01
Location
Neighboring states: Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming.
Local timeHelena ·
U.S. States / West · Card 026
Montana
Montana is a U.S. state in the West. Its capital is Helena.
Find Montana
● State capital · Gold highlights Montana.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.
At a glance
- Capital
- Helena
- Postal abbreviation
- MT
- Population
- 1,144,694July 1, 2025 · Census estimate
- Total area
- 380,831 km²147,040 square miles · land and water
- Statehood
- November 8, 1889State number 41
- Currency
- U.S. dollar (USD)
Sources: Census · population · Census · area
Montana in context
Gold shows Montana. The dot marks Helena.
Alaska and Hawaii are shown in separate insets at different scales.Geography & flag
02
Landscape & places
Glacier National Park has rugged mountains, glacially carved valleys and lakes near the Canadian border.
03
Land and water
The total area includes 376,962 km² of land and 3,869 km² of water, according to Census area measurements.
State flag
The state seal beneath the word Montana on a blue field.
Sources: Census · geographic reference · Census · area measurements · National Park Service · Glacier
History & statehood
Parts of Montana came under U.S. control through the Louisiana Purchase and the 1846 treaty with Britain. Montana Territory was separated from Idaho Territory in 1864. Statehood followed in 1889.
-
Montana Territory organized
-
Statehood · State number 41
Sources: Congressional Research Service · statehood · U.S. Census Bureau · historical geography · National Park Service
Economy
Main activities
In 2025, real estate and rental and leasing was the largest of the broad industry groups compared here by current-dollar output. Other major groups included government and government enterprises, educational services, health care, and social assistance, and professional and business services.
Total economic output was $82.4 billion in current dollars in 2025.
Largest industry groups · 2025
- Real estate and rental and leasing: 14.8%
- Government and government enterprises: 12.3%
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance: 10.3%
- Professional and business services: 9.6%
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 people1.142025 · millions of people
July 1 resident population estimates, using the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 series.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau
View data table
| Year | People |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1,087,156 |
| 2021 | 1,106,416 |
| 2022 | 1,121,533 |
| 2023 | 1,130,612 |
| 2024 | 1,137,557 |
| 2025 | 1,144,694 |
Real GDP, 2010–2025
Billions of chained 2017 dollars61.942025 · 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
| Year | Millions of chained 2017 dollars |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 42,469.8 |
| 2011 | 43,532.2 |
| 2012 | 44,329.1 |
| 2013 | 45,114.7 |
| 2014 | 46,166.7 |
| 2015 | 47,765.6 |
| 2016 | 47,189.6 |
| 2017 | 48,470.5 |
| 2018 | 49,455.0 |
| 2019 | 50,263.5 |
| 2020 | 50,062.9 |
| 2021 | 53,345.9 |
| 2022 | 55,806.9 |
| 2023 | 58,604.9 |
| 2024 | 60,605.7 |
| 2025 | 61,939.7 |
Government
Montana 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 · Montana
Knowledge check
Three questions about Montana.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
What is the capital of Montana?
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.