What is the most broke state in the US?

Mississippi is consistently ranked as the poorest U.S. state, typically having the nation's highest poverty rate and lowest median household income, with states like Louisiana, New Mexico, West Virginia, and Kentucky often appearing in the top five poorest as well. These states, primarily in the South, face challenges with limited job diversity, lower wages, and historic underinvestment, contributing to significant economic disparities.

What is the most broke state in the United States?

The top 5 financially distressed states

According to WalletHub's analysis of nine financial metrics across all 50 states, Texas ranks as the most financially distressed state in the U.S., followed by Florida, Louisiana, Nevada and South Carolina.

Which states are the worst off financially?

States often cited as being in the worst financial shape, based on recent analyses (late 2025), include Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada, and South Carolina (WalletHub), while reports on debt point to states like Illinois, New Jersey, Connecticut, Hawaii, and California facing significant liabilities or fiscal fragility. These rankings vary by source, focusing on different metrics like household debt, state debt per capita, pension obligations, or overall economic stability. 

What are the top 10 states that are in debt?

Reason Foundation finds 13 states—Connecticut, New Jersey, Hawaii, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Wyoming, Alaska, North Dakota, California, Washington, New York, and Vermont—had more than $10,000 in debt per resident.

Which state has the highest debt?

California has the most total state and local government debt, exceeding half a trillion dollars, but when considering debt per person (per capita) or against income, states like Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Hawaii, and Illinois often rank highest, with California also high in per capita figures when local debt is included. The "most debt" depends on whether you look at total dollars or the burden on residents. 

Why 27 U.S. States Are Going Broke

Which US state is the most financially stable?

• Utah. #1 in Fiscal Stability. #1 in Best States Overall. ...
• Delaware. #2 in Fiscal Stability. #18 in Best States Overall. ...
• New York. #3 in Fiscal Stability. ...
• Iowa. #4 in Fiscal Stability. ...
• Georgia. #5 in Fiscal Stability. ...
• Nebraska. #6 in Fiscal Stability. ...
• Tennessee. #7 in Fiscal Stability. ...
• Idaho. #8 in Fiscal Stability.

Who owns over 70% of the US debt?

Who owns the most U.S. debt? Around 70-80 percent of U.S. debt is held by domestic financial actors and institutions in the United States. U.S. Treasuries represent a convenient, liquid, low-risk store of value.

Which state is least in debt?

Tennessee and Utah consistently rank as having the least state government debt per capita, often followed by states like Nebraska, Idaho, and South Dakota, with figures generally under $3,000-$4,000 per resident, indicating strong fiscal management and lower overall liabilities compared to other states, though the exact ranking varies slightly by report.
 

What city is most in debt in the USA?

Cities with the highest credit card debts per household

• New York, NY ($19,540)
• Rancho Cucamonga, CA ($19,515)
• Fontana, CA ($19,325)
• Oxnard, CA ($19,144)
• Gilbert, AZ ($18,914)
• Santa Ana, CA ($18,546)
• Riverside, CA ($18,462)
• Moreno Valley, CA ($18,414)

Where does the US owe the most money?

Annual totals are based on data from April of each year. Inflation adjusted to the 2023 calendar year. As of April 2024, the five countries owning the most US debt are Japan ($1.1 trillion), China ($749.0 billion), the United Kingdom ($690.2 billion), Luxembourg ($373.5 billion), and Canada ($328.7 billion).

Which state is richest in the USA?

The richest state in the U.S. depends on the metric, but Massachusetts, Maryland, and New Jersey consistently rank at the top for median household income, while the District of Columbia (though not a state) leads in Per Capita Personal Income (PCPI), with Massachusetts and Connecticut close behind. Other contenders for wealth include Washington, California, and Hawaii, often leading in GDP or holding high income rankings.
 

What U.S. state has the lowest economy?

There isn't one single "worst" economy, as it depends on the metrics, but recent reports often point to Iowa, West Virginia, Hawaii, and Alaska as having some of the weakest economies due to low economic activity, lagging innovation, or over-reliance on single industries like oil (Alaska). Metrics like GDP growth, job creation, startup activity, and median income place these states at the bottom in various 2025 analyses, though economists suggest context is important.
 

What state is #1 in education?

Massachusetts has the highest math and reading test scores in the U.S. and the second-highest median ACT score of 25.1. Massachusetts also has one of the lowest bullying incidence rates in the country and is considered one of the best states for teachers. Massachusetts is also the most educated state in the country.

What is the hardest US state to live in?

These states are America's worst for quality of life in 2025:

• Arkansas.
• Alabama.
• Georgia.
• Louisiana.
• Utah.
• Indiana.
• Texas.
• Tennessee.

What state is struggling the most?

Most: Texas

Texans had low scores across the board, and the Lone Star State took the top spot for most financially distressed. "Texans are having a number of economic struggles, which are demonstrated by the fact that residents had the ninth-lowest average credit score in the country in Q1 2025," WalletHub said.

What is the most unhappiest state in the United States?

Based on recent studies, particularly WalletHub's 2025 analysis, Louisiana and West Virginia consistently rank as the unhappiest states, often swapping the bottom spots, with Louisiana frequently cited as the absolute least happy due to factors like high depression rates, long work hours, low sleep quality, and high divorce rates, while West Virginia struggles with high adult depression and poor sleep. Other states often in the bottom ranks include Arkansas, Alabama, and Tennessee. 

What state has the worst financial problems?

Louisiana: Louisiana residents tend to have low credit scores and high rates of accounts in forbearance or with deferred payments. Other States: Nevada, South Carolina, Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Mississippi also frequently appear in lists of states with high financial distress.

How many Americans have $20,000 in credit card debt?

A majority of Americans (53%) carry some, with an average balance of $7,719. However, a third of those carrying debt (32%) owe $10,000 or more, while almost 1 in 10 (9%) have credit card debt over $20,000.

Who owns the 36 trillion U.S. debt?

The U.S. owes its $36 trillion national debt to a mix of domestic investors (like banks, mutual funds, and individuals), U.S. government accounts (like Social Security), the Federal Reserve, and foreign investors, with Japan, the UK, and China being the largest foreign holders, primarily through purchasing U.S. Treasury bonds. The largest portion is held domestically, but foreign entities hold trillions, making countries like Japan and China significant lenders.
 

What is the most financially stable state in the US?

Florida, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming rank in the top five states. Top-performing states tend to have higher levels of cash, low unfunded pensions, and strong operating positions. Low debt and a strong cash position help maintain fiscal discipline.

How many Americans are 100% debt free?

Around 23% of Americans are debt free, according to the most recent data available from the Federal Reserve.

Which states owe the most money?

When looking at state debt, California has the highest total debt, while Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York often lead in debt per person (per capita), indicating a heavy burden relative to their population, with other states like Illinois and Hawaii also showing high per-capita figures. Different metrics (total debt, per capita, or debt as a % of income/GDP) show variations, but California, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, and Texas consistently rank high in overall debt.
 

Can the US get out of debt?

Yes, the U.S. can get out of debt, but it requires significant, often controversial, fiscal changes like substantial spending cuts (Social Security, Medicare), tax increases, or boosting economic growth dramatically; most economists agree a combination of spending reductions and revenue increases is needed to make the debt sustainable, as growing out of it alone is unlikely given current spending demands.
 

Who was the last president to balance the US budget?

The last president to oversee a balanced federal budget was Bill Clinton, whose administration achieved budget surpluses for four consecutive years, from fiscal years 1998 to 2001, marking the first sustained period of budget balance in decades. This rare feat was due to a combination of economic growth, spending cuts, and tax increases, and it ended with the start of the new millennium, after which deficits returned. 

How much does the government owe for social security?

The government "owes" Social Security trillions because it borrowed surplus payroll taxes for other spending, creating an intragovernmental debt (like IOUs) held as U.S. Treasury securities, with estimates around $2.4 to $2.7 trillion in the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) and Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Funds as of late 2024/mid-2025, which must be repaid from future revenues or borrowing to pay current and future benefits. This debt is part of the larger national debt and represents future obligations that current tax collections aren't fully covering, requiring increased borrowing or reforms.