Introduction
Population density is the number of persons per unit of area (typically m2 or km2). State densities also vary depending on a number of factors. Firstly, the geography of a state is important, for example if a state has a flat large land mass with arable land it is more than likely this will be used for farming, therefore it will have a lower population density. Another example is mountainous states, spreading the population, lessening the density. On the other hand, these geographical barriers can force populations into dense cities.
States with a more dense population can have an increased capacity for economic development, but are also more susceptible to increased costs of living as well as environmental pollution. On the other hand, states with a less dense population have easier access to natural resources, but can feel isolated.
See for yourself how states differ by population density by browsing the data in the charts.
| # | State | Population Density (2022) | Percentage Change (vs. 2021) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | 1,283.4 per mi² | 1.85% |
| 2 | Rhode Island | 1,074.3 per mi² | 1.38% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 919.82 per mi² | 2.73% |
| 4 | Connecticut | 746.7 per mi² | 0.29% |
| 5 | Maryland | 648.84 per mi² | 2.2% |
| 6 | Delaware | 522.09 per mi² | 1.39% |
| 7 | New York | 433.9 per mi² | 3.08% |
| 8 | Florida | 416.96 per mi² | 2.7% |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 292.62 per mi² | 0.99% |
| 10 | Ohio | 290.7 per mi² | 0.83% |
| 11 | California | 258.21 per mi² | 2.57% |
| 12 | Hawaii | 231.01 per mi² | 2.92% |
| 13 | Illinois | 230.68 per mi² | 1.06% |
| 14 | Virginia | 223.36 per mi² | 2.04% |
| 15 | North Carolina | 220.3 per mi² | 1.52% |
| 16 | Indiana | 191.93 per mi² | 1.03% |
| 17 | Georgia | 191.59 per mi² | 2.39% |
| 18 | Michigan | 179.26 per mi² | 0.96% |
| 19 | South Carolina | 175.19 per mi² | 1.47% |
| 20 | Tennessee | 171.71 per mi² | 1.5% |
| 21 | New Hampshire | 155.91 per mi² | 0.5% |
| 22 | Washington | 120.37 per mi² | 3.37% |
| 23 | Texas | 116.16 per mi² | 2.78% |
| 24 | Kentucky | 115.38 per mi² | 1.04% |
| 25 | Wisconsin | 109.97 per mi² | 1.03% |
| 26 | Louisiana | 108.67 per mi² | 1.55% |
| 27 | Alabama | 100.65 per mi² | 1.15% |
| 28 | Missouri | 90.26 per mi² | 0.6% |
| 29 | West Virginia | 73.88 per mi² | -0.38% |
| 30 | Minnesota | 73.18 per mi² | 2.09% |
| 31 | Vermont | 70.34 per mi² | 0.43% |
| 32 | Arizona | 64.96 per mi² | 1.47% |
| 33 | Mississippi | 63.07 per mi² | 0.32% |
| 34 | Oklahoma | 58.63 per mi² | 0.88% |
| 35 | Arkansas | 58.43 per mi² | 0.41% |
| 36 | Iowa | 57.89 per mi² | 1.26% |
| 37 | Colorado | 57.86 per mi² | 3.17% |
| 38 | Oregon | 45.41 per mi² | 2.67% |
| 39 | Maine | 44.5 per mi² | 0.02% |
| 40 | Utah | 41.67 per mi² | 2.84% |
| 41 | Kansas | 36.24 per mi² | 0.98% |
| 42 | Nevada | 29.38 per mi² | 2.66% |
| 43 | Nebraska | 26.06 per mi² | 1.96% |
| 44 | Idaho | 23.24 per mi² | 1.04% |
| 45 | New Mexico | 17.6 per mi² | 0.92% |
| 46 | South Dakota | 11.98 per mi² | 1.44% |
| 47 | North Dakota | 11.75 per mi² | 4.63% |
| 48 | Montana | 7.64 per mi² | 0.66% |
| 49 | Wyoming | 5.98 per mi² | 0.34% |
| 50 | Alaska | 1.3 per mi² | 1.56% |
Population Density by State
Alabama
Population Density
100.65 per mi²
↑ 1.15%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#27
4.82%
↓ 5.49%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#27
5,097,641
↑ 1.15%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#24
Alaska
Population Density
1.3 per mi²
↑ 1.56%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#50
3.14%
↓ 4.85%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#36
740,339
↑ 1.05%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#48
Arizona
Population Density
64.96 per mi²
↑ 1.47%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#32
10.4%
↓ 12.61%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#9
7,379,346
↑ 1.42%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#14
Arkansas
Population Density
58.43 per mi²
↑ 0.41%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#35
3.15%
↓ 4.55%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#35
3,040,207
↑ 0.47%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#33
California
Population Density
258.21 per mi²
↑ 2.57%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#11
5.71%
↓ 6.39%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#24
40,223,504
↑ 2.51%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#1
Colorado
Population Density
57.86 per mi²
↑ 3.17%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#37
12.57%
↓ 15.07%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#6
5,997,070
↑ 3.18%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#20
Connecticut
Population Density
746.7 per mi²
↑ 0.29%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#4
0.88%
↓ 2.22%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#47
3,615,499
↑ 0.27%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#29
Delaware
Population Density
522.09 per mi²
↑ 1.39%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#6
9.12%
↓ 10.59%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#13
1,017,551
↑ 1.41%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#45
Florida
Population Density
416.96 per mi²
↑ 2.7%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#8
12.39%
↓ 15.14%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#8
22,359,251
↑ 2.65%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#3
Georgia
Population Density
191.59 per mi²
↑ 2.39%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#17
9.38%
↓ 11.51%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#12
11,019,186
↑ 2.03%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#8
Hawaii
Population Density
231.01 per mi²
↑ 2.92%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#12
6.44%
↓ 8%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#23
1,483,762
↑ 2.93%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#40
Idaho
Population Density
23.24 per mi²
↑ 1.04%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#44
14.34%
↓ 17.11%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#2
1,920,562
↑ 1.03%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#38
Illinois
Population Density
230.68 per mi²
↑ 1.06%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#13
-0.14%
↑ 40%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#48
12,807,072
↑ 1.07%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#6
Indiana
Population Density
191.93 per mi²
↑ 1.03%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#16
4.41%
↓ 6.17%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#29
6,876,047
↑ 1.03%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#17
Iowa
Population Density
57.89 per mi²
↑ 1.26%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#36
4.47%
↓ 4.89%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#28
3,233,572
↑ 1.27%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#31
Kansas
Population Density
36.24 per mi²
↑ 0.98%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#41
2.87%
↓ 4.33%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#37
2,963,308
↑ 0.98%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#34
Kentucky
Population Density
115.38 per mi²
↑ 1.04%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#24
3.67%
↓ 3.42%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#33
4,555,777
↑ 1.03%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#26
Louisiana
Population Density
108.67 per mi²
↑ 1.55%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#26
2.66%
↓ 1.48%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#41
4,695,071
↑ 1.54%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#25
Maine
Population Density
44.5 per mi²
↑ 0.02%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#39
2.48%
↓ 4.62%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#42
1,372,559
↑ 0.02%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#42
Maryland
Population Density
648.84 per mi²
↑ 2.2%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#5
6.45%
↓ 7.86%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#22
6,298,325
↑ 2.16%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#18
Massachusetts
Population Density
919.82 per mi²
↑ 2.73%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#3
6.77%
↓ 8.51%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#21
7,174,604
↑ 2.72%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#15
Michigan
Population Density
179.26 per mi²
↑ 0.96%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#18
1.91%
↓ 4.5%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#46
10,135,438
↑ 0.84%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#10
Minnesota
Population Density
73.18 per mi²
↑ 2.09%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#30
6.96%
↓ 8.42%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#19
5,827,265
↑ 2.1%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#22
Mississippi
Population Density
63.07 per mi²
↑ 0.32%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#33
-0.2%
- 0%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#49
2,959,473
↑ 0.32%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#35
Missouri
Population Density
90.26 per mi²
↑ 0.6%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#28
2.68%
↓ 4.29%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#39
6,204,710
↑ 0.59%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#19
Montana
Population Density
7.64 per mi²
↑ 0.66%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#48
8.59%
↓ 10.52%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#14
1,112,668
↑ 0.76%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#43
Nebraska
Population Density
26.06 per mi²
↑ 1.96%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#43
6.8%
↓ 8.11%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#20
2,002,052
↑ 1.95%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#37
Nevada
Population Density
29.38 per mi²
↑ 2.66%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#42
12.68%
↓ 15.47%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#5
3,225,832
↑ 2.6%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#32
New Hampshire
Population Density
155.91 per mi²
↑ 0.5%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#21
4.39%
↓ 4.57%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#30
1,395,847
↑ 0.49%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#41
New Jersey
Population Density
1,283.4 per mi²
↑ 1.85%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#1
5.29%
↓ 7.19%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#25
9,438,124
↑ 1.85%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#11
New Mexico
Population Density
17.6 per mi²
↑ 0.92%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#45
2.74%
↓ 2.14%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#38
2,135,024
↑ 0.9%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#36
New York
Population Density
433.9 per mi²
↑ 3.08%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#7
4.04%
↓ 3.81%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#32
20,448,194
↑ 3.09%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#4
North Carolina
Population Density
220.3 per mi²
↑ 1.52%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#15
8.51%
↓ 10.42%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#15
10,710,558
↑ 1.51%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#9
North Dakota
Population Density
11.75 per mi²
↑ 4.63%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#47
13.31%
↓ 15.76%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#4
811,044
↑ 4.66%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#47
Ohio
Population Density
290.7 per mi²
↑ 0.83%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#10
2.22%
↓ 3.48%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#45
11,878,330
↑ 0.83%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#7
Oklahoma
Population Density
58.63 per mi²
↑ 0.88%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#34
5.2%
↓ 5.45%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#26
4,021,753
↑ 0.88%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#28
Oregon
Population Density
45.41 per mi²
↑ 2.67%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#38
9.41%
↓ 11.23%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#11
4,359,110
↑ 2.66%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#27
Pennsylvania
Population Density
292.62 per mi²
↑ 0.99%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#9
2.3%
↓ 4.17%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#43
13,092,796
↑ 0.99%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#5
Rhode Island
Population Density
1,074.3 per mi²
↑ 1.38%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#2
4.05%
↓ 5.81%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#31
1,110,822
↑ 1.39%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#44
South Carolina
Population Density
175.19 per mi²
↑ 1.47%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#19
9.45%
↓ 11.68%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#10
5,266,343
↑ 1.46%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#23
South Dakota
Population Density
11.98 per mi²
↑ 1.44%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#46
8.04%
↓ 9.66%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#16
908,414
↑ 1.46%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#46
Tennessee
Population Density
171.71 per mi²
↑ 1.5%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#20
8.04%
↓ 9.66%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#17
7,080,262
↑ 1.51%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#16
Texas
Population Density
116.16 per mi²
↑ 2.78%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#23
13.36%
↓ 15.97%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#3
30,345,487
↑ 2.77%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#2
Utah
Population Density
41.67 per mi²
↑ 2.84%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#40
15.05%
↓ 18.21%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#1
3,423,935
↑ 2.58%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#30
Vermont
Population Density
70.34 per mi²
↑ 0.43%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#31
2.68%
↓ 4.29%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#40
648,279
↑ 0.42%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#49
Virginia
Population Density
223.36 per mi²
↑ 2.04%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#14
7.2%
↓ 8.86%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#18
8,820,504
↑ 2.06%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#12
Washington
Population Density
120.37 per mi²
↑ 3.37%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#22
12.41%
↓ 15%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#7
7,999,503
↑ 3.37%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#13
West Virginia
Population Density
73.88 per mi²
↓ 0.38%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#29
-3.33%
↑ 4.06%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#50
1,775,932
↓ 0.39%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#39
Wisconsin
Population Density
109.97 per mi²
↑ 1.03%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#25
3.48%
↓ 3.33%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#34
5,955,737
↑ 1.01%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#21
Wyoming
Population Density
5.98 per mi²
↑ 0.34%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#49
2.28%
↓ 0.87%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#44
580,817
↑ 0.35%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#50