Local time--:--:--Jackson ·

U.S. States / South · Card 024

Mississippi

Mississippi is a U.S. state in the South. Its capital is Jackson.

Find Mississippi

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

At a glance

Capital: Jackson
Postal abbreviation: MS
Population: 2,954,160July 1, 2025 · Census estimate
Total area: 125,438 km²48,432 square miles · land and water
Statehood: December 10, 1817State number 20
Currency: U.S. dollar (USD)

Sources: Census · population · Census · area

Mississippi in context

Gold shows Mississippi. The dot marks Jackson.

Alaska and Hawaii are shown in separate insets at different scales.

Geography & flag

Location

Neighboring states: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee.

Landscape & places

Gulf Islands National Seashore includes barrier islands and coastal habitats in Mississippi and Florida.

Land and water

The total area includes 121,531 km² of land and 3,907 km² of water, according to Census area measurements.

State flag

A magnolia blossom inside a ring of stars and lettering, on blue between gold and red vertical bands.

Sources: Census · geographic reference · Census · area measurements · National Park Service · Gulf Islands

History & statehood

Mississippi Territory was created in 1798 and originally included parts of present-day Alabama. Alabama Territory was separated in 1817, the same year Mississippi entered the Union. The state's later history includes major civil rights campaigns.

1798
Mississippi Territory created
1817
Alabama Territory separated
December 10, 1817
Statehood · State number 20

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

Economy

Main activities

In 2025, government and government enterprises was the largest of the broad industry groups compared here by current-dollar output. Other major groups included manufacturing, real estate and rental and leasing, and retail trade.

Total economic output was $165.1 billion in current dollars in 2025.

Largest industry groups · 2025

Government and government enterprises: 15.5%
Manufacturing: 14.7%
Real estate and rental and leasing: 12.7%
Retail trade: 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

2.952025 · millions of people

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	2,958,385
2021	2,947,603
2022	2,941,237
2023	2,942,470
2024	2,950,172
2025	2,954,160

Real GDP, 2010–2025

Billions of chained 2017 dollars

125.362025 · billions of chained 2017 dollars

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	106,711.8
2011	106,491.1
2012	108,646.5
2013	109,032.7
2014	109,299.6
2015	109,401.7
2016	109,911.0
2017	110,281.4
2018	110,174.8
2019	111,207.8
2020	111,195.0
2021	116,078.4
2022	115,700.3
2023	119,454.2
2024	123,419.3
2025	125,356.9

Government

Mississippi has three branches of state government. The governor leads the executive branch. A Senate and House of Representatives form the legislature, which passes state laws and budgets. State courts interpret and apply the law.

Sources: USAGov · Mississippi

Knowledge check

Three questions about Mississippi.

QUESTION 1 OF 3

What is the capital of Mississippi?

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.