01
Location
Neighboring states: Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee.
Local timeMontgomery ·
U.S. States / South · Card 001
Alabama
Alabama is a U.S. state in the South. Its capital is Montgomery.
Find Alabama
● State capital · Gold highlights Alabama.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.
At a glance
- Capital
- Montgomery
- Postal abbreviation
- AL
- Population
- 5,193,088July 1, 2025 · Census estimate
- Total area
- 135,767 km²52,420 square miles · land and water
- Statehood
- December 14, 1819State number 22
- Currency
- U.S. dollar (USD)
Sources: Census · population · Census · area
Alabama in context
Gold shows Alabama. The dot marks Montgomery.
Alaska and Hawaii are shown in separate insets at different scales.Geography & flag
02
Landscape & places
Little River runs along Lookout Mountain through forested uplands, waterfalls and sandstone canyon walls.
03
Land and water
The total area includes 131,171 km² of land and 4,597 km² of water, according to Census area measurements.
State flag
A crimson diagonal cross on a white field.
Sources: Census · geographic reference · Census · area measurements · National Park Service · Little River Canyon
History & statehood
Alabama Territory was separated from Mississippi Territory in 1817. Two years later, Alabama entered the Union. The state's later history includes the civil rights campaigns commemorated at Birmingham and along the Selma-to-Montgomery route.
-
Alabama Territory formed
-
Statehood · State number 22
-
Selma-to-Montgomery voting-rights marches
Sources: Congressional Research Service · statehood · U.S. Census Bureau · historical geography · National Park Service
Economy
Main activities
In 2025, manufacturing 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 professional and business services.
Total economic output was $341.2 billion in current dollars in 2025.
Largest industry groups · 2025
- Manufacturing: 15.0%
- Government and government enterprises: 15.0%
- Real estate and rental and leasing: 12.3%
- Professional and business services: 10.2%
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 people5.192025 · 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 | 5,032,962 |
| 2021 | 5,050,058 |
| 2022 | 5,076,868 |
| 2023 | 5,117,850 |
| 2024 | 5,163,055 |
| 2025 | 5,193,088 |
Real GDP, 2010–2025
Billions of chained 2017 dollars260.652025 · 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 | 199,455.0 |
| 2011 | 201,372.8 |
| 2012 | 203,675.5 |
| 2013 | 206,962.9 |
| 2014 | 206,070.0 |
| 2015 | 208,950.3 |
| 2016 | 212,862.8 |
| 2017 | 216,615.5 |
| 2018 | 220,808.8 |
| 2019 | 225,272.8 |
| 2020 | 223,025.5 |
| 2021 | 233,951.1 |
| 2022 | 239,846.6 |
| 2023 | 248,313.7 |
| 2024 | 255,629.4 |
| 2025 | 260,648.0 |
Government
Alabama 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 · Alabama
Knowledge check
Three questions about Alabama.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
What is the capital of Alabama?
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.