War

Mapped: States with the Most Military Personnel in 2025

Published

2 weeks ago

July 4, 2025

Bruno Venditti

Graphics/Design:

Miranda Smith

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app.

Use This Visualization

Mapped: States with the Most Military Personnel in 2025

This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.

Key Takeaways

California tops the list with over 157,000 active duty personnel, thanks to major bases like Camp Pendleton and Naval Base San Diego.
Virginia ranks second due to the Pentagon and the Norfolk Naval Station, world’s largest naval station.

Which U.S. states house the most active military personnel?

This map highlights where the U.S. Department of Defense concentrates its manpower across the country in 2025. From massive coastal bases to inland installations, certain states stand out as major military hubs.

The data for this visualization comes from the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC). It tracks the number of active duty personnel stationed in each U.S. state, reflecting the current military footprint by location.

California Leads with Massive Coastal Presence

California hosts over 157,000 active duty personnel, more than any other state. This is largely due to large-scale facilities such as Naval Base San Diego, Camp Pendleton, and Edwards Air Force Base. California’s bases are strategically important for Pacific operations and logistics.

Rank	State	Active Duty Personnel
1	California	157,477
2	Virginia	119,878
3	Texas	112,915
4	North Carolina	94,805
5	Florida	67,115
6	Georgia	65,152
7	Washington	57,785
8	Hawaii	43,935
9	South Carolina	36,145
10	Colorado	35,433
11	Kentucky	28,980
12	Maryland	28,376
13	Illinois	22,968
14	Oklahoma	20,760
15	Alaska	20,040
16	Kansas	18,973
17	New York	17,275
18	Arizona	16,139
19	Missouri	15,222
20	New Mexico	13,577
21	Louisiana	13,031
22	Mississippi	12,149
23	Nevada	11,715
24	District Of Columbia	11,307
25	Alabama	8,281
26	New Jersey	7,885
27	North Dakota	7,234
28	Ohio	7,000
29	Connecticut	6,744
30	Nebraska	6,345
31	Utah	4,416
32	Rhode Island	4,215
33	Arkansas	3,674
34	Massachusetts	3,502
35	Montana	3,405
36	Delaware	3,394
37	Idaho	3,372
38	South Dakota	3,204
39	Wyoming	3,126
40	Tennessee	2,450
41	Pennsylvania	2,276
42	Michigan	1,897
43	Oregon	1,482
44	New Hampshire	1,262
45	Indiana	1,050
46	Wisconsin	988
47	Maine	652
48	Minnesota	628
49	Iowa	195
50	West Virginia	171
51	Vermont	128

Virginia, with nearly 120,000 active duty members, ranks second.

The Pentagon, the seat of U.S. military command, and Naval Station Norfolk, the largest naval base in the world, are both located in the state.

Southern States Are Prominent Hubs

Texas, North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia round out the top six. These states benefit from expansive land, warm climates, and proximity to the Atlantic or Gulf coasts.

In 2024, the largest recipients of U.S. defense spending were Texas, Virginia, and California, with significant portions also going to Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, and North Carolina.