01
Location
Neighboring states: Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont.
Local timeBoston ·
U.S. States / Northeast · Card 021
Massachusetts
Massachusetts is a U.S. state in the Northeast. Its capital is Boston.
Find Massachusetts
● State capital · Gold highlights Massachusetts.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.
At a glance
- Capital
- Boston
- Postal abbreviation
- MA
- Population
- 7,154,084July 1, 2025 · Census estimate
- Total area
- 27,336 km²10,554 square miles · land and water
- Constitution ratified
- February 6, 1788One of the original thirteen states
- Currency
- U.S. dollar (USD)
Sources: Census · population · Census · area
Massachusetts in context
Gold shows Massachusetts. The dot marks Boston.
Alaska and Hawaii are shown in separate insets at different scales.Geography & flag
02
Landscape & places
Cape Cod National Seashore protects Atlantic beaches, dunes, marshes, ponds and wooded coastal landscapes.
03
Land and water
The total area includes 20,202 km² of land and 7,134 km² of water, according to Census area measurements.
State flag
A blue shield with a Native American figure and white star on a white field, with a crest and motto ribbon.
Sources: Census · geographic reference · Census · area measurements · National Park Service · Cape Cod
History & statehood
Massachusetts grew from colonial settlements including Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth, united under a 1691 charter. It ratified the U.S. Constitution in 1788. Maine remained part of Massachusetts until becoming a separate state in 1820.
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Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth united under one charter
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Constitution ratified · One of the original thirteen states
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Maine separated from Massachusetts
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 real estate and rental and leasing, educational services, health care, and social assistance, and finance and insurance.
Total economic output was $820.1 billion in current dollars in 2025.
Largest industry groups · 2025
- Professional and business services: 19.4%
- Real estate and rental and leasing: 14.1%
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance: 12.1%
- Finance and insurance: 8.7%
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 people7.152025 · 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 | 6,985,320 |
| 2021 | 6,996,721 |
| 2022 | 7,025,465 |
| 2023 | 7,073,479 |
| 2024 | 7,138,560 |
| 2025 | 7,154,084 |
Real GDP, 2010–2025
Billions of chained 2017 dollars644.182025 · 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 | 462,330.8 |
| 2011 | 472,664.3 |
| 2012 | 483,286.3 |
| 2013 | 486,991.8 |
| 2014 | 496,250.9 |
| 2015 | 514,398.7 |
| 2016 | 521,662.8 |
| 2017 | 530,129.4 |
| 2018 | 549,262.1 |
| 2019 | 566,326.8 |
| 2020 | 560,395.8 |
| 2021 | 597,420.0 |
| 2022 | 607,470.6 |
| 2023 | 614,786.1 |
| 2024 | 628,786.9 |
| 2025 | 644,178.8 |
Government
Massachusetts 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 · Massachusetts
Knowledge check
Three questions about Massachusetts.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
What is the capital of Massachusetts?
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.