List of U.S. states by population

Map of each state's population as of 2007

This is a list of U.S. states by population (with inhabited non-state jurisdictions included for comparison) as of July 1, 2008, according to the 2008 estimates of the United States Census Bureau. The total population of the United States was 281,421,906 at the 2000 Census. As of July 1, 2008, the estimated population of the 50 states and District of Columbia was 304,059,724. The top nine states in population contain slightly more than half of the total population. The twenty-five lowest-population states contain less than one-sixth of the total population.

Methodology

The United States Census counts most persons residing in the United States including citizens, non-citizen permanent residents, non-citizen long-term visitors, and illegal immigrants.^[1] Civilian and military Federal employees serving abroad and their dependents are counted in their home state.^[2] Short-term visitors are excluded from the count.

Electoral apportionment

Based on data from the decennial census, each state is allocated a proportion of the 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives, although each state is guaranteed a minimum of one seat, regardless of population. The Electoral College is the body that, every four years, elects the president and vice president of the United States. Each state's representation in the Electoral College is equal to that state's total number of members in both houses of the United States Congress. The Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution grants the District of Columbia, which is separate from any state, three votes. More precisely, it gets as many votes in the Electoral College as it would have if it were a state, but no more votes than the state with the fewest votes, which is always three. Thus, the total representation in the College is 538 members (equal to 100 senators plus 435 representatives, plus 3 members for the District of Columbia). The 11 most populous states, representing 56% of the population, have a majority of the Electoral College votes, enough to elect the president.

States and territories

See also

• List of United States cities by population
• List of Canadian provinces and territories by population
• List of European Union Member States by population

References

• 2008 Census estimates
• 2000 Census population, area and density results

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