United States
Public Land by State 2026
Public Land (acres)
50M
100M
150M
200M
State | Public Land 2018 (acres)↓ | Public Land % of State 2018 | Public Land Change 1990-2018 (acres) | Public Land % Change since 1990 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Alaska | 222.7M | 60.9% | -23,002,447 | -9.4% |
 | Nevada | 56.3M | 80.1% | -3,749,878 | -6.2% |
 | California | 45.5M | 45.4% | -689,458 | -1.5% |
 | Utah | 33.3M | 63.1% | -314,957 | -0.9% |
 | Idaho | 32.8M | 61.9% | 223,567 | 0.7% |
 | Oregon | 32.2M | 52.3% | 182,253 | 0.6% |
 | Wyoming | 29.1M | 46.7% | -995,399 | -3.3% |
 | Arizona | 28.1M | 38.6% | -6,321,875 | -18.4% |
 | Montana | 27.1M | 29% | 356,182 | 1.3% |
 | New Mexico | 24.7M | 31.7% | -76,486 | -0.3% |
 | Colorado | 24.1M | 36.2% | 520,457 | 2.2% |
 | Washington | 12.2M | 28.6% | 208,871 | 1.7% |
 | Florida | 4.5M | 12.9% | 146,224 | 3.4% |
 | Michigan | 3.6M | 10% | -11,659 | -0.3% |
 | Minnesota | 3.5M | 6.8% | -41,725 | -1.2% |
 | Texas | 3.2M | 1.9% | 579,523 | 21.9% |
 | Arkansas | 3.2M | 9.4% | 11,968 | 0.4% |
 | South Dakota | 2.6M | 5.4% | 13,411 | 0.5% |
 | North Carolina | 2.4M | 7.8% | 145,292 | 6.3% |
 | Virginia | 2.4M | 9.3% | 54,092 | 2.3% |
 | Georgia | 1.9M | 5.2% | 24,818 | 1.3% |
 | Wisconsin | 1.9M | 5.3% | -126,375 | -6.4% |
 | North Dakota | 1.7M | 3.9% | 6,100 | 0.4% |
 | Missouri | 1.7M | 3.8% | 36,265 | 2.2% |
 | Mississippi | 1.6M | 5.1% | 73,908 | 5% |
 | Louisiana | 1.4M | 4.7% | -224,860 | -14.2% |
 | Tennessee | 1.3M | 4.8% | 300,946 | 30.7% |
 | West Virginia | 1.1M | 7.4% | 71,638 | 6.7% |
 | Kentucky | 1.1M | 4.3% | 133,677 | 13.8% |
 | Alabama | 880.2K | 2.7% | -64,317 | -6.8% |
 | South Carolina | 875.3K | 4.5% | -15,866 | -1.8% |
 | Hawaii | 829.8K | 20.2% | 114,615 | 16% |
 | New Hampshire | 805.5K | 14% | 71,309 | 9.7% |
 | Oklahoma | 683.3K | 1.5% | 177,391 | 35.1% |
 | Pennsylvania | 622.2K | 2.2% | 10,911 | 1.8% |
 | Nebraska | 546.9K | 1.1% | 18,145 | 3.4% |
 | Vermont | 465.9K | 7.8% | 119,370 | 34.4% |
 | Illinois | 423.8K | 1.2% | 70,721 | 20% |
 | Indiana | 384.7K | 1.7% | 110,243 | 40.2% |
 | Ohio | 305.5K | 1.2% | 71,106 | 30.3% |
 | Maine | 301.5K | 1.5% | 124,995 | 70.8% |
 | Kansas | 253.9K | 0.5% | -27,216 | -9.7% |
 | New York | 231K | 0.8% | 15,551 | 7.2% |
 | Maryland | 205.4K | 3.2% | 31,655 | 18.2% |
 | New Jersey | 172K | 3.6% | 25,520 | 17.4% |
 | Iowa | 97.5K | 0.3% | 64,262 | 193% |
 | Massachusetts | 62.7K | 1.2% | -611 | -1% |
 | Delaware | 29.9K | 2.4% | 2,187 | 7.9% |
 | District of Columbia | 9.6K | 24.7% | 116 | 1.2% |
 | Connecticut | 9.1K | 0.3% | 2,326 | 34.3% |
 | Rhode Island | 4.5K | 0.7% | 1,403 | 45.1% |
- Total federal land in the US is not definitively known. This data is based on the five main federal land owning agencies, the Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Parks Service, Forest Service and the Department of Defence. Other smaller agencies and State organisations are assumed to own another 20 million acres of federal land. Also note that many Indian lands are held in trust by the federal government but are not owned by the government. These areas are not included in these statistics.
- Library of Congress (LOC) data include areas overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the United States Forestry Service (USFS), the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the National Parks Service (NPS), and the Department of Defense (DOD).
- Natural Resource Council of Maine (NRCM) data include areas overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the United States Forestry Service (USFS), the National Parks Service (NPS), the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWR), the Army Corps of Engineers, and various military bases and Native American tribal lands.
Exploring the diverse terrain of the United States reveals a rich tapestry of land ownership across its states. From the sprawling wilderness of Alaska to the rugged terrain of Texas, each state offers a unique blend of geography and natural resources.
California, for instance, is known for its iconic landmarks like the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Pacific coastline, reflecting its significant land ownership and rich biodiversity. Montana’s picturesque landscapes, featuring rolling plains and towering mountains, attract outdoor enthusiasts and conservation efforts alike.
In contrast, New Mexico and Arizona boast the stunning landscapes of the desert Southwest, characterized by arid deserts and ancient cultural sites. Whether it’s the expansive deserts of Nevada or the diverse terrain of Colorado, each state’s land ownership contributes to the nation’s natural heritage and reflects its distinct geographical features.
