Local time--:--:--Lincoln ·

U.S. States / Midwest · Card 027

Nebraska

Nebraska is a U.S. state in the Midwest. Its capital is Lincoln.

Find Nebraska

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

At a glance

Capital: Lincoln
Postal abbreviation: NE
Population: 2,018,006July 1, 2025 · Census estimate
Total area: 200,330 km²77,348 square miles · land and water
Statehood: March 1, 1867State number 37
Currency: U.S. dollar (USD)

Sources: Census · population · Census · area

Nebraska in context

Gold shows Nebraska. The dot marks Lincoln.

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

Geography & flag

Location

Neighboring states: Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota, Wyoming.

Landscape & places

Scotts Bluff rises above the North Platte River landscape and was a landmark on nineteenth-century overland routes.

Land and water

The total area includes 198,974 km² of land and 1,356 km² of water, according to Census area measurements.

State flag

The state seal in gold and silver on a blue field.

Sources: Census · geographic reference · Census · area measurements · National Park Service · Scotts Bluff

History & statehood

Nebraska Territory was created in 1854 and originally extended well beyond the present state. Nebraska became a state in 1867. In 1937 its legislature began operating with a single chamber, a structure unique among U.S. states.

1854
Nebraska Territory created
March 1, 1867
Statehood · State number 37
1937
Single-chamber legislature began operating

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

Economy

Main activities

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

Total economic output was $198.1 billion in current dollars in 2025.

Largest industry groups · 2025

Finance and insurance: 13.6%
Government and government enterprises: 10.9%
Manufacturing: 10.1%
Real estate and rental and leasing: 8.8%

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

2.022025 · 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	1,963,318
2021	1,964,697
2022	1,972,595
2023	1,988,172
2024	2,005,591
2025	2,018,006

Real GDP, 2010–2025

Billions of chained 2017 dollars

150.212025 · 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	103,940.8
2011	109,734.2
2012	109,686.3
2013	111,382.2
2014	115,651.9
2015	119,640.8
2016	121,303.1
2017	123,219.9
2018	125,543.4
2019	127,568.9
2020	126,711.2
2021	135,166.4
2022	139,878.1
2023	147,146.5
2024	148,102.8
2025	150,212.4

Government

Nebraska has a governor, a court system and a single-chamber legislature with 49 senators. It is the only U.S. state with a unicameral legislature. Its legislative elections are officially nonpartisan.

Sources: Nebraska Legislature · unicameral government

Knowledge check

Three questions about Nebraska.

QUESTION 1 OF 3

What is the capital of Nebraska?

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.