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About This Quiz
The number of people who live in the world has reached 7.7 billion and climbing. The United States ranks third in total population, with a staggering 329,746,270 people, and our population pales in comparison to the numbers coming from China and India, with both countries reaching nearly 1.5 billion people each.Â
America is a relatively large country that covers quite a bit of land, but our population distribution isn't as even as you might think. Although we have diverse populations spread all around this country, you might think that states with large cities dominate in populations per square mile. But it's important to remember that the majority of states with large cities also have expansive rural areas where the population density is much smaller.
If you consider yourself a states expert who knows a thing or two about population, this quiz will help you prove your knowledge of the population distribution in the United States. We've found the population of each state in America (based on the 2019 records), do you think you can guess these populations? Take this quiz to find out.
39,865,590
With several major cities, California holds quite a bit of America's population. It's important to remember also that California has a lot of rural areas, farmland and state and national reserves where there is minimal population.
72,147,547
336,214,574
14,245,745
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17,547,741
9,652,954
21,299,325
Florida is a relatively large state that has shorelines on both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic ocean. This state has a large population due to its sunshine, tropical temperatures and large cities.
22,275,320
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12,807,060
Pennsylvania has a surprisingly large population. Though there are rural areas, the state has been built up from the factory and mining industries. Pennsylvania is also home to two large cities and several large universities that drive up the state's population.
14,877,343
17,258,004
8,175,348
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6,691,878
There's more than corn in Indiana. As a matter of fact, there is quite a bit of industry. While the majority of the state's population lives north, near Chicago, it is also very close to a much more heavily populated state, Ohio.
4,253,336
1,222,520
4,030,866
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18,477,245
12,741,080
As one of the few states to have lost population over the last ten years, Illinois is still a large state by population. It's home to the third-largest city in the country, Chicago, but the taxes and cost of living make it a difficult state to live in.
4,256,674
2,414,754
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14,574,684
3,625,658
6,902,149
Massachusetts might be one of the smaller states by area, but it is also home to Boston and several large ivy league universities. This drives up the population of the state as well as the industry in the area.
4,114,364
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9,874,865
547,258
6,474,252
10,519,475
The majority of states in the American south have relatively low populations. However, Georgia has the 8th largest population due to its farming industry, large cities and historical relevance.
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10,383,620
North Carolina is one of the most coveted places in the United States to live. In the last 10 years, the state has seen an 8.9% increase in population. The beauty of the state's natural wonders, as well as its booming industries, have brought droves of people to live there.
9,474,541
14,258,369
1,547,247
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7,477,247
9,995,915
Though many of the cities in Michigan have been losing population, the rural and suburban areas have been gaining quite a bit. Since the fall of the automotive industry in the state, the urban areas are becoming less populated.
11,114,101
3,248,679
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2,001,364
9,856,314
553,716
3,943,079
If Texas had a crazy little brother it would be Oklahoma. Sitting just north and east of Texas, Oklahoma has the same values of the Lone Star State, with just as much ranching and farming.
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6,432,782
7,496,335
8,908,520
You can find New Jersey just south of New York and east of Pennsylvania. This coastal state is a great centralized place to live if you do business across the East coast, as it is mere hours from several large cities.
7,472,555
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3,471,547
6,294,376
7,269,994
8,517,685
Bordering our nation's capital, Virginia has dense population clusters near several of the larger cities on the East coast. However, it also has a lot of rural areas that specialize in farming.
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7,535,591
Though the Pacific Northwest region of our country doesn't necessarily have a high population, Washington State is home to Seattle as well as several densely populated areas that drive its numbers up.
6,132,284
5,394,682
7,222,664
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8,522,877
7,171,646
When you think about heavily populated states, you probably don't immediately think of Arizona. However, the size of Arizona, as well as its variable landscape, drive up the population. Many consider it a good place to retire. Perhaps that's why the population has increased by over 12% over the last 10 years.
3,659,268
4,757,258
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5,224,116
5,646,921
1,474,353
6,770,010
It's important to remember that, though Tennessee is a large state, it is also a very mountainous state. The majority of these mountainous areas have low population densities, especially if there aren't mining towns nearby.
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3,555,600
6,126,452
Missouri features some very popular tourist destinations like the St. Louis Arch and Branson. This state has a lot to offer those who wish to work in the hospitality industry.
7,054,003
9,636,444
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8,550,476
6,589,044
6,042,718
Of all the East Coast states, Maryland seems to be the most forgotten. It is one of the smallest states by area, but it does rank pretty high in population, coming in at number 19 overall in the United States.
7,554,336
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377,575
641,982
285,663
577,737
Wyoming is a pretty large state by area, but anyone who has driven through it isn't necessarily surprised to learn that the population is just over half a million. It's vast and gorgeous, but not nearly as built up as its neighbors.
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3,662,014
2,441,333
9,775,070
5,813,568
Although Milwaukee and Madison are larger cities, they aren't necessarily considered major cities in the United States. However, if it weren't for these cities, Wisconsin's population might be considerably lower.
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5,695,564
Over the last 10 years, Colorado's population has skyrocketed by 13.2%. It's a relatively small state by population, but residents consider it to be a great place to live, even if the weather coming off the mountains is a little wonky sometimes.
3,447,055
10,493,661
2,479,960
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24,874,254
29,206,997
While most Texans will tell you that everything is bigger in Texas, they don't necessarily consider the fact that the state comes in second in both population and area. It is, however, still a very notable state for its size.
31,245,111
4,154,578
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2,774,301
5,611,179
If you include the mosquitos, the population of Minnesota is closer to 25 trillion than 5.6 million. However, the state is perfect for those who like the best of urban and rural areas.
1,416,330
9,570,488
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3,633,020
7,452,985
5,084,127
With about half the population of its northern brother, South Carolina comes in at just over 5 million people. This could be due to the fact that South Carolina is about 20,000 square miles smaller than North Carolina.
4,256,397
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822,647
204,691
967,171
Fitting snug between New Jersey and Maryland, Delaware is a very small state by area. It also has fewer than a million people living in it. However, it has several historical landmarks that make it worth a visit.
563,370
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9,117,230
3,781,645
3,690,422
4,887,871
When you think of Alabama, chances are you think about the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. This is because a lot of the major occurrences and landmark cases happened in that very state.
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4,659,978
For its size, Louisiana has a heavy population density in and around New Orleans. This is because much of the state is swampland with soft ground that is difficult to build on.
3,650,240
6,804,246
506,411
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3,468,402
4,468,402
The Bluegrass State has strong ties to coal mining and horse racing. Despite having a couple of large cities, Kentucky has a relatively small population thanks to its large rural areas.
5,468,402
6,468,402
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2,225,394
9,330,330
1,356,458
Smaller East Coast states generally have smaller populations but high population density. Not New Hampshire, which ranks 22nd by density and 42nd by population. However, for hikers, this state has some of the best nature destinations around.
426,861
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857,415
925,361
3,645,745
1,805,832
Home to several historical monuments and national parks, West Virginia might have the biggest square mileage of protected lands, but it definitely doesn't have the largest population.
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2,911,505
For many Americans living in coastal cities, Kansas is the place where Dorothy was swept up by a twister before landing in Oz. However, Kansas does provide a lot of crops and has been building a tech industry for decades.
3,911,201
4,911,365
5,911,702
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1,062,305
Mountains, farmland and a whole lot of nature are what you'll find if you travel to Montana. What you won't really find is heavy population densities, as even the larger cities in the state are relatively small.
853,360
45,210
6,555,825
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6,478,240
6,301,475
4,190,713
Oregon is notorious for being a beautiful state, but it's also notorious for being the kind of state that caters only to locals. The state's population has grown by nearly 10% in the last 10 years.
4,335,202
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3,572,665
Connecticut has one of the most stable populations in the United States, having gained only about 2,000 people in 10 years.
2,146,527
364,750
648,804
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44,247,517
22,574,585
11,689,442
The surprisingly high population in Ohio has more to do with its location than anything else. There are several different factories and various industries in the state.
1,245,977
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4,936,662
3,161,105
Anyone who's ever been to Utah knows two very important things about it: it is covered in beautiful natural wonders and the population is a bit religious. However, the population itself has grown nearly 15% over the last 10 years, making it a coveted place to live.
6,658,246
3,336,378
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5,258,669
6,334,201
3,156,145
One of the less-populated states in America, Iowa is also one of the most important. It can help determine presidential candidates and it supplies a lot of the crops for the country's food supply.
9,968,504
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1,520,742
563,345
7,777,777
3,034,392
While Nevada is home to several larger cities, the rural areas are basically completely uninhabited. The desert landscape can be harsh, and being far from supplies is dangerous, which is why the population of the state is so low.
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17,834,970
20,478,834
4,276,384
19,542,209
New York city itself boasts a whopping 8,398,748 residents, and that doesn't even include the surrounding areas of the city. Additionally, New York state has a large area with additional cities that are heavily populated, bringing New York to the fourth most populated state in the US.
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8,157,842
7,842,216
6,364,473
2,986,530
Though Mississippi has a lot of history, it doesn't necessarily have a lot of people. As a prominent state in the American South, it comes in at 34th in population out of the entire United States.
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1,929,268
2,095,428
Anyone who has ever driven through New Mexico knows two things about it: it's big and there aren't a lot of people. With a smaller population than the city of Chicago, New Mexico stands at number 36 in population for US states.
5,663,471
3,336,336
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2,919,526
3,292,485
1,929,268
When it comes to Midwestern states, Nebraska is one of the smallest in terms of population. Though there isn't much to see there, the population prides itself on hospitality and welcoming nature.
3,668,774
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1,754,208
While there may be more potatoes than people in Idaho, it is one of the world's largest agricultural centers for those tubers. This state is well known for its native population as well as feeding the world.
3,699,145
6,325,471
952,367
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8,336,475
1,420,491
There are a few states in America that are destination states, but Hawaii is the smallest by area and by population. This island state might be small, but it does have a lot of rich history and a relatively large population for its size.
364,291
206,369
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7,164,022
3,333,333
2,695,417
1,338,404
Although Maine is one of the larger states in the Northeast, by area, it has a very small population. With its largest city only hitting around 65,000 people, it's no wonder the state is so small.
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9,638,540
1,057,315
Although Rhode Island is the smallest state in size (area), it still has over a million people living in it. This makes the population density of Rhode Island rather large. It's a great centralized area for the Northeast, as it borders several major states.
540,369
228,475
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760,077
251,147
335,697
882,235
The Dakotas are some of the largest states with some of the smallest populations. For South Dakota, Mt. Rushmore as well as several national parks make it a tourist destination, but only in summertime.
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760,077
Brutal winters might be the reason North Dakota has one of the smallest populations in the United States. However, if you drive through the state, you may find kinder people assisting you than most coastal places.
641,258
1,335,694
1,070,421
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1,338,640
737,438
If you live in Alaska, you know that the population and culture differ depending on which city you live in. Because of the terrain and brutal weather changes, Alaska's population has always remained rather small, despite the beauty of the area.
2,475,631
6,114,228
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299,626
384,414
626,299
Maple syrup, cheddar cheese, Ben & Jerry's and 626,299 people. That's what Vermont is all about. For such a small state, it is rich in culture and knows the value of artisan foods. Not to mention the natural beauty the state holds.
147,258
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3,013,825
While Arkansas might have the longest river to flow into the Mississippi River, when it comes to population, it doesn't compare to some of the bigger states in America. Ranking 33rd in the country, Arkansas has just over 3 million residents.
2,336,501
1,936,350
4,036,895
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