Guide Rankings Geography Updated June 3, 2026

Western States

Mount Rainier in Washington state reflected in a wildflower-filled meadow lake at sunrise, with snow on the summit

Western States

Ranking - Geography

Mount Rainier in Washington rises 14,411 feet, making it the highest peak in the Cascade Range and one of the most volcanically active mountains in the contiguous United States. Washington is one of 5 Pacific division states in the Census West.

Quick Answer

Western States

  1. 1

    Thirteen states make up the western United States: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. California, with approximately 39.5 million residents, is the most populous state in the country.

  2. 2

    Alaska (663,268 sq mi) is the largest state in the country by a wide margin — more than twice the size of Texas. It is also the least densely populated state at approximately 733,000 residents spread across 663,268 square miles. Hawaii is the only island state and the only western state with no land border with any other state.

  3. 3

    The West divides into the Mountain division (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming) and the Pacific division (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington). Wyoming (576,851 residents) is the least populous state in the country.

Map

Western States Map

Area (sq mi)
10,932
30,510
85,152
237,652
663,268
No data
Alaska (663,268 sq mi) is larger than all other 12 West states combined except California and Montana. Wyoming (577,000 residents) is the least populous state in the country. Hawaii, shown in inset, is the only island state and the only West state with no land border.
Western States Map
Rank State Area (sq mi)
1 Alaska 663,268
2 California 163,696
3 Montana 147,040
4 New Mexico 121,590
5 Arizona 113,990
6 Nevada 110,572
7 Colorado 104,094
8 Wyoming 97,813
9 Oregon 98,379
10 Utah 84,897
11 Idaho 83,569
12 Washington 71,298
13 Hawaii 10,932

Alaska (663,268 sq mi) is larger than all other 12 West states combined except California and Montana. Wyoming (577,000 residents) is the least populous state in the country. Hawaii, shown in inset, is the only island state and the only West state with no land border.

Western States Table

Division

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Clean, print-ready version of Western States.

States in the West

Mount Rainier reflected in a wildflower meadow lake in Washington state
Mount Rainier (14,411 feet) is the highest peak in the Cascade Range and is visible from Seattle on clear days. Washington has approximately 7.7 million residents, the second most populous Pacific division state after California.

Thirteen states make up the western United States: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The U.S. Census Bureau divides these into the Mountain division (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming) and the Pacific division (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington). The 13-state boundary is fixed — no state is disputed or sometimes-excluded.

California leads the West in population at approximately 39.5 million — more than the combined population of all 8 Mountain division states. Alaska (663,268 sq mi) accounts for approximately 35 percent of the West's total land area. Wyoming, with approximately 577,000 residents, is the least populous state in the entire country despite being the 10th-largest by area at 97,813 square miles.

Mountain vs. Pacific Division

The Grand Canyon viewed from the South Rim in Arizona, showing the Colorado River far below and layered red rock walls
The Grand Canyon is approximately 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide. Arizona (113,990 sq mi) is the sixth-largest state in the United States and one of 8 Mountain division states in the Census West.

The Mountain division (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming) covers 8 states in the interior West. Six of the eight have populations under 5 million; Wyoming (approximately 577,000) is the least populous state in the country. The Pacific division (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington) includes three of the most populous states in the West — California (39.5 million), Washington (7.7 million), and Oregon (4.2 million).

Alaska and Hawaii are Pacific division states with no land connection to the contiguous 48 states. Alaska is the only U.S. state that borders no other U.S. state — it shares borders with Canada to the east and south, and faces Russia across the 55-mile-wide Bering Strait. Hawaii consists of 8 main islands in the central Pacific Ocean and became the 50th state on August 21, 1959.

Largest and Smallest Western States

Alaska (663,268 sq mi) is the largest state in the United States by a margin of more than 2 to 1 over Texas, the second-largest. Within the West, California (163,696 sq mi) is second, followed by Montana (147,040 sq mi), New Mexico (121,590 sq mi), and Arizona (113,990 sq mi). Hawaii, at 10,932 square miles, is the smallest West state by area, smaller than several individual Mountain division counties.

By population, California (approximately 39.5 million) leads the West by a wide margin. Wyoming (approximately 577,000) is the West's least populous state and the least populous state in the country. Montana (approximately 1.1 million) is the second-least populous Western state despite being the fourth-largest state in the country by area.

Quick Answers

What states are in the West?
Thirteen states make up the Census West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The Census divides these into the Mountain division (8 states) and the Pacific division (5 states). The 13-state composition is fixed.
How many states are in the West?
There are 13 states in the Census West, making it the second-largest Census region by number of states. The West is the largest region by land area, dominated by Alaska (663,268 sq mi) and California (163,696 sq mi).
What is the largest Western state?
Alaska is the largest Western state — and the largest state in the United States — at 663,268 square miles. Alaska is more than twice the size of Texas. California (163,696 sq mi) is the second-largest West state and the third-largest state overall.
What is the smallest Western state?
Hawaii is the smallest West state by area at 10,932 square miles. Wyoming, at approximately 577,000 residents, is the smallest West state by population and the least populous state in the entire United States.
What is the most populous Western state?
California is the most populous West state with approximately 39.5 million residents — more than the combined population of the 8 Mountain division states. California is also the most populous state in the United States.
What is the difference between Mountain and Pacific division states?
The Census West divides into the Mountain division (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming) and the Pacific division (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington). Mountain division states are landlocked interior states. Pacific division states have Pacific Ocean coastline, except Alaska, which borders the Pacific and Arctic Oceans.

Methodology

How we researched this list

The West is one of four fixed Census Bureau regions, split into Mountain (8 states) and Pacific (5 states).

Sources

Information is cross-referenced with official state archives.
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