Map of United States of America: Size, States, Cities Guide

There’s a reason the map of the United States sparks so much curiosity — it’s a country that fits Alaska (665,384 sq mi) and Rhode Island (1,545 sq mi) under the same flag. This guide explores the size, states, and cities of the U.S., comparing it to Canada and highlighting the biggest, smallest, and emptiest states.

Total area: 3.8 million sq mi (9.8 million sq km) ·
Number of states: 50 ·
Largest state by area: Alaska (665,384 sq mi) ·
Smallest state by area: Rhode Island (1,545 sq mi) ·
Most populous city: New York City (~8.4 million) ·
Most empty state by population density: Alaska (1.3 people per sq mi)

Here is a quick snapshot of the key figures that define the U.S. map:

Which is bigger, Canada or the United States?

Total land area comparison

Canada’s total area is about 3.855 million square miles, while the United States covers approximately 3.797 million square miles — making Canada roughly 1.5% larger by land area, according to Wikipedia (geographic reference). The contiguous U.S. alone is about 3.12 million square miles, as reported by Nations Online Project (geographic atlas).

Population comparison

The United States has a population of roughly 335 million, compared to Canada’s 39 million. That means the U.S. is about 8.6 times more populous, New Geography (demographic analysis) notes.

Economic output comparison

America’s GDP is significantly larger than Canada’s — the U.S. economy is about 13 times the size of Canada’s, according to World Bank (global economic data).

Four data points, one pattern: Canada is bigger in land, but the U.S. dwarfs it in population and economy.

The implication: For travelers and businesses, the U.S. offers far more density and market size, while Canada provides vast open space.

Which is the biggest state in the USA?

Alaska geography and area

Alaska is the largest U.S. state by total area at 665,384 square miles, according to HowStuffWorks (science explainer). That’s about 2.5 times the size of Texas, the second-largest state, as HowStuffWorks (science explainer) points out.

Comparison to other large states

• Texas: 268,596 sq mi (U.S. Census Bureau (official state data))
• California: 163,696 sq mi (U.S. Census Bureau (official state data))
• Montana: ~147,040 sq mi (HowStuffWorks (science explainer))
• New Mexico: ~121,590 sq mi (HowStuffWorks (science explainer))

Population density of Alaska

Alaska also has the lowest population density of any U.S. state — just 1.3 people per square mile, according to HowStuffWorks (science explainer). That’s emptier than Wyoming (6 people/sq mi) and Montana (7 people/sq mi).

The pattern: The largest states are concentrated in the West and North, and their size often comes with sparse populations.

What is the smallest state in the United States of America?

Rhode Island size

Rhode Island is the smallest U.S. state by total area at 1,545 square miles, according to U.S. Census Bureau (official state data). It’s also the smallest by land area.

Comparison to other small states

• Delaware: 2,489 sq mi (U.S. Census Bureau (official state data))
• Connecticut: 5,543 sq mi (U.S. Census Bureau (official state data))

Population of Rhode Island

Despite its tiny footprint, Rhode Island is densely populated — about 1.1 million people live there, giving it a density of roughly 1,018 people per square mile, U.S. Census Bureau (official state data) reports.

What this means: Rhode Island is a reminder that small doesn’t mean empty — it’s one of the most urbanized states in the union.

What is the most empty U.S. state?

Alaska lowest density

Alaska holds the title of the emptiest U.S. state with a population density of just 1.3 people per square mile, according to HowStuffWorks (science explainer).

Least populated states

• Wyoming: 6 people/sq mi (U.S. Census Bureau (official state data))
• Montana: 7 people/sq mi (U.S. Census Bureau (official state data))

Why Alaska is empty

Harsh climate, rugged terrain, and vast distances make large parts of Alaska uninhabitable. The U.S. Census Bureau (geographic reference) notes that much of the state is protected wilderness or mountain ranges.

The catch: Emptiness isn’t a flaw — it’s a feature that defines Alaska’s identity and challenges anyone trying to represent it on a map.

What is the #1 city in the USA?

Largest city by population

New York City is the most populous city in the United States, with an estimated 8.4 million residents within city limits, according to New Geography (urban analysis). The broader metropolitan area counts about 19.6 million people.

Largest city by area

By land area, the largest city in the U.S. is Sitka, Alaska (2,870 sq mi), but that’s partly due to its unique geography. Among major cities, Jacksonville, Florida (875 sq mi) is the largest by area, as per U.S. Census Bureau (official city data).

Capital city

Washington, D.C., is the capital of the United States, with a population of about 700,000. It is not a state but a federal district. For more on New York, visit our guide to New York Public Library Hours, Research Centers & Digital Access.

Why this matters: The “#1 city” depends on how you measure — population, area, or economic influence. New York City wins on density and global impact, but it’s far from the largest in physical size.

For travelers planning a cross-country road trip, the sheer size of the U.S. means that driving from New York to Los Angeles is about 2,800 miles — longer than the distance from London to Cairo. The choice is clear: fly or plan for a week.

Frequently asked questions