List of US States by Area

The United States, the third-largest country in the world, showcases remarkable geographic diversity across its 50 states. From the vast, icy expanse of Alaska to the compact charm of Rhode Island, each state contributes uniquely to America’s landmass and identity. This article presents a detailed list of US states by area, offering insights into how geography influences demographics, economy, and infrastructure. Alaska tops the list with over 665,000 square miles—more than twice the size of Texas—while Rhode Island is the smallest, smaller than some U.S. cities. Interestingly, the 10 largest states make up nearly 70% of the nation's land area, while the smallest 10 account for just 2%. Whether you're a student or geography enthusiast, this list offers fascinating context to America’s spatial story.

Jul 11, 2025, 11:07 IST
List Of US States by Area
List Of US States by Area

List of US States by Area: The United States is a vast and geographically diverse nation, spanning coastlines, mountains, deserts, forests, and plains. Understanding the land area of each of the 50 states offers valuable insight into how geography influences population distribution, infrastructure, and economic development. From the enormous wilderness of Alaska to the compact charm of Rhode Island, each state holds a unique place in the country's physical and cultural landscape. This article ranks all U.S. states by area, highlighting interesting comparisons—like how Texas is three times the size of the United Kingdom or how the smallest states together occupy only a fraction of the nation's land. Whether you're a student, traveller, or curious reader, this list offers a deeper appreciation for America’s spatial scale and variety.

Let's dive into the full list of US states, ranked by their area.

Let's explore this article in detail by seeing the US states by area.

How many states are there in the United States?

There are 50 states in the United States.

List of US States by Area

Here is a list of the Size of the US States by Area:

Rank

State

Land Area (Square Miles)

Land Area (Square Kilometers)

1

Alaska

665,384

1,723,337

2

Texas

268,596.5

695,662

3

California

163,696

423,970

4

Montana

147,040

380,832

5

New Mexico

121,590

314,917

6

Arizona

113,990

295,234

7

Nevada

110,572

286,380

8

Colorado

104,094

269,601

9

Oregon

98,378.5

254,799

10

Wyoming

97,813

253,335

11

Michigan

96,713.51

250,487

12

Minnesota

86,936

225,163

13

Utah

84,897

219,882

14

Idaho

83,569

216,443

15

Kansas

82,282

213,100

16

Nebraska

77,348

200,330

17

South Dakota

77,116

199,729

18

Washington

71,362

184,661

19

North Dakota

70,698

183,108

20

Oklahoma

69,898

181,037

21

Missouri

69,715

180,540

22

Florida

65,758

170,312

23

Wisconsin

65,496

169,635

24

Georgia

59,425

153,909

25

Illinois

57,914

149,997

26

Iowa

56,272

145,746

27

New York

54,555

141,297

28

North Carolina

53,819

139,391

29

Arkansas

53,180

137,732

30

Alabama

52,420

135,767

31

Louisiana

52,378

135,659

32

Mississippi

48,431

125,443

33

Pennsylvania

46,054

119,283

34

Ohio

44,825

116,096

35

Virginia

42,774

110,787

36

Tennessee

42,143

109,153

37

Kentucky

40,409

104,656

38

Indiana

36,418

94,321

39

Maine

35,379

91,633

40

South Carolina

32,020

82,933

41

West Virginia

24,230

62,756

42

Maryland

12,407

32,131

43

Hawaii

10,931

28,313

44

Massachusetts

10,565

27,336

45

Vermont

9,616

24,906

46

New Hampshire

9,349

24,216

47

New Jersey

8,729

22,591

48

Connecticut

5,543.41

14,357

49

Delaware

2,488.72

6,446

50

Rhode Island

1,544.89

4,001

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List of US States by Area: Important Facts

  • Alaska, the largest state in the United States, is followed by Texas and California in terms of size. Alaska's size is more than twice that of Texas, which holds the position of the second-largest state. California comes in third in terms of size, although it is significantly more populated compared to Alaska and Texas.
  • Rhode Island, the smallest state in the US, has an area of approximately 1,214 square miles, which is roughly equivalent to the size of the city of Chicago.

List of US States by Area

  • The ten largest states in the US collectively occupy around 70% of the total land area of the country. On the other hand, the ten smallest states in the US account for merely 2% of the total land area.
  • Population density in the US exhibits substantial variation from state to state. Alaska has a population density of only about one person per square mile, whereas New Jersey boasts a population density of over 1,200 people per square mile.

List of US States by Area: Important Points

  • The United States is comprised of 50 states, with 48 states located in the central portion of the North American continent, collectively referred to as the "contiguous United States."
  • Alaska, occupying the peninsula-like region in the northwestern part of North America, stands as a distinct state, and then there is Hawaii, an archipelago situated in the central Pacific Ocean.List of US States by Area
  • California, the third-largest US state, surpasses Germany in size but falls short of France.
  • Texas is three times larger than the United Kingdom.
  • Massachusetts is approximately two-thirds the size of Switzerland.
  • With a population of 576,851 according to the 2020 status, Wyoming is the least populated state of US.

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Prabhat Mishra
Prabhat Mishra

Content Writer

    Prabhat Mishra is an accomplished content creator with over 2 years of expertise in education, national and international news, and current affairs. A B.Tech graduate with extensive UPSC preparation, he has qualified for the UPPCS 2022 Mains and Bihar 68th Mains, showcasing his deep understanding of competitive exams.

    He has contributed to top platforms like Mentorship IndiaIAS BABA, and IAS SARTHI, delivering engaging articles on trending topics and global affairs. As a content writer for Jagranjosh.com, Prabhat specializes in crafting high-quality, insightful content for the G.K. and Current Affairs section, driving engagement and providing value to a wide audience.

    Reach him at prabhat.mishra@jagrannewmedia.com, and explore his work on Jagranjosh.com for the latest updates and analyses!

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    FAQs

    • What is the least inhabited state?
      +
      With a population of 576,851 according to the 2020 status, Wyoming is the least populated state of US.
    • Does the US have 50 or 52 states?
      +
      The US has a total of 40 states with Alaska being the largest by area.

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