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Population Review

What is the most populated state in the US?

California is the most populated state in the United States with a population of 39,242,785, according to Census ACS 2023 data. Texas is second (29,640,343) and Florida is third (21,928,881).

Context

California has been the most populous state since 1962, when it surpassed New York. Despite recent outmigration driven by high housing costs, California's population remains over 9 million more than the second-largest state. Together, the top four states (California, Texas, Florida, New York) account for roughly one-third of the nation's total population.

Top 10

#1 California39,242,785
#2 Texas29,640,343
#3 Florida21,928,881
#4 New York19,872,319
#5 Pennsylvania12,986,518
#6 Illinois12,692,653
#7 Ohio11,780,046
#8 Georgia10,822,590
#9 North Carolina10,584,340
#10 Michigan10,051,595

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Frequently Asked Questions

California is the most populated state in the United States with a population of 39,242,785, according to Census ACS 2023 data. Texas is second (29,640,343) and Florida is third (21,928,881).