If the United Kingdom were a US state
Where it would rank among 50 states + DC — median rank 4th
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Where it would rank among 50 states + DC — median rank 4th
Common questions
Across 16 measures of health, safety, money, education and the environment, the United Kingdom's median rank would be 4th on a list of the 50 states plus Washington, DC. It lands in the top half of that list on 14 of the 16 measures.
The United Kingdom's GDP per capita is $64,606, price-adjusted so states and countries sit on one scale. That would rank 51st of 52 among the states — poorer than most US states. Source: World Bank (PPP), 2025. See the full ranking
People in the United Kingdom live 81.4 years on average — 2.5 years longer than the US figure of 78.9 years. Among the states, the United Kingdom would rank 1st of 52. Source: World Bank / UN Population Division, 2024. See the full ranking
The United Kingdom's homicide rate is 1.1 per 100k — a lower rate than every US state. Ranked with the states on the lowest rate, it would come 1st of 52. Source: UNODC / WHO, 2021. See the full ranking
On the 16 measures with wide global coverage, the United Kingdom's median rank is 32nd out of roughly 190 countries (coverage varies by measure). Rank 1st means best in the world.
Compared with US states, the United Kingdom's strongest measure is life expectancy: at 81.4 years, it would rank 1st of 52. It does equally well on lowest homicide rate. Source: World Bank / UN Population Division, 2024. See the full ranking
The United Kingdom's weakest showing is GDP per capita: $64,606 would rank 51st of 52 — ahead of only 1 of them. Source: World Bank (PPP), 2025. See the full ranking
The United Kingdom scores 6.69 / 10 for self-reported life satisfaction, ranking 29th of 162 countries worldwide. Source: World Happiness Report, 2025. See the full ranking
The United Kingdom has about 69.5 million people — more people than any US state. Dropped into the list of 50 states plus DC, it would rank 1st of 52 by population. Source: World Bank, 2025. See the full ranking