Wyoming has a population of roughly 584,000 people as of 2025, making it the least populated state in the United States — home to fewer residents than a single mid-sized American city. Spread across 253,335 square kilometers of plains, mountains, and high desert, Wyoming holds the unusual distinction of being the 10th largest state by area yet dead last in population, a combination that defines almost everything about life there.
Why So Few People?
Wyoming's tiny population produces a density of just 2.3 people per square kilometer, second-lowest in the nation behind only Alaska. The reasons are largely geographic and economic. Much of the state sits at high elevation — the average is around 2,000 meters above sea level — with long, harsh winters, limited arable land, and great distances between settlements. There are no large coastal cities, no major industrial corridors, and no historic immigration gateways to seed dense urban growth.
Instead, the economy has long revolved around what comes out of the ground and the open range: coal, natural gas, oil, cattle ranching, and tourism. These industries support communities but do not require dense populations. The result is a state where you can drive for an hour without passing a town, and where several counties hold fewer than 2,000 residents each.
Where People Actually Live
Wyoming's residents cluster in a handful of small cities, mostly along highway corridors. Cheyenne, the state capital in the southeastern corner, is the largest city with about 65,000 people and serves as the administrative and commercial hub, anchored by F.E. Warren Air Force Base. Casper, in central Wyoming along the North Platte River, follows closely at around 59,000 and acts as the heart of the energy industry.
- Cheyenne — ~65,000 (capital and largest city)
- Casper — ~59,000 (energy hub)
- Gillette — ~34,000 (Powder River Basin coal country)
- Laramie — ~33,000 (University of Wyoming)
- Rock Springs — ~24,000
- Sheridan — ~18,000
- Jackson — ~11,000 (gateway to Grand Teton and Yellowstone)
Even combined, these cities account for only a fraction of the population; the rest is scattered across ranches, reservations, and tiny towns. Jackson is a striking case — fewer than 11,000 permanent residents host millions of visitors each year.
Population Growth and Trends
Wyoming's population growth has been modest and closely tied to the boom-and-bust rhythm of energy prices. The state expanded during the natural gas boom of the early 2010s, then nearly flatlined when prices fell. Between 2020 and 2025, the population grew by roughly 2.5 percent overall — a pace well below the national average and equivalent to less than 1 percent per year.
Growth is also highly uneven. Teton County, home to Jackson, has been among the fastest-growing areas, fueled by wealthy newcomers and remote workers drawn to its scenery and Wyoming's lack of a state income tax. Many rural counties, by contrast, continue to shrink as young people leave for education and jobs elsewhere. This out-migration of working-age residents has pushed the median age up to about 38 and remains one of the state's persistent challenges.
Who Lives in Wyoming
Demographically, Wyoming is predominantly white, at roughly 84 percent of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents form the largest minority group at about 10.5 percent. Native Americans account for around 2.7 percent, centered on the Wind River Reservation, which is shared by the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes and is one of the largest reservations in the country. Black and Asian residents each make up just over 1 percent.
The state's frontier heritage and low density have shaped a strongly independent political culture. Wyoming levies no state income tax and no corporate income tax, funding government largely through mineral revenues. Education levels are solid — about 95 percent of adults hold a high school diploma and roughly 28 percent a bachelor's degree — though housing costs in resort areas like Jackson Hole rank among the most expensive in the United States.
Population in Perspective
A few comparisons capture just how empty Wyoming is. The state has more pronghorn antelope — an estimated 400,000 — than it has people in some counts, and Yellowstone National Park alone draws over 4 million visitors a year, roughly seven times the entire resident population. With only one at-large member in the U.S. House of Representatives, Wyoming wields outsized influence in the Senate relative to its head count. It was also a trailblazer in another sense: as a territory in 1869 it became the first to grant women the right to vote, earning its nickname, "The Equality State." If geography and population trivia interest you, test yourself with our interactive geography games.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wyoming the least populated US state?
Yes. With about 584,000 residents, Wyoming has the smallest population of any U.S. state, ranking 50th. It has fewer people than cities such as Portland, Oregon, or Louisville, Kentucky.
What is the largest city in Wyoming?
Cheyenne, the state capital, is the largest city with roughly 65,000 residents. Casper is a close second at about 59,000. No Wyoming city reaches 100,000 people.
What is Wyoming's population density?
Wyoming has about 2.3 people per square kilometer, the second-lowest population density in the nation after Alaska. Many counties contain only a few thousand residents.
Is Wyoming's population growing?
Slowly. The population rose by roughly 2.5 percent between 2020 and 2025. Growth is concentrated in areas like Teton County, while many rural counties continue to lose residents to out-migration.
