01
Location
Neighboring states: Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma.
Local timeTopeka ·
U.S. States / Midwest · Card 016
Kansas
Kansas is a U.S. state in the Midwest. Its capital is Topeka.
Find Kansas
● State capital · Gold highlights Kansas.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.
At a glance
- Capital
- Topeka
- Postal abbreviation
- KS
- Population
- 2,977,220July 1, 2025 · Census estimate
- Total area
- 213,100 km²82,278 square miles · land and water
- Statehood
- January 29, 1861State number 34
- Currency
- U.S. dollar (USD)
Sources: Census · population · Census · area
Kansas in context
Gold shows Kansas. The dot marks Topeka.
Alaska and Hawaii are shown in separate insets at different scales.Geography & flag
02
Landscape & places
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve protects a remnant of the tallgrass prairie that once covered much of central North America.
03
Land and water
The total area includes 211,754 km² of land and 1,346 km² of water, according to Census area measurements.
State flag
The state seal, a sunflower and the word Kansas on a blue field.
Sources: Census · geographic reference · Census · area measurements · National Park Service · Tallgrass Prairie
History & statehood
Kansas Territory was created in 1854. Conflict over whether slavery would be permitted marked the territorial period. Kansas entered the Union as a free state in 1861, shortly before the Civil War.
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Kansas Territory created
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Statehood · State number 34
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 real estate and rental and leasing, government and government enterprises, and professional and business services.
Total economic output was $241.4 billion in current dollars in 2025.
Largest industry groups · 2025
- Manufacturing: 15.1%
- Real estate and rental and leasing: 12.9%
- Government and government enterprises: 11.9%
- Professional and business services: 11.1%
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 people2.982025 · 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 | 2,938,274 |
| 2021 | 2,938,966 |
| 2022 | 2,938,034 |
| 2023 | 2,949,749 |
| 2024 | 2,965,252 |
| 2025 | 2,977,220 |
Real GDP, 2010–2025
Billions of chained 2017 dollars185.142025 · 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 | 143,870.1 |
| 2011 | 147,836.8 |
| 2012 | 150,077.1 |
| 2013 | 150,702.9 |
| 2014 | 154,110.1 |
| 2015 | 158,602.6 |
| 2016 | 164,643.7 |
| 2017 | 166,273.6 |
| 2018 | 169,796.9 |
| 2019 | 169,562.3 |
| 2020 | 166,621.4 |
| 2021 | 170,401.2 |
| 2022 | 177,776.1 |
| 2023 | 180,267.5 |
| 2024 | 181,599.6 |
| 2025 | 185,144.0 |
Government
Kansas 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 · Kansas
Knowledge check
Three questions about Kansas.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
What is the capital of Kansas?
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.