Which State Has the Smallest Population? Wyoming Leads the Least Populated States in 2026

Among the 50 U.S. states, Wyoming holds a distinctive position: it is the least populated state in the country. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 resident population estimates for July 1, 2025, Wyoming’s population stands at 588,753. That figure is smaller than the population of many individual American cities and represents just 0.17% of the national total. Understanding which state has the smallest population—and why—offers insight into the geographic, economic, and demographic forces that shape the United States.

Key Numbers

• Smallest state population: 588,753 (Wyoming, July 1, 2025)
• Second smallest: 644,663 (Vermont)
• Third smallest: 737,270 (Alaska)
• U.S. total population: 341,784,857
• Wyoming’s share of U.S. population: 0.17%
• Combined population of the 12 least populated states: 13,053,488 (3.8% of U.S.)
• California’s population: 39,355,309 — more than three times the combined total of the 12 least populated states
• National growth, 2024–2025: about 1.8 million people, or 0.5%

Explanation

The U.S. Census Bureau produces annual population estimates for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. These estimates count all persons residing in each state, including citizens, non-citizens, and both authorized and unauthorized immigrants. The July 1, 2025 Vintage 2025 estimates are the latest complete state-level figures available in 2026. Wyoming ranks 50th among the 50 states, with 588,753 residents.

It is important to distinguish states from other jurisdictions. Washington, D.C. is a federal district, not a state, and is not included in the state ranking. Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories are also excluded from state population totals. When D.C. is considered alongside states, it ranks above Vermont and Wyoming, but it does not change Wyoming’s status as the smallest state.

Wyoming’s small population is not a new phenomenon. The state has long ranked at or near the bottom of state population lists. Its large land area, relatively harsh climate, and limited urban centers contribute to a low population density. Meanwhile, states such as California, Texas, and Florida have populations in the tens of millions, highlighting the extreme variation in population size across the country.

Definition

In U.S. Census Bureau statistics, state population refers to the resident population of each of the 50 states. Resident population includes all people who usually live in a state, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. The District of Columbia is treated separately as a federal district, and the five permanently inhabited U.S. territories—Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands—are also excluded from state rankings.

The phrase smallest population therefore means the state with the fewest residents among the 50 states. As of July 1, 2025, that state is Wyoming.

Ranking Table

The table below shows the three least populated U.S. states based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates. It also includes the combined total for the 12 least populated states for context.

Note: The District of Columbia is not a state and is excluded from this ranking. If included, it would rank above Vermont and Wyoming.

State Comparison

Wyoming, Vermont, and Alaska are the three smallest states by population, but they differ greatly in geography and settlement patterns. Wyoming is a large, landlocked western state with a small number of towns and no major metropolitan area. Vermont is a small northeastern state with a rural character and no city above 50,000 people. Alaska is by far the largest state in land area, but its remote location and harsh climate limit population growth.

• Wyoming: 588,753 residents; landlocked, high plains and mountain geography.
• Vermont: 644,663 residents; small New England state with rural towns.
• Alaska: 737,270 residents; largest state by area, remote and sparsely settled.

These three states together account for less than 0.6% of the U.S. population, underscoring how concentrated the American population is in a relatively small number of large states.

National Comparison

Wyoming’s population of 588,753 is tiny compared with the national total of 341,784,857. It represents about 0.17% of all U.S. residents. By contrast, California alone has 39,355,309 people—roughly 67 times Wyoming’s population. In fact, California’s population is more than three times the combined population of the 12 least populated states, which together have 13,053,488 residents.

The concentration of population is striking: the nine most populous U.S. states contain slightly more than half of the total U.S. population, while the 25 least populous states contain less than one-sixth. Wyoming’s population is smaller than that of any of the 31 most populous U.S. cities, meaning that a single large city such as New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago has more residents than the entire state of Wyoming.

Historical Data

Wyoming has held the title of least populous state for many years. The 2020 United States census confirmed that Wyoming had fewer residents than any of the 31 most populous U.S. cities. The state’s population has grown slowly over time, but not enough to move it out of last place.

As of April 1, 2020, the date of the 2020 United States census, the nine most populous U.S. states contain slightly more than half of the total population. The 25 least populous states contain less than one-sixth of the total population. — U.S. Census Bureau data summarized by Wikipedia

While exact historical figures for every decade are beyond the scope of this article, the long-term pattern is clear: Wyoming’s small population is a stable feature of U.S. demographics, not a recent anomaly.

Methodology

The U.S. Census Bureau produces annual Vintage population estimates for each state. The Vintage 2025 series estimates the resident population as of July 1, 2025, using the most recent census as a base and updating it with data on births, deaths, and migration. These estimates are the latest complete state-level figures available in 2026.

The Census Bureau counts all persons residing in the United States, including citizens, non-citizens, and both authorized and unauthorized immigrants. The estimates are not exact counts but are considered the official population figures used for federal funding formulas, congressional apportionment, and other statistical purposes.

Why It Matters

A state’s population affects its political representation, federal funding, and economic influence. Wyoming has one seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, the minimum guaranteed by the Constitution, and three electoral votes in presidential elections. Many federal grant programs allocate money based on population, so small states receive less in formula-based funding than large states, although some programs include minimum allocations or rural set-asides.

Population size also shapes infrastructure, education, and healthcare planning. In a state with fewer than 600,000 people, the tax base is smaller, and providing services across a large geographic area can be more expensive per person. Understanding which state has the smallest population helps policymakers and researchers assess these challenges.

Factors Behind the Trend

Several factors help explain why Wyoming remains the least populated state. Its geography is dominated by high plains, mountains, and arid or semi-arid climate, which limits agricultural and urban development. The state has no major metropolitan area; its largest city, Cheyenne, has a population well under 100,000. Economic structure also plays a role: Wyoming’s economy relies heavily on energy extraction, agriculture, and tourism, which do not generate the same population density as finance, technology, or manufacturing hubs.

In Alaska, the third-smallest state by population, remoteness and extreme climate are even more significant barriers. Vermont’s small size and rural character reflect historical settlement patterns and a lack of large industrial centers. Across all three states, net migration tends to be modest, and natural increase (births minus deaths) is often low.

Limitations of the Data

Population estimates are not exact counts. The Vintage 2025 figures are based on the 2020 census and updated with administrative records and survey data, so they are subject to revision. The Census Bureau releases revised estimates each year, and final figures may differ slightly from preliminary numbers.

Additionally, the state ranking excludes the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. If those jurisdictions were included, the list of smallest populations would look different. For example, Wyoming has more residents than several U.S. territories, but those territories are not states and are not part of the 50-state ranking.

Source & Data Date

The primary source for this article is the U.S. Census Bureau, specifically the Vintage 2025 resident population estimates for July 1, 2025. These estimates were published and checked on July 12, 2026, according to StatRanker, and updated on August 5, 2026, according to the North American Community Hub. Additional context comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 census summaries and QuickFacts pages for Wyoming, Vermont, Alaska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.