Alaska alone is larger than the next three biggest states combined, and the top 10 largest US states together cover more area than the entire European Union. From Alaska's frozen wilderness to Montana's rolling plains, these states define the vast scale of America. Here are the 10 largest states ranked by total area.
Top 10 Largest US States by Total Area
| Rank | State | Total Area (km²) | Population (2025 est.) | Density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | 1,723,337 | 733,000 | 0.4 |
| 2 | Texas | 695,662 | 30,500,000 | 44 |
| 3 | California | 423,972 | 39,030,000 | 92 |
| 4 | Montana | 380,831 | 1,133,000 | 3 |
| 5 | New Mexico | 314,917 | 2,115,000 | 7 |
| 6 | Arizona | 295,234 | 7,430,000 | 25 |
| 7 | Nevada | 286,380 | 3,194,000 | 11 |
| 8 | Colorado | 269,601 | 5,912,000 | 22 |
| 9 | Oregon | 254,799 | 4,240,000 | 17 |
| 10 | Wyoming | 253,335 | 577,000 | 2 |
Alaska: Bigger Than You Think
Alaska is staggeringly large -- 1.72 million km², making it more than twice the size of Texas. If Alaska were an independent country, it would rank as the 18th largest in the world, between Libya and Iran. It has more coastline than the other 49 states combined (over 10,000 km of general coastline). Yet it has the lowest population density of any state at just 0.4 people per km² -- roughly one person for every 2.5 square kilometers.
Alaska contains the highest point in North America (Denali at 6,190 meters), over 100,000 glaciers covering about 5% of the state, and approximately 3 million lakes. It also spans such a vast east-west distance that it technically contains both the westernmost and easternmost points in the United States (the Aleutian Islands cross the 180th meridian).
Texas: The Lone Star Giant
Before Alaska became a state in 1959, Texas was the largest state for over a century. At 695,662 km², Texas is larger than France and about the same size as Myanmar. Unlike Alaska's sparse population, Texas is the second-most-populous state with over 30 million people. Its landscapes range from Gulf Coast beaches to western deserts, rolling Hill Country, and the flat Panhandle plains. Texas has more farms and ranches than any other state and its King Ranch alone is larger than Rhode Island.
Country Comparisons
The sheer size of American states becomes clear when compared to countries:
- Alaska (1.72M km²) is larger than South Africa, Colombia, or Ethiopia.
- Texas (695,662 km²) is bigger than France, Thailand, or Myanmar.
- California (423,972 km²) is larger than Japan, Germany, or Malaysia.
- Montana (380,831 km²) is bigger than Finland or Norway.
- Wyoming (253,335 km²) is about the size of the United Kingdom.
Population Density: Big and Empty
What stands out about the largest states is how sparsely populated most of them are. Alaska (0.4/km²), Wyoming (2/km²), and Montana (3/km²) are among the least densely populated places in the developed world. Wyoming, the 10th-largest state by area, has the smallest population of any US state at roughly 577,000 -- fewer people than many individual American cities. California is the notable exception: despite being the 3rd-largest state, it is the most populous with 39 million residents.
Key Facts
- Alaska (1.72M km²) is 2.5 times larger than Texas and would be the 18th-largest country.
- The top 10 largest states cover about 4.9 million km² -- half of the total US area.
- Wyoming has the smallest population of any state (~577,000) despite being 10th in area.
- California is both the 3rd-largest and most populous state.
- Nevada is 86% federally owned -- the highest percentage of any state.
- All 10 largest states are west of the Mississippi River.
Fun Facts
- Alaska's Denali (6,190m) is taller from base to peak than Mount Everest -- Denali rises 5,500m from its base while Everest rises about 3,700m from the Tibetan Plateau.
- Texas was an independent republic for 9 years (1836-1845) before joining the United States.
- Montana's name comes from the Spanish word for "mountain" -- it contains 77 named mountain ranges.
- The US government owns 85% of Nevada's land, including Area 51 and the Nevada Test Site.
- If you drove across Texas at highway speed without stopping, it would take over 12 hours.
Final Thoughts
The largest US states showcase America's extraordinary geographic diversity -- from Arctic tundra to scorching deserts, towering mountains to vast prairies. Their immense size means that individual states contain more geographic variety than many entire countries. Whether measured by area, natural resources, or sheer scenic grandeur, these states represent some of the most remarkable landscapes on Earth.
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