This is a list of states of the United States by population (with inhabited non-state jurisdictions included for comparison) as of July 1, 2006, according to the 2005 estimates of the United States Census Bureau. The total population of the United States was 281,421,906 at the 2000 Census, and is estimated to be 302,510,402 in July 2007. As of July 1, 2006, the estimated population of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the other insular areas of the United States was 303,755,930. Notably, the top nine states in population contain half of the total population. The twenty-five lowest-population states contain less than one-sixth of the total population.
The United States Census counts all persons present on the territory of the United States other than short-term visitors, including citizens, non-citizen permanent residents, non-citizen long-term visitors, and illegal aliens. In addition, those serving abroad in the United States Armed Forces and their dependents are also counted in their home state.
Based on data from the decennial census, each state is allocated a proportion of the 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives, though regardless of population, each state is guaranteed a minimum of one seat. The Electoral College is the body that, every four years, elects the President and Vice President of the United States. Each state's representation in the Electoral College is equal to that state's total number of members in both houses of the United States Congress. By the Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution, the District of Columbia, which lies outside of the jurisdiction of any state, is granted as many votes in the Electoral College as is given the state with the lowest representation in that body. Thus the total representation of the College is 538 members (100 senators plus 435 representatives, plus 3 members for the District of Columbia).

Classification
n.b. Excluding Washington DC, Wyoming comes 50th. Other territories do not have statehood.