Which State Holds the Title of the Largest in the U.S.A.?

Key Points to Remember

To identify the largest state in the U.S.A., you can approach it in various ways, such as by looking at population (the number of residents in a state or region) or population density (the number of people per square mile compared to similar regions in other states or areas).

In this case, we evaluate state size based on land area — the actual physical size of each state — according to the U.S. Census Bureau, excluding factors like population or demographics. But first, let's discuss the United States as a whole.

The U.S. Ranks as the Third Largest Country

The United States is typically regarded as the third largest country in the world, trailing only Russia and Canada. The total area of the U.S., including the 48 contiguous states (the lower 48), Washington D.C., Alaska, and Hawaii's archipelago, is 3.8 million square miles (9.8 million square kilometers). Of this, about million square miles (5.7 million square kilometers) is land, with the rest being water.

It's important to note that other sources like World Population Review and Worldometer suggest that China is marginally larger than the U.S. in both land and total area (including both land and water), which would place the U.S. as the fourth largest country.

Next, let's dive into the largest states by total area, including both land and water, in the U.S.

The 5 Largest States

Alaska

Alaska is the largest state by land area by a wide margin, but it also holds the title of the least densely populated state, based on the 2020 census. With 665,384 square miles of land, almost 86 percent of its area is land. However, the remaining 94,743 square miles of water means that Alaska contributes to over 40 percent of the total water area in the U.S.

Texas

Texas is the second-largest state among the lower 48. A fun piece of trivia: the town of Saxet, Texas, is a palindrome, meaning it can be read the same forward and backward.

California

The third-largest state is also home to the largest population. With 282 state parks, it has more than any other state in the U.S. While its coastline along the Pacific enjoys cooler temperatures, the highest recorded temperature on Earth occurred at Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley in 1913.

Montana

Custer's Last Stand, the legendary 1876 battle, took place along the Little Bighorn River in Montana after the U.S. Army attempted to relocate Native Americans onto reservations.

New Mexico

Don't mention it to Texas, but in New Mexico, cattle and sheep outnumber the human population. It's also home to the oldest capital city in the U.S., Santa Fe.

5 Smallest States

Rhode Island

Rhode Island is home to the oldest continually operating tavern in the U.S. (established in 1673) and boasts the highest percentage of Catholics in the country (as of 2017). Despite its small size, it supports a substantial population of nearly 1.1 million, based on the 2020 census.

Delaware

Delaware was the very first state to join the Union in 1787. With an elevation of only 60 feet above sea level, it stretches 35 miles at its widest and just 9 miles at its narrowest point.

Connecticut

As the third smallest state in the U.S., Connecticut boasts numerous notable firsts, such as the nation's first speed limit in 1901 (12 miles per hour or 19 kilometers per hour), the first statehouse (1788), and the first public art museum (1842). It is also home to Yale University, where the first U.S. medical degree was issued in 1729.

New Jersey

My amusing home state boasts more diners and shopping centers than any other U.S. state. However, you aren't allowed to pump your own gas to reach any of them.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire, one of the original 13 colonies, made history in January 1776 by becoming the first settlement to establish both a constitution and an independent government separate from England.

All 50 States by Land Area

Here is a ranking of all U.S. states, ordered from the largest to the smallest based on their total land area in square miles, as per the U.S. Census Bureau.