01
Location
Neighboring states: Minnesota, Montana, South Dakota.
Local timeBismarck ·
U.S. States / Midwest · Card 034
North Dakota
North Dakota is a U.S. state in the Midwest. Its capital is Bismarck.
Find North Dakota
● State capital · Gold highlights North Dakota.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.
At a glance
- Capital
- Bismarck
- Postal abbreviation
- ND
- Population
- 799,358July 1, 2025 · Census estimate
- Total area
- 183,108 km²70,698 square miles · land and water
- Statehood
- November 2, 1889State number 39 · conventional order
- Currency
- U.S. dollar (USD)
Sources: Census · population · Census · area
North Dakota in context
Gold shows North Dakota. The dot marks Bismarck.
Alaska and Hawaii are shown in separate insets at different scales.Geography & flag
02
Landscape & places
Theodore Roosevelt National Park protects badlands, grasslands and wildlife in western North Dakota.
03
Land and water
The total area includes 178,711 km² of land and 4,397 km² of water, according to Census area measurements.
State flag
An eagle holding arrows and an olive branch on a blue field, with stars and a North Dakota ribbon.
Sources: Census · geographic reference · Census · area measurements · National Park Service · Theodore Roosevelt
History & statehood
North Dakota developed from the northern part of Dakota Territory, established in 1861. Congress authorized separate North and South Dakota states. Both were admitted on November 2, 1889; their numerical order is conventionally given alphabetically.
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Dakota Territory established
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North Dakota and South Dakota admitted on the same day
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Statehood · State number 39 · conventional order
Sources: Congressional Research Service · statehood · U.S. Census Bureau · historical geography · National Park Service
Economy
Main activities
In 2025, mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction 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 manufacturing.
Total economic output was $81.9 billion in current dollars in 2025.
Largest industry groups · 2025
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction: 14.0%
- Government and government enterprises: 10.9%
- Real estate and rental and leasing: 9.1%
- Manufacturing: 8.5%
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
Thousands of people799.362025 · thousands 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 | 779,612 |
| 2021 | 777,977 |
| 2022 | 780,191 |
| 2023 | 787,071 |
| 2024 | 793,387 |
| 2025 | 799,358 |
Real GDP, 2010–2025
Billions of chained 2017 dollars63.552025 · 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 | 38,697.4 |
| 2011 | 43,300.4 |
| 2012 | 53,326.8 |
| 2013 | 54,690.9 |
| 2014 | 60,193.0 |
| 2015 | 58,694.5 |
| 2016 | 54,756.0 |
| 2017 | 56,530.2 |
| 2018 | 58,516.4 |
| 2019 | 59,408.5 |
| 2020 | 56,602.8 |
| 2021 | 57,351.3 |
| 2022 | 57,031.1 |
| 2023 | 62,114.7 |
| 2024 | 63,366.4 |
| 2025 | 63,550.1 |
Government
North Dakota 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 · North Dakota
Knowledge check
Three questions about North Dakota.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
What is the capital of North Dakota?
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.