The United States has 50 states. In addition to these 50 states, the country has Washington, D.C. (the federal capital district) and several U.S. territories, but neither Washington, D.C. nor the territories are states.
I think the number 50 is easy to remember because the U.S. flag itself gives you the answer: its 50 stars represent the 50 states. The confusion usually starts when Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico or other territories enter the conversation.
State Count
The simple breakdown is:
Category | Number |
|---|---|
U.S. states | 50 |
Federal district | 1 – Washington, D.C. |
Major inhabited U.S. territories | 5 |
Stars on U.S. flag | 50 |
So if an exam asks, “How many states are there in the USA?” the answer is simply 50.
50-State List
The 50 U.S. states are:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
One detail worth remembering: Washington state and Washington, D.C. are two completely different places.
First & Last States
Delaware was the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, doing so on December 7, 1787. That's why you'll often see Delaware called “The First State.”
The most recent states to join were Alaska and Hawaii in 1959. Alaska became the 49th state on January 3, while Hawaii became the 50th on August 21.
For me, remembering “Alaska = 49, Hawaii = 50” is one of the easiest ways to recall the final stage of U.S. statehood.
Washington D.C.
Washington, D.C. is not one of America's 50 states.
D.C. stands for District of Columbia, and it serves as the federal capital district of the United States. It has its own local government, headed by a mayor, but its constitutional and congressional status differs from that of a state.
This distinction matters because simply counting Washington, D.C. as the “51st state” would make the answer incorrect.
U.S. Territories
The United States also has territories that aren't states.
The five major inhabited territories are:
Puerto Rico
Guam
U.S. Virgin Islands
American Samoa
Northern Mariana Islands
USAGov identifies these as U.S. territories in its current travel guidance.
FAQs
How many states are there in America?
The United States has 50 states.
Is Washington, D.C. the 51st state?
No. Washington, D.C. is a federal district, not a state.
Is Puerto Rico a U.S. state?
No. Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory.
What were the last two states added?
Alaska and Hawaii joined in 1959, becoming the 49th and 50th states, respectively.
Why are there 50 stars on the American flag?
Each star represents one U.S. state, so there are 50 stars for 50 states.
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