Census ACS 5-Year · 51 states
Least Densely Populated States
Alaska is the least densely populated state by an order of magnitude, with roughly 1 person per square mile of its 570,000 sq mi land area. Wyoming, Montana, and the Dakotas follow, all under 12 people per square mile. Sparse states share characteristics: vast landscapes, energy and agriculture-driven economies, long driving distances, and a frontier culture that emphasizes self-reliance. Low density makes service delivery expensive (rural healthcare, broadband, school transportation) and shapes political life: rural states wield outsized Senate influence relative to their population.
Key Findings
- 1Alaska leads with a people per square mile of 1.3 / sq mi, followed by Wyoming (6.0 / sq mi) and Montana (7.6 / sq mi).
- 2District of Columbia ranks last at 10995.0 / sq mi, while Alaska leads at 1.3 / sq mi.
- 3The national median across all states is 108.8 / sq mi (Wisconsin at the midpoint).
- 4The top 10 states are: Alaska, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico, Idaho, Nebraska, Nevada, Kansas.
Full Ranking: Least Densely Populated States
Source: Census ACS 5-Year Estimates
| # | State | People / sq mi | Population | Land Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 6 | 579,761 | 97,088.6 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 108.8 | 5,892,023 | 54,168 |
| 3 | West Virginia | 74.2 | 1,784,462 | 24,041.2 |
| 4 | Washington | 116.5 | 7,740,984 | 66,455.4 |
| 5 | Virginia | 219.3 | 8,657,499 | 39,481.4 |
| 6 | Vermont | 70 | 645,254 | 9,217.3 |
| 7 | Utah | 40.3 | 3,331,187 | 82,595.7 |
| 8 | Texas | 113.5 | 29,640,343 | 261,258.6 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 169.5 | 6,986,082 | 41,224.3 |
| 10 | South Dakota | 11.9 | 899,194 | 75,807.9 |
| 11 | South Carolina | 173.4 | 5,212,774 | 30,064.1 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 1,059.5 | 1,095,371 | 1,033.9 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 290.3 | 12,986,518 | 44,742.1 |
| 14 | Oregon | 44.2 | 4,238,714 | 95,996.7 |
| 15 | Oklahoma | 58.2 | 3,995,260 | 68,596.7 |
| 16 | Ohio | 288.3 | 11,780,046 | 40,858.9 |
| 17 | North Dakota | 11.3 | 779,361 | 68,994.3 |
| 18 | North Carolina | 217.7 | 10,584,340 | 48,624.2 |
| 19 | New York | 421.7 | 19,872,319 | 47,123.4 |
| 20 | New Mexico | 17.4 | 2,114,768 | 121,312.7 |
| 21 | New Jersey | 1,260 | 9,267,014 | 7,354.9 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | 155 | 1,387,834 | 8,953.8 |
| 23 | Nevada | 28.6 | 3,141,000 | 109,860.4 |
| 24 | Nebraska | 25.6 | 1,965,926 | 76,815 |
| 25 | Montana | 7.6 | 1,105,072 | 145,550.3 |
| 26 | Missouri | 89.7 | 6,168,181 | 68,746.4 |
| 27 | Mississippi | 62.9 | 2,951,438 | 46,924.6 |
| 28 | Minnesota | 71.8 | 5,713,716 | 79,631.6 |
| 29 | Michigan | 177.6 | 10,051,595 | 56,611 |
| 30 | Massachusetts | 896.4 | 6,992,395 | 7,801 |
| 31 | Maryland | 635.4 | 6,170,738 | 9,710.9 |
| 32 | Maine | 44.7 | 1,377,400 | 30,845.1 |
| 33 | Louisiana | 106.9 | 4,621,025 | 43,212.9 |
| 34 | Kentucky | 114.2 | 4,510,725 | 39,485.4 |
| 35 | Kansas | 35.9 | 2,937,569 | 81,758.6 |
| 36 | Iowa | 57.2 | 3,195,937 | 55,853.7 |
| 37 | Indiana | 190.1 | 6,811,752 | 35,825.1 |
| 38 | Illinois | 228.6 | 12,692,653 | 55,513.1 |
| 39 | Idaho | 22.9 | 1,893,296 | 82,645.4 |
| 40 | Hawaii | 225.1 | 1,445,635 | 6,422.6 |
| 41 | Georgia | 187.5 | 10,822,590 | 57,716.8 |
| 42 | Florida | 408.7 | 21,928,881 | 53,654.8 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | 10,995 | 672,079 | 61.1 |
| 44 | Delaware | 516.2 | 1,005,872 | 1,948.5 |
| 45 | Connecticut | 743.1 | 3,598,348 | 4,842.5 |
| 46 | Colorado | 56.1 | 5,810,774 | 103,637.1 |
| 47 | California | 251.8 | 39,242,785 | 155,859.2 |
| 48 | Arkansas | 58.3 | 3,032,651 | 51,991.9 |
| 49 | Arizona | 63.9 | 7,268,175 | 113,655.4 |
| 50 | Alaska | 1.3 | 733,971 | 571,241.6 |
| 51 | Alabama | 99.8 | 5,054,253 | 50,651 |
Methodology
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Alaska has the highest people per square mile at 1.3 / sq mi, according to latest Census ACS data. Wyoming and Montana round out the top three.
District of Columbia has the lowest people per square mile at 10995.0 / sq mi. New Jersey is second-lowest at 1260.0 / sq mi.
The median across all 51 states is 108.8 / sq mi. Note that the national median and the state-level median are calculated differently, the state median represents the midpoint when all states are ranked.
This data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates published by the US Census Bureau. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides the most comprehensive demographic data available between decennial censuses.
Rankings are based on the latest available Census ACS 5-Year estimates. The Census Bureau releases new ACS data annually. Our data was last updated on April 12, 2026.
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.