New York City isn’t just the largest city in the United States — it’s also more populous than many entire states. With a population of about 8.3–8.6 million people, New York City alone rivals or exceeds the population of large regions of the country.
To put that into perspective, here are the U.S. states with fewer residents than New York City.
States With Smaller Populations Than New York City
New York City has more people than each of the following states:
- Wyoming
- Vermont
- Alaska
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Delaware
- Rhode Island
- Montana
- Maine
- New Hampshire
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- West Virginia
- Nebraska
- New Mexico
- Kansas
- Mississippi
- Arkansas
- Nevada
- Iowa
- Utah
- Connecticut
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Alabama
- South Carolina
👉 Depending on the year and estimates used, New York City is roughly equal to or larger than states like Colorado and Minnesota as well.
Why This Comparison Is So Striking
- One city has more residents than over half of all U.S. states
- NYC consists of just five counties (boroughs): Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island
- It functions with population demands similar to a large state, from transportation to housing to public services
Big Picture Takeaway
New York City isn’t just a city — it’s a population heavyweight. When a single city has more residents than dozens of states, it highlights how concentrated population and economic power can be in major urban areas.
In short: New York City alone outnumbers much of America.
