01
Location
Neighboring states: Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin.
Local timeDes Moines ·
U.S. States / Midwest · Card 015
Iowa
Iowa is a U.S. state in the Midwest. Its capital is Des Moines.
Find Iowa
● State capital · Gold highlights Iowa.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.
At a glance
- Capital
- Des Moines
- Postal abbreviation
- IA
- Population
- 3,238,387July 1, 2025 · Census estimate
- Total area
- 145,746 km²56,273 square miles · land and water
- Statehood
- December 28, 1846State number 29
- Currency
- U.S. dollar (USD)
Sources: Census · population · Census · area
Iowa in context
Gold shows Iowa. The dot marks Des Moines.
Alaska and Hawaii are shown in separate insets at different scales.Geography & flag
02
Landscape & places
Effigy Mounds preserves Indigenous earthworks, including animal-shaped mounds, above the Upper Mississippi River.
03
Land and water
The total area includes 144,669 km² of land and 1,077 km² of water, according to Census area measurements.
State flag
Blue, white and red vertical bands, with an eagle and ribbon in the center and Iowa below.
Sources: Census · geographic reference · Census · area measurements · National Park Service · Effigy Mounds
History & statehood
Iowa was part of the Louisiana Purchase. Iowa Territory was organized from Wisconsin Territory in 1838, and Iowa entered the Union in 1846. The Missouri and Mississippi rivers help define the state's western and eastern edges.
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Louisiana Purchase
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Iowa Territory organized
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Statehood · State number 29
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 finance and insurance, government and government enterprises, and real estate and rental and leasing.
Total economic output was $277.1 billion in current dollars in 2025.
Largest industry groups · 2025
- Manufacturing: 15.9%
- Finance and insurance: 15.5%
- Government and government enterprises: 10.2%
- Real estate and rental and leasing: 9.5%
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 people3.242025 · 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 | 3,191,081 |
| 2021 | 3,199,037 |
| 2022 | 3,201,890 |
| 2023 | 3,214,739 |
| 2024 | 3,230,454 |
| 2025 | 3,238,387 |
Real GDP, 2010–2025
Billions of chained 2017 dollars208.842025 · 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 | 161,593.1 |
| 2011 | 164,559.3 |
| 2012 | 170,923.7 |
| 2013 | 171,069.1 |
| 2014 | 180,309.9 |
| 2015 | 185,989.2 |
| 2016 | 186,729.9 |
| 2017 | 187,125.0 |
| 2018 | 189,245.1 |
| 2019 | 188,471.4 |
| 2020 | 187,261.7 |
| 2021 | 202,470.6 |
| 2022 | 202,672.5 |
| 2023 | 201,359.8 |
| 2024 | 206,438.9 |
| 2025 | 208,842.3 |
Government
Iowa 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 · Iowa
Knowledge check
Three questions about Iowa.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
What is the capital of Iowa?
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.