The U.S. Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates show California remains the most populous state with 39,355,309 residents, followed by Texas (31,710,000) and Florida (23,462,518). Wyoming is the least populous state with about 593,000 residents. This article provides a complete ranking, year-over-year changes, and analysis of state population trends from 2020 to 2025.
The U.S. population grew by 1.8 million people, or 0.5%, between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates. This marks the slowest annual growth since the pandemic-era low of 0.2% in 2021. The slowdown was driven by a historic decline in net international migration, which fell from 2.7 million to 1.3 million.
The United States had an estimated population of 341,784,857 as of July 1, 2025, up 3.1% from the April 1, 2020 Census base. Federal spending and revenue in fiscal year 2024 remained above pre-pandemic levels but below pandemic-era peaks. This article breaks down the most important national statistics, from population change to government finances, using the latest official data.
The U.S. population reached 341,784,857 on July 1, 2025, according to the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates, up just 0.5% from 2024. The slowdown was driven by a historic drop in net international migration from 2.7 million to 1.3 million. As of July 22, 2026, the population clock showed 342,684,908.
California is the most populous state in the United States, with an estimated 39.34 million residents as of July 1, 2025. It accounts for roughly 11.5% of the total U.S. population and contains more people than the 21 least populous states combined. Wyoming is the least populous state, with about 588,750 residents.
South Dakota posted the lowest unemployment rate in the United States in June 2026 at 2.0 percent, followed by North Dakota at 2.3 percent and Hawaii and Vermont at 2.6 percent. The national unemployment rate was 4.2 percent, and 17 states had rates significantly below that level. These figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ state employment and unemployment report released July 21, 2026.
Median income and average income answer different questions. The median is the middle point of the income distribution and is not pulled by extreme earners, while the average can be heavily skewed by a small number of very high incomes. In the United States, the 2024 median household income was $83,730, but the average is significantly higher due to wealthy outliers. Understanding the difference is essential for interpreting economic well-being and inequality.
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.