Local timeTrenton ·
U.S. States / Northeast · Card 030
New Jersey flag

New Jersey

New Jersey is a U.S. state in the Northeast. Its capital is Trenton.

Find New Jersey

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● State capital · Gold highlights New Jersey.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.

At a glance

Capital
Trenton
Postal abbreviation
NJ
Population
9,548,215July 1, 2025 · Census estimate
Total area
22,591 km²8,723 square miles · land and water
Constitution ratified
December 18, 1787One of the original thirteen states
Currency
U.S. dollar (USD)

Sources: Census · population · Census · area

Contiguous United StatesAlaskaHawaii

New Jersey in context

Gold shows New Jersey. The dot marks Trenton.

Alaska and Hawaii are shown in separate insets at different scales.

Geography & flag

01

Location

Neighboring states: Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania.

02

Landscape & places

The Delaware River passes through a mountain gap and a landscape of wooded ridges and river valleys shared by New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

03

Land and water

The total area includes 19,047 km² of land and 3,544 km² of water, according to Census area measurements.

New Jersey flag

State flag

The state coat of arms on a buff-colored field.

Sources: Census · geographic reference · Census · area measurements · National Park Service · Delaware Water Gap

History & statehood

New Jersey was chartered in 1664. After division into East and West Jersey, the two were reunited in 1702. New Jersey became the third state to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1787.

  1. New Jersey chartered

  2. East and West Jersey reunited

  3. Constitution ratified · One of the original thirteen states

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 government and government enterprises.

Total economic output was $887.2 billion in current dollars in 2025.

Largest industry groups · 2025

  • Professional and business services: 16.2%
  • Real estate and rental and leasing: 16.2%
  • Educational services, health care, and social assistance: 10.0%
  • Government and government enterprises: 9.1%

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 people
9.552025 · millions of people
07.515202020212022202320242025

July 1 resident population estimates, using the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 series.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau

View data table
Population: source values
Year People
2020 9,270,476
2021 9,266,509
2022 9,298,402
2023 9,395,315
2024 9,506,354
2025 9,548,215

Real GDP, 2010–2025

Billions of chained 2017 dollars
688.122025 · billions of chained 2017 dollars
04008002010201520202025

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
Real GDP: source values
Year Millions of chained 2017 dollars
2010 554,764.4
2011 548,479.3
2012 560,729.7
2013 570,952.4
2014 570,696.4
2015 581,414.9
2016 587,049.7
2017 590,086.7
2018 606,892.2
2019 618,691.0
2020 598,481.3
2021 631,158.3
2022 648,512.4
2023 662,320.1
2024 675,897.6
2025 688,124.0

Government

New Jersey has three branches of state government. The governor leads the executive branch. A Senate and General Assembly form the legislature, which passes state laws and budgets. State courts interpret and apply the law.

Sources: USAGov · New Jersey

Knowledge check

Three questions about New Jersey.

QUESTION 1 OF 3

What is the capital of New Jersey?

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.

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