Local timeRichmond ·
U.S. States / South · Card 046
Virginia flag

Virginia

Virginia is a U.S. state in the South. Its capital is Richmond.

Find Virginia

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

At a glance

Capital
Richmond
Postal abbreviation
VA
Population
8,880,107July 1, 2025 · Census estimate
Total area
110,787 km²42,775 square miles · land and water
Constitution ratified
June 25, 1788One of the original thirteen states
Currency
U.S. dollar (USD)

Sources: Census · population · Census · area

Contiguous United StatesAlaskaHawaii

Virginia in context

Gold shows Virginia. The dot marks Richmond.

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

Geography & flag

01

Location

Neighboring states: District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia.

02

Landscape & places

Shenandoah National Park follows the Blue Ridge Mountains, with forests, rocky summits and waterfalls.

03

Land and water

The total area includes 102,279 km² of land and 8,508 km² of water, according to Census area measurements.

Virginia flag

State flag

The state seal on a blue field, showing Virtue standing over a fallen figure.

Sources: Census · geographic reference · Census · area measurements · National Park Service · Shenandoah

History & statehood

Virginia was chartered as an English colony in 1606. It became one of the original thirteen states and ratified the U.S. Constitution in 1788. Kentucky and, during the Civil War, West Virginia were later formed from parts of Virginia.

  1. Constitution ratified · One of the original thirteen states

  2. Kentucky became a separate state

  3. West Virginia became a separate state

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 government and government enterprises, real estate and rental and leasing, and educational services, health care, and social assistance.

Total economic output was $798.4 billion in current dollars in 2025.

Largest industry groups · 2025

  • Professional and business services: 19.0%
  • Government and government enterprises: 16.6%
  • Real estate and rental and leasing: 14.0%
  • Educational services, health care, and social assistance: 7.6%

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 people
8.882025 · millions of people
0510202020212022202320242025

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 8,637,303
2021 8,660,007
2022 8,681,038
2023 8,732,034
2024 8,819,642
2025 8,880,107

Real GDP, 2010–2025

Billions of chained 2017 dollars
623.952025 · billions of chained 2017 dollars
03507002010201520202025

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 475,699.3
2011 479,571.4
2012 483,041.4
2013 488,741.3
2014 488,918.6
2015 498,943.6
2016 505,107.7
2017 515,167.2
2018 527,767.5
2019 541,028.0
2020 535,224.4
2021 565,790.7
2022 579,301.8
2023 599,261.0
2024 613,708.7
2025 623,948.9

Government

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

Sources: USAGov · Virginia

Knowledge check

Three questions about Virginia.

QUESTION 1 OF 3

What is the capital of Virginia?

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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