01
Location
Neighboring states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Virginia.
Local timeNashville ·
U.S. States / South · Card 042
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state in the South. Its capital is Nashville.
Find Tennessee
● State capital · Gold highlights Tennessee.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.
At a glance
- Capital
- Nashville
- Postal abbreviation
- TN
- Population
- 7,315,076July 1, 2025 · Census estimate
- Total area
- 109,153 km²42,144 square miles · land and water
- Statehood
- June 1, 1796State number 16
- Currency
- U.S. dollar (USD)
Sources: Census · population · Census · area
Tennessee in context
Gold shows Tennessee. The dot marks Nashville.
Alaska and Hawaii are shown in separate insets at different scales.Geography & flag
02
Landscape & places
The Great Smoky Mountains span Tennessee and North Carolina, with forested ridges and exceptional biological diversity.
03
Land and water
The total area includes 106,798 km² of land and 2,355 km² of water, according to Census area measurements.
State flag
Three white stars in a blue circle on red, with blue and white stripes at the fly edge.
Sources: Census · geographic reference · Census · area measurements · National Park Service · Great Smoky Mountains
History & statehood
Tennessee was formerly part of North Carolina. After North Carolina ceded its western lands, the Southwest Territory was organized in 1790. Tennessee entered the Union in 1796.
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Southwest Territory organized
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Statehood · State number 16
Sources: Congressional Research Service · statehood · U.S. Census Bureau · historical geography · National Park Service
Economy
Main activities
In 2025, real estate and rental and leasing was the largest of the broad industry groups compared here by current-dollar output. Other major groups included manufacturing, professional and business services, and educational services, health care, and social assistance.
Total economic output was $589.8 billion in current dollars in 2025.
Largest industry groups · 2025
- Real estate and rental and leasing: 12.4%
- Manufacturing: 11.7%
- Professional and business services: 11.6%
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance: 10.4%
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 people7.322025 · 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 | 6,927,736 |
| 2021 | 6,966,687 |
| 2022 | 7,063,325 |
| 2023 | 7,153,029 |
| 2024 | 7,251,291 |
| 2025 | 7,315,076 |
Real GDP, 2010–2025
Billions of chained 2017 dollars449.362025 · 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 | 292,687.0 |
| 2011 | 301,508.9 |
| 2012 | 311,754.2 |
| 2013 | 318,347.9 |
| 2014 | 323,879.6 |
| 2015 | 335,461.1 |
| 2016 | 343,544.9 |
| 2017 | 355,417.5 |
| 2018 | 362,363.7 |
| 2019 | 370,197.4 |
| 2020 | 368,057.0 |
| 2021 | 401,673.7 |
| 2022 | 415,451.6 |
| 2023 | 428,276.1 |
| 2024 | 440,200.2 |
| 2025 | 449,356.6 |
Government
Tennessee 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 · Tennessee
Knowledge check
Three questions about Tennessee.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
What is the capital of Tennessee?
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.