not counts; they are modeled values based on administrative data and assumptions about migration. They can be revised substantially when new data become available, and they may differ from the next decennial census.
Small states and subpopulations have larger relative margins of error. Estimates for the most recent year are considered preliminary and are updated in the following vintage.
Source & Data Date
Primary source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025 state population totals and components of change, released January 2026. Data accessed via census.gov and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis FRED database. Supplementary ranking data from World Population Review and Trading Economics, which republish Census Bureau figures.
FAQ
What is the most populous U.S. state in 2025?
California is the most populous state, with an estimated 39,355,309 residents as of July 1, 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Vintage 2025 estimates.
Which state has the smallest population?
Wyoming is the least populous state, with about 593,000 residents. Vermont, Alaska, North Dakota, and South Dakota also have fewer than one million residents.
How often does the Census Bureau release state population estimates?
The Census Bureau releases annual population estimates for states, usually in December or January, covering July 1 of the previous year. The Vintage 2025 estimates were released in January 2026.
What is the difference between the decennial census and annual population estimates?
The decennial census attempts a complete count every ten years, while annual estimates are modeled values based on administrative records of births, deaths, and migration. Estimates are updated each year and revised as new data become available.
Which states are growing the fastest?
Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia have added the most residents since 2020, driven by domestic and international migration. Texas alone added about 391,000 people from 2024 to 2025.
Leave a Reply