Visualizing Every US State Resized Based On Population

The United States is the world's fourth-largest country by total area and third by land area, with a population of around 340 million people. Nearly one-third of the population lives in just three states: California, Texas, and New York. A graphic has been created to reimagine the US map with states resized based on their populations, using data from the Census Bureau as of 2024. In this reimagined map, Alaska is no longer the largest state, but rather the third-smallest, due to its relatively small population. California has the largest population, with over 39 million people, followed by Texas and Florida. The map helps to illustrate where people actually live, with several big states in the west having relatively small populations. In fact, New York City alone has more people than 38 states, highlighting the disparity between population and geographic size. The reimagined map is particularly useful in the context of US politics, where rural areas with low populations can have outsized influence due to structures like the Electoral College or the Senate. The map also shows that some states, such as Texas, are gaining people from the rest of the country, while others are losing population. Overall, the reimagined map provides a new perspective on the US population and highlights the importance of considering population when thinking about politics and representation.