[UPDATED] List of Least Populated States in the U.S. (2025)

Least Populated States in U.S.: While the United States as a whole is very populated, the population isn't spread out evenly. Some states are home to tens of millions of people, while others have fewer residents than a medium-sized city. This creates a big contrast in population density across the country.

It's no surprise that a few states are home to a huge chunk of the U.S. population. As of early 2025, California leads the way, with over 38 million residents. Right behind it is Texas, which has a population of over 31 million and has seen rapid growth recently. These two states alone account for a significant portion of the country's total population.

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List of the 10 Least Populated States in the U.S. (2025)

Based on the latest US Census and World Population Review data, here’s a look at the least populated US states in 2025 and what explains these trends.

Why is Wyoming the least populated State?

Wyoming is the least populated state in the U.S. primarily due to a combination of geography, climate, and historical lack of a major economic boom that would attract large numbers of settlers. A significant portion of the state is covered by the Rocky Mountains and vast, high-elevation plains, which makes a lot of the land difficult for farming or building large, dense cities

Which States are Experiencing Negative or Low Growth?

States with little to no population growth include:

• Vermont: -0.03%

• West Virginia: -0.03%

• Mississippi: 0%

• Louisiana: 0.21%

• Hawaii: 0.33%

These states reflect stagnation or decline, in contrast to booming states like Florida or Texas.

Is the Size of the State Always Linked to Low Population?

No. For example, Rhode Island, the smallest state by area but has more than 1.1 million residents, while Alaska, the biggest state, has fewer. Next could be Delaware, being a small state, it has over 1 million people, leaving behind the population of larger states like Montana or the Dakotas.

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Conclusion

The least populated states offer unique advantages like natural beauty, lower density, and often a slower pace of life. However, to retain and attract residents, they need to focus more on Economic development, infrastructure improvement, better connectivity and job opportunities, and more.