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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, per Census ACS 5-Year estimates. Texas is second (29,640,343) and Florida is third (21,928,881).

Context

California has been the most populous state since 1962. 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

Explore Further

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Related Questions

What is the richest state in the US?What is the fastest-growing state?What is the most diverse state?What is the largest city in the United States?How many states are there in the United States?

Frequently Asked Questions

California is the most populated state in the United States with a population of 39,242,785, per Census ACS 5-Year estimates. Texas is second (29,640,343) and Florida is third (21,928,881).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.