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How Wet is Your State? The Water Area of Each State Completed

By Water Science School June 8, 2018

How Wet is Your State?

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What percent of your state do you think is water covered? Which state has the highest percentage of water area? Is the West really "drier" than the rest of the country?

•  Water Science School HOME  •  Surface Water topics  •  Water Basics topics  •

What percent of your state do you think is water covered? Which state has the highest percentage of water area? Is the West really "drier" than the rest of the country? The table below shows the total land area and water area of each state.
Water area calculations in this table include only perennial water. All other water (intermittent, glacier, and marsh/swamp) is included in this table as part of land area calculations.

These water area data represent the sum of inland and coastal water and the Great Lakes. The source of this data is the U.S. Census Bureau, Geography: State Area Measurements, 2010.

Land area and water area of each state
State Total area
square miles		 Total area
square kilometers		 Land area
square miles		 Land area
square kilometers		 Water area
square miles		 Water area
square kilometers		 Inland square miles Inland square kilometers Coastal square miles Coastal square kilometers Great Lakes
square miles		 Great Lakes
square kilometers		 Territorial
square miles		 Territorial
square kilometers		 Percent area, water
Alabama 52,420 135,767 50,645 131,171 1,775 4,597 1,058 2,740 517 1,340 — — 199 516 3.4%
Alaska 665,384 1,723,337 570,641 1,477,953 94,743 245,383 19,304 49,997 26,119 67,647 — — 49,320 127,739 14.2%
Arizona 113,990 295,234 113,594 294,207 396 1,026 396 1,026 — — — — — — 0.3%
Arkansas 53,179 137,732 52,035 134,771 1,143 2,961 1,143 2,961 — — — — — — 2.1%
California 163,695 423,967 155,779 403,466 7,916 20,501 2,833 7,339 245 634 — — 4,837 12,528 4.8%
Colorado 104,094 269,601 103,642 268,431 452 1,170 452 1,170 — — — — — — 0.4%
Connecticut 5,543 14,357 4,842 12,542 701 1,816 171 443 530 1,372 — — — — 12.6%
Delaware 2,489 6,446 1,949 5,047 540 1,399 91 237 355 920 — — 94 242 21.7%
District of Columbia 68 177 61 158 7 19 7 19 — — — — — — 10.3%
Florida 65,758 170,312 53,625 138,887 12,133 31,424 5,027 13,019 1,349 3,495 — — 5,757 14,911 18.5%
Georgia 59,425 153,910 57,513 148,959 1,912 4,951 1,412 3,657 46 119 — — 453 1,175 3.2%
Hawaii 10,932 28,313 6,423 16,635 4,509 11,678 42 109 9 23 — — 4,458 11,546 41.2%
Idaho 83,569 216,443 82,643 214,045 926 2,398 926 2,398 — — — — — — 1.1%
Illinois 57,914 149,995 55,519 143,793 2,395 6,202 820 2,124 — — 1,575 4,078 — — 4.1%
Indiana 36,420 94,326 35,826 92,789 593 1,537 361 935 — — 233 602 — — 1.6%
Iowa 56,273 145,746 55,857 144,669 416 1,077 416 1,077 — — — — — — 0.7%
Kansas 82,278 213,100 81,759 211,754 520 1,346 520 1,346 — — — — — — 0.6%
Kentucky 40,408 104,656 39,486 102,269 921 2,387 921 2,387 — — — — — — 2.3%
Louisiana 52,378 135,659 43,204 111,898 9,174 23,761 4,562 11,815 2,880 7,460 — — 1,732 4,486 17.5%
Maine 35,380 91,633 30,843 79,883 4,537 11,750 2,314 5,992 591 1,530 — — 1,633 4,228 12.8%
Maryland 12,406 32,131 9,707 25,142 2,699 6,990 768 1,990 1,820 4,714 — — 111 286 21.8%
Massachusetts 10,554 27,336 7,800 20,202 2,754 7,134 486 1,258 1,177 3,048 — — 1,092 2,829 26.1 %
Michigan 96,714 250,487 56,539 146,435 40,175 104,052 2,001 5,182 — — 38,174 98,870 — — 41.5%
Minnesota 86,936 225,163 79,627 206,232 7,309 18,930 4,763 12,336 — — 2,546 6,594 — — 8.4%
Mississippi 48,432 125,438 46,923 121,531 1,509 3,907 769 1,992 616 1,596 — — 123 318 3.1%
Missouri 69,707 180,540 68,742 178,040 965 2,501 965 2,501 — — — — — — 1.4%
Montana 147,040 380,831 145,546 376,962 1,494 3,869 1,494 3,869 — — — — — — 1.0%
Nebraska 77,348 200,330 76,824 198,974 524 1,356 524 1,356 — — — — — — 0.7%
Nevada 110,572 286,380 109,781 284,332 791 2,048 791 2,048 — — — — — — 0.7%
New Hampshire 9,349 24,214 8,953 23,187 397 1,027 328 849 — — — — 69 178 4.2%
New Jersey 8,723 22,591 7,354 19,047 1,368 3,544 436 1,128 427 1,105 — — 506 1,311 15.7%
New Mexico 121,590 314,917 121,298 314,161 292 757 292 757 — — — — — — 0.2%
New York 54,555 141,297 47,126 122,057 7,429 19,240 1,989 5,151 975 2,526 3,986 10,324 479 1,240 13.6%
North Carolina 53,819 139,391 48,618 125,920 5,201 13,471 4,052 10,495 — — — — 1,149 2,976 9.7%
North Dakota 70,698 183,108 69,001 178,711 1,698 4,397 1,698 4,397 — — — — — — 2.4%
Ohio 44,826 116,098 40,861 105,829 3,965 10,269 474 1,227 — — 3,491 9,042 — — 8.8%
Oklahoma 69,899 181,037 68,595 177,660 1,304 3,377 1,304 3,377 — — — — — — 1.9%
Oregon 98,379 254,799 95,988 248,608 2,391 6,191 1,068 2,766 72 186 — — 1,251 3,240 2.4%
Pennsylvania 46,054 119,280 44,743 115,883 1,312 3,397 563 1,459 — — 748 1,938 — — 2.8%
Rhode Island 1,545 4,001 1,034 2,678 511 1,324 182 470 64 165 — — 266 688 33.1%
South Carolina 32,020 82,933 30,061 77,857 1,960 5,076 1,064 2,755 110 286 — — 786 2,036 6.1%
South Dakota 77,116 199,729 75,811 196,350 1,305 3,379 1,305 3,379 — — — — — — 1.7%
Tennessee 42,144 109,153 41,235 106,798 909 2,355 909 2,355 — — — — — — 2.2%
Texas 268,596 695,662 261,232 676,587 7,365 19,075 5,616 14,546 401 1,040 — — 1,347 3,489 2.7%
Utah 84,897 219,882 82,170 212,818 2,727 7,064 2,727 7,064 — — — — — — 3.2%
Vermont 9,616 24,906 9,217 23,871 400 1,035 400 1,035 — — — — — — 4.2%
Virginia 42,775 110,787 39,490 102,279 3,285 8,508 1,282 3,320 1,565 4,053 — — 438 1,135 7.7%
Washington 71,298 184,661 66,456 172,119 4,842 12,542 1,715 4,441 2,468 6,392 — — 660 1,709 6.8%
West Virginia 24,230 62,756 24,038 62,259 192 497 192 497 — — — — — — 0.8%
Wisconsin 65,496 169,635 54,158 140,268 11,339 29,367 1,997 5,172 — — 9,342 24,195 — — 17.3%
Wyoming 97,813 253,335 97,093 251,470 720 1,864 720 1,864 — — — — — — 0.7%
United States 3,796,742 9,833,517 3,531,905 9,147,593 264,837 685,924 85,647 221,824 42,337 109,652 60,094 155,643 76,759 198,806 7.0%
  • Overview

    What percent of your state do you think is water covered? Which state has the highest percentage of water area? Is the West really "drier" than the rest of the country?

    •  Water Science School HOME  •  Surface Water topics  •  Water Basics topics  •

    What percent of your state do you think is water covered? Which state has the highest percentage of water area? Is the West really "drier" than the rest of the country? The table below shows the total land area and water area of each state.
    Water area calculations in this table include only perennial water. All other water (intermittent, glacier, and marsh/swamp) is included in this table as part of land area calculations.

    These water area data represent the sum of inland and coastal water and the Great Lakes. The source of this data is the U.S. Census Bureau, Geography: State Area Measurements, 2010.

    Land area and water area of each state
    State Total area
    square miles    		 Total area
    square kilometers    		 Land area
    square miles    		 Land area
    square kilometers    		 Water area
    square miles    		 Water area
    square kilometers    		 Inland square miles Inland square kilometers Coastal square miles Coastal square kilometers Great Lakes
    square miles    		 Great Lakes
    square kilometers    		 Territorial
    square miles    		 Territorial
    square kilometers    		 Percent area, water
    Alabama 52,420 135,767 50,645 131,171 1,775 4,597 1,058 2,740 517 1,340 — — 199 516 3.4%
    Alaska 665,384 1,723,337 570,641 1,477,953 94,743 245,383 19,304 49,997 26,119 67,647 — — 49,320 127,739 14.2%
    Arizona 113,990 295,234 113,594 294,207 396 1,026 396 1,026 — — — — — — 0.3%
    Arkansas 53,179 137,732 52,035 134,771 1,143 2,961 1,143 2,961 — — — — — — 2.1%
    California 163,695 423,967 155,779 403,466 7,916 20,501 2,833 7,339 245 634 — — 4,837 12,528 4.8%
    Colorado 104,094 269,601 103,642 268,431 452 1,170 452 1,170 — — — — — — 0.4%
    Connecticut 5,543 14,357 4,842 12,542 701 1,816 171 443 530 1,372 — — — — 12.6%
    Delaware 2,489 6,446 1,949 5,047 540 1,399 91 237 355 920 — — 94 242 21.7%
    District of Columbia 68 177 61 158 7 19 7 19 — — — — — — 10.3%
    Florida 65,758 170,312 53,625 138,887 12,133 31,424 5,027 13,019 1,349 3,495 — — 5,757 14,911 18.5%
    Georgia 59,425 153,910 57,513 148,959 1,912 4,951 1,412 3,657 46 119 — — 453 1,175 3.2%
    Hawaii 10,932 28,313 6,423 16,635 4,509 11,678 42 109 9 23 — — 4,458 11,546 41.2%
    Idaho 83,569 216,443 82,643 214,045 926 2,398 926 2,398 — — — — — — 1.1%
    Illinois 57,914 149,995 55,519 143,793 2,395 6,202 820 2,124 — — 1,575 4,078 — — 4.1%
    Indiana 36,420 94,326 35,826 92,789 593 1,537 361 935 — — 233 602 — — 1.6%
    Iowa 56,273 145,746 55,857 144,669 416 1,077 416 1,077 — — — — — — 0.7%
    Kansas 82,278 213,100 81,759 211,754 520 1,346 520 1,346 — — — — — — 0.6%
    Kentucky 40,408 104,656 39,486 102,269 921 2,387 921 2,387 — — — — — — 2.3%
    Louisiana 52,378 135,659 43,204 111,898 9,174 23,761 4,562 11,815 2,880 7,460 — — 1,732 4,486 17.5%
    Maine 35,380 91,633 30,843 79,883 4,537 11,750 2,314 5,992 591 1,530 — — 1,633 4,228 12.8%
    Maryland 12,406 32,131 9,707 25,142 2,699 6,990 768 1,990 1,820 4,714 — — 111 286 21.8%
    Massachusetts 10,554 27,336 7,800 20,202 2,754 7,134 486 1,258 1,177 3,048 — — 1,092 2,829 26.1 %
    Michigan 96,714 250,487 56,539 146,435 40,175 104,052 2,001 5,182 — — 38,174 98,870 — — 41.5%
    Minnesota 86,936 225,163 79,627 206,232 7,309 18,930 4,763 12,336 — — 2,546 6,594 — — 8.4%
    Mississippi 48,432 125,438 46,923 121,531 1,509 3,907 769 1,992 616 1,596 — — 123 318 3.1%
    Missouri 69,707 180,540 68,742 178,040 965 2,501 965 2,501 — — — — — — 1.4%
    Montana 147,040 380,831 145,546 376,962 1,494 3,869 1,494 3,869 — — — — — — 1.0%
    Nebraska 77,348 200,330 76,824 198,974 524 1,356 524 1,356 — — — — — — 0.7%
    Nevada 110,572 286,380 109,781 284,332 791 2,048 791 2,048 — — — — — — 0.7%
    New Hampshire 9,349 24,214 8,953 23,187 397 1,027 328 849 — — — — 69 178 4.2%
    New Jersey 8,723 22,591 7,354 19,047 1,368 3,544 436 1,128 427 1,105 — — 506 1,311 15.7%
    New Mexico 121,590 314,917 121,298 314,161 292 757 292 757 — — — — — — 0.2%
    New York 54,555 141,297 47,126 122,057 7,429 19,240 1,989 5,151 975 2,526 3,986 10,324 479 1,240 13.6%
    North Carolina 53,819 139,391 48,618 125,920 5,201 13,471 4,052 10,495 — — — — 1,149 2,976 9.7%
    North Dakota 70,698 183,108 69,001 178,711 1,698 4,397 1,698 4,397 — — — — — — 2.4%
    Ohio 44,826 116,098 40,861 105,829 3,965 10,269 474 1,227 — — 3,491 9,042 — — 8.8%
    Oklahoma 69,899 181,037 68,595 177,660 1,304 3,377 1,304 3,377 — — — — — — 1.9%
    Oregon 98,379 254,799 95,988 248,608 2,391 6,191 1,068 2,766 72 186 — — 1,251 3,240 2.4%
    Pennsylvania 46,054 119,280 44,743 115,883 1,312 3,397 563 1,459 — — 748 1,938 — — 2.8%
    Rhode Island 1,545 4,001 1,034 2,678 511 1,324 182 470 64 165 — — 266 688 33.1%
    South Carolina 32,020 82,933 30,061 77,857 1,960 5,076 1,064 2,755 110 286 — — 786 2,036 6.1%
    South Dakota 77,116 199,729 75,811 196,350 1,305 3,379 1,305 3,379 — — — — — — 1.7%
    Tennessee 42,144 109,153 41,235 106,798 909 2,355 909 2,355 — — — — — — 2.2%
    Texas 268,596 695,662 261,232 676,587 7,365 19,075 5,616 14,546 401 1,040 — — 1,347 3,489 2.7%
    Utah 84,897 219,882 82,170 212,818 2,727 7,064 2,727 7,064 — — — — — — 3.2%
    Vermont 9,616 24,906 9,217 23,871 400 1,035 400 1,035 — — — — — — 4.2%
    Virginia 42,775 110,787 39,490 102,279 3,285 8,508 1,282 3,320 1,565 4,053 — — 438 1,135 7.7%
    Washington 71,298 184,661 66,456 172,119 4,842 12,542 1,715 4,441 2,468 6,392 — — 660 1,709 6.8%
    West Virginia 24,230 62,756 24,038 62,259 192 497 192 497 — — — — — — 0.8%
    Wisconsin 65,496 169,635 54,158 140,268 11,339 29,367 1,997 5,172 — — 9,342 24,195 — — 17.3%
    Wyoming 97,813 253,335 97,093 251,470 720 1,864 720 1,864 — — — — — — 0.7%
    United States 3,796,742 9,833,517 3,531,905 9,147,593 264,837 685,924 85,647 221,824 42,337 109,652 60,094 155,643 76,759 198,806 7.0%