It happens more often than you’d think. You're sitting at a bar or maybe watching a game show, and someone asks the question. You think you know the answer—I mean, we’ve been singing about it since kindergarten—but then someone else chimes in with "Wait, what about Puerto Rico?" or "Doesn't DC count?" Suddenly, your confidence in basic geography starts to wobble.
So, let's get the big one out of the way immediately. There are 50 states. Period. That is the number of stars on the flag, the number of states that send two senators to Washington, and the number that have been official since Hawaii joined the club in 1959.
But honestly, the reason people get confused isn't just because they weren't paying attention in history class. The United States is a bit of a messy "family" of territories, districts, and commonwealths that look and act like states but technically aren't. If you've ever wondered why some people swear there are 51 or 52, you’re not crazy. You’re just looking at the fine print.
How many United States of America exist in the legal sense?
To understand why the number is exactly 50, you have to look at what it actually takes to be a "state." It’s not just about having a border and a governor. In the U.S. system, statehood is a specific legal status under the Constitution.
States are "sovereign" entities that share power with the federal government. This is why a state like Texas or Maine can have its own laws on things like driving ages or professional licensing that differ from its neighbors. When a territory becomes a state, it gains full representation in Congress (voting members) and the right to help elect the President through the Electoral College.
Right now, the list starts with Delaware (the first to ratify the Constitution in 1787) and ends with Hawaii (1959). Everything else—the islands, the capital city, the military bases—falls into a different bucket.
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The "Almost States" that mess up the count
This is where the math gets fuzzy for a lot of people. The U.S. owns and governs several places that aren't states. If you’re counting "major jurisdictions," you might end up with a much higher number.
Washington, D.C.
The District of Columbia is the most famous outlier. It has more people than Vermont or Wyoming, yet it isn't a state. It’s a federal district created specifically so the seat of government wouldn't be controlled by any single state. People living there pay federal taxes and vote for President, but they don't have a voting representative in the House or any Senators. This "taxation without representation" is actually why you see that phrase on D.C. license plates.
The Inhabited Territories
Then you have the five big ones:
- Puerto Rico
- Guam
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- American Samoa
- Northern Mariana Islands
Puerto Rico is the big reason people think there are 51 states. With over 3 million people, it's bigger than many actual states. People born there are U.S. citizens (except in American Samoa, where they are "U.S. nationals"), they use the U.S. Dollar, and they travel with U.S. passports. But they can’t vote in the general election for President, and they don't have a voting member of Congress.
Why do people think there are 52 states?
It’s a weirdly common myth. Some people think the "50" refers to the mainland (the contiguous U.S.) and that Alaska and Hawaii make 51 and 52.
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That’s not true. There are 48 contiguous states. Alaska (49) and Hawaii (50) complete the count.
Others might be conflating the number of weeks in a year (52) or cards in a deck with the number of states. It sounds silly, but the human brain loves patterns. If 52 is a "round" number in your head for other things, you might accidentally slot the U.S. states into that same mental drawer.
There's also the "commonwealth" confusion. Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky all officially call themselves "Commonwealths" instead of "States." In reality, there is zero legal difference. They are just using a fancy name because they liked how it sounded back in the 1700s. It doesn't add to the total count.
The path to 51: Could it actually happen?
The number of states hasn't changed in over 60 years. That’s the longest "dry spell" in American history. However, the conversation about adding more is very much alive.
For a new state to join, Congress has to pass a law. It's not just a simple vote; it's a massive political ordeal. Currently, two main candidates are always in the news:
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- Washington, D.C.: There is a massive movement to turn the residential parts of the city into the 51st state (leaving the White House and Capitol as a tiny federal district).
- Puerto Rico: They’ve held several "plebiscites" (referendums) where the island residents vote on whether they want statehood, independence, or to stay as they are. Recent votes have leaned toward statehood, but the U.S. Congress hasn't pulled the trigger on a formal admission act yet.
There have also been fringe movements to split states. You’ve probably heard of "State of Jefferson" in Northern California or "Greater Idaho." These rarely go anywhere because both the state legislature and the U.S. Congress have to agree to it. It’s a legal nightmare.
Beyond the states: The minor outlying islands
If you really want to get technical—and I mean "annoying at parties" technical—the U.S. also has several uninhabited territories. These are mostly tiny specks in the ocean like Baker Island, Howland Island, and Midway Atoll. Most are wildlife refuges or former military outposts. They don't have zip codes or mayors, but they are technically under U.S. sovereignty.
Basically, the "United States" as a country is much bigger and more complex than the 50 stars on the flag suggest. But if you’re filling out a quiz or taking a citizenship test, the answer is 50.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Trivia Night
- Verify the flag: If a flag has 50 stars, it's the current one. If you see 48, it’s a vintage flag from before 1959.
- Know the difference: Use the term "Territory" for places like Puerto Rico and "Federal District" for D.C. to sound like an expert.
- Don't say 52: Ever. You'll lose the argument every time.
- Check the news: Watch for "Admission Acts" in Congress. That is the only way the number 50 will ever change to 51.
The map of the U.S. has stayed the same for decades, but the borders of what we "own" versus what we "are" remain one of the most misunderstood parts of American geography. Keep the count at 50, but keep an eye on the territories—that’s where the real story is.