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U.S. States / Northeast · Card 021
Massachusetts flag

Massachusetts

The Bay State

Massachusetts is a U.S. state in the Northeast. Its capital is Boston.

Find Massachusetts

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● State capital · Gold highlights Massachusetts.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.

At a glance

Capital
Boston
Postal abbreviation
MA
Population
7,154,084July 1, 2025 · Census estimate
Total area
27,336 km²10,554 square miles · land and water
Constitution ratified
February 6, 1788One of the original thirteen states
Region
Northeast

Sources: Census · population · Census · area

Contiguous United States

Massachusetts in context

Gold shows Massachusetts. The dot marks Boston.

State symbols & traditions

Geography & flag

01

Location

Neighboring states: Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont.

02

Landscape & places

Cape Cod National Seashore protects Atlantic beaches, dunes, marshes, ponds and wooded coastal landscapes.

03

Land and water

The total area includes 20,202 km² of land and 7,134 km² of water, according to Census area measurements.

Massachusetts flag

State flag

A blue shield with a Native American figure and white star on a white field, with a crest and motto ribbon.

Sources: Census · geographic reference · Census · area measurements · National Park Service · Cape Cod

History & statehood

Massachusetts grew from colonial settlements including Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth, united under a 1691 charter. It ratified the U.S. Constitution in 1788. Maine remained part of Massachusetts until becoming a separate state in 1820.

  1. Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth united under one charter

  2. Constitution ratified · One of the original thirteen states

  3. Maine separated from Massachusetts

Sources: Congressional Research Service · statehood · U.S. Census Bureau · historical geography · National Park Service

Economy

Main activities

In 2025, professional and business services was the largest of the broad industry groups compared here by current-dollar output. Other major groups included real estate and rental and leasing, educational services, health care, and social assistance, and finance and insurance.

Total economic output was $820.1 billion in current dollars in 2025.

Largest industry groups · 2025

  • Professional and business services: 19.4%
  • Real estate and rental and leasing: 14.1%
  • Educational services, health care, and social assistance: 12.1%
  • Finance and insurance: 8.7%

Share of total current-dollar GDP. These figures measure output, not employment.

Sources: BEA · annual GDP by state, SAGDP2

Population & economic trends

Population, 2020–2025

Millions of people
7.152025 · millions of people
04.258.5202020212022202320242025

July 1 resident population estimates, using the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 series.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau

View data table
Population: source values
Year People
2020 6,985,320
2021 6,996,721
2022 7,025,465
2023 7,073,479
2024 7,138,560
2025 7,154,084

Real GDP, 2010–2025

Billions of chained 2017 dollars
644.182025 · billions of chained 2017 dollars
03757502010201520202025

Real GDP measures economic output adjusted for inflation. The chart uses BEA’s chained 2017 dollars.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

View data table
Real GDP: source values
Year Millions of chained 2017 dollars
2010 462,330.8
2011 472,664.3
2012 483,286.3
2013 486,991.8
2014 496,250.9
2015 514,398.7
2016 521,662.8
2017 530,129.4
2018 549,262.1
2019 566,326.8
2020 560,395.8
2021 597,420.0
2022 607,470.6
2023 614,786.1
2024 628,786.9
2025 644,178.8

Representation

Electoral votes
112024 & 2028 elections
Voting U.S. House seats
92020 Census allocation
U.S. Senate seats
2

Electoral votes equal the state’s U.S. House seats plus its two U.S. Senate seats. These allocations apply to the 2024 and 2028 presidential elections.

Sources: National Archives · 2024 and 2028 electoral votes

Knowledge check

Three questions about Massachusetts.

QUESTION 1 OF 3

What is the capital of Massachusetts?

Sources & notes

Prepared 27 September 2026. Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025, July 1 estimates for 2020–2025. Real GDP: BEA annual state accounts, SAGDP9, millions of chained 2017 dollars; industry shares: SAGDP2, current dollars. Data downloaded 27 September 2026. Area measurements include land and water.

Sources: Census · population estimates · BEA · state GDP · Census · area measurements · Natural Earth · map data

The capital clock shows current local time. Statistical figures are dated estimates and may be revised.

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