In the United States, the second-largest state is Texas. It occupies the south-central part of the country and is popular for its exceptional culture, diverse population, and thriving economy. It is known for its live music, delicious Tex-Mex cuisine, thriving oil industry, and love of football. These things surely make Texas stand out among other states. But how do you think this Lone Star State compares to the rest of the world?  

 In this article, we will examine different aspects of Texas and compare them to other areas of the world. These include the size of Texas compared to other states and countries, along with its economy. Through these comparisons, we aim to provide you with a better understanding of what makes Texas a unique state and how it fits into the global landscape. With this, read on and let us explore how Texas compares to the rest of the world. 

The Geographic Size and Population of Texas Compared to the Rest of the World

The geography of Texas covers a wide and far-reaching scope as it occupies around 7% of the total water and land area of the United States. By residents, it is mainly divided into North Texas, East Texas, Central Texas, South Texas, and West Texas. However, based on the Texas Almanac, the state has four major physical regions, which include the Gulf Coastal Plains, Interior Lowlands, Great Plains, and Basin and Range Province. [1]

How Big is Texas?

There is no doubt that Texas is big. But how big? Texas, the second-largest state in the United States, has an area of 268,597 square miles or 171,902,080 acres. Compared to California, with 163,696 square miles, Texas is about 1.65 times bigger. [2]

How Many States Can Fit in Texas?

If we were to fit other states inside of Texas, 15 of the smallest US states could fit in it simultaneously. Maine, South Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia, Indiana, West Virginia, Maryland, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Delaware, New Jersey, Hawaii, Connecticut, and Rhode Island are included.

Individually, all of the states in the US can fit in Texas, except for Alaska. The third largest state is California, and it can fit into Texas around 1.6 times. The smallest state is Rhode Island, which is only 1,212 square miles, and it can fit into Texas around 221 times. [2]

Texas Geographic Size and Population vs. The United States

The size of Texas is 268,597 square miles, while the size of the whole United States is 3.797 million square miles. With this, it means that Texas is about 7% of the whole land size of the United States or that the United States is 14 times larger than Texas. The population of Texas in 2021 was around 29.53 million people, which is about 8.8% of the total United States population of 332 million people. [2]

Texas Geographic Size and Population vs. England

Did you know that Texas is bigger than England? Yes, because England is less than 1/5 of the scope of Texas in land area. England is only 50,346 square miles, while Texas is 268,597 square miles. When you compare how wide they are, England is just 181 miles east to west and 346 miles north to south. The capital city of England, which is London, is just smaller than the land area of Houston. But the population of England is bigger than Texas, which is 56.29 million people. [2]

Texas Geographic Size and Population vs. The United Kingdom

Surprisingly, Texas is also bigger than the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom has a size of 93,628 square miles. It means that Texas is 2.8 times larger. However, when you compare their population, the United Kingdom has 67.2 million people, which is 2.3 times larger than Texas at 29.2 million. [2]

Texas Geographic Size and Population vs. France

France is about the same size as Texas, but Texas is still 8% larger. The size of France is 248,573 square miles, while Texas is 268,597 square miles. But the population of France is 67.4 million people, which is 2.3 times larger compared to Texas, with 29.3 million people. [2]

Texas Geographic Size and Population vs. Germany

Texas is also bigger than Germany. In fact, it is almost twice as big as Germany. The size of Germany is 138,065 square miles, which makes Texas 94.5% larger. But like France, the population of Germany, which is at 83.2 million, is about 2.84 times larger than Texas. [2]

Texas Geographic Size and Population vs. Japan

When you compare the size of Texas to Japan, Texas is 84% larger. Japan is 145,937 square miles in size, while Texas is 268,597 square miles. However, the population of Japan is 125.8 million, which is 4.3 times that of Texas, which is 29.2 million. [2]

It is indeed amazing to learn that Texas is bigger than other countries in the world in terms of geographic size. Also, did you know that at one point in history, Texas was even bigger, covering some of Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and New Mexico? It’s because New Union states were historically created by subdividing territories. At the time Texas joined the Union, it was already a large independent republic and was not divided up. [2]

The Economy of Texas Compared to the Rest of the World

The sheer size of Texas, from the workforce to the industry base, makes it an unrivaled powerhouse in the global economy. In fact, if Texas were a country, it would have been the 9th largest economy in the world in 2021, ahead of Russia, Australia, Spain, and Mexico. Many companies continue to move to the Lone Star State to tap into the nation’s second-largest civilian workforce of over 14 million and world-class infrastructure with international access by land, sea, air, and more. No wonder Texas is among the leading states for GDP, exports, population, growth, and job creation. [3]

According to Forbes Magazine, the economic growth of Texas is number one in the nation due to its strong employment and income growth forecasts. Its economic strength is the result of a lot of different factors, such as investment in workforce education, business reputation, natural resources, and entrepreneurship. [3]

In fact, in recent years, Texas has become a hub for technology startups, with cities like Dallas and Austin attracting entrepreneurs from different parts of the world. But the largest industry in Texas is oil and gas extraction, which accounts for around 6.1% of the state’s almost $2 trillion GDP. [4]

However, how do you think Texas compares to the nations around the world? Take a look at the few comparisons below:

Texas vs. The United States

Economically speaking, Texas almost had a 2-trillion-dollar economy in 2021, which is about 8% of the 25 trillion dollar US economy. [2]

Texas vs. England

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of England in 2021 was $2.5 trillion, while Texas had a GDP of about $2 trillion. With this, the GDP of England is 1.3 times larger compared to Texas. However, if you take a look at it per capita, the GDP of Texas in 2019 was $61,682, while England was at $42,300 in the same year. [2]

Texas vs. the United Kingdom

In 2021, the GDP of the United Kingdom was at $2.7 trillion, which is about 35% larger than Texas, which is at around $2 trillion. [2]

Texas vs. France

Like their geographic size, the economy of France is almost the same as Texas. However, France is around 23% larger with a GDP of $2.9 trillion compared to Texas’ $2 trillion GDP. [2]

Texas vs. Germany

The GDP of Germany in 2021 was $3.8 trillion, which is 90% larger than the GDP of Texas at $2 trillion.[2]

Texas vs. Japan

The GDP of Japan in 2021 was $5 trillion, making it about 1.5 times larger than the $2 trillion GDP of Texas.[2]

While the GDP of other nations is comparably higher than in Texas, it is still worth noting that it indeed has a booming economy. Note that Texas is only a state in the US, but its economy is comparable to the economy of other countries in the world.

More Interesting Facts About Texas Compared to the Rest of the World

If you are looking for more information about Texas compared to other nations around the world, below are more interesting facts you need to learn about:[2]

1. The whole world population of about 8 billion could fit into the state of Texas if the population density is that of New York City, which is 27,000 per square mile.
2. If Texas is a country, it will rank as the 40th largest country out of the 193 countries in the world. It is also bigger than every country in Europe.
3. The largest ranch in Texas and the United States is King Ranch, which measures 1,289 square miles. It is even bigger than the state of Rhode Island.
4. The Dallas/Fort Worth Airport measures 27 square miles. This makes it bigger than the island of Manhattan.
5. Texas has the largest domed stage capitol building in the United States, and it has 18 acres of floor space.
6. Myanmar, with 261,227 square miles, and Zambia, with 290,587 square miles, are both very close to the size of Texas at 268,597 square miles.
7. The culture of Texas, when compared to other regions of the world, is often associated with that of other southern states in the US and some parts of Mexico and Latin America. But it has a diverse and unique culture that focuses on food, music, and Western traditions.
8. The population of Texas is made up of many different ethnic backgrounds, adding to its cultural identity’s richness.
9. In terms of politics, the political system of Texas can be compared to that of Mexico. Both of them operate under a federal system of government and have a strong executive branch. When compared to other states in the US, Texas is known for its conservative political leanings.
10. Texas’ environmental problems can be compared with those of China and India, which are likewise heavily industrialized and have high levels of air and water pollution. Texas, in contrast to China and India, has made some strides in resolving these challenges through legislation and financial support for renewable energy sources.

Conclusion

Texas, indeed, has a unique identity that is shaped by its geography, economy, and other factors. While it is usually compared to other nations around the world, Texas has its own distinct characteristics. In terms of economy, we can conclude that Texas is truly a major player in the United States, and it is even compared to other countries for its job growth and business-friendly policies. It is quite amazing that the size and economy of a state are almost equal to those of various countries in the world. But while it may be compared to other regions of the world, note that Texas has its own unique identity that reflects its history and culture.

References

[1] cs.mcgill.ca. (2007). Geography of Texas. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~rwest/wikispeedia/wpcd/wp/g/Geography_of_Texas.htm

[2] Lackey, C. (2022, December 24). How big is Texas? you won’t believe how huge it is! Texas Proud – Texas History, Culture, People, Events and Interesting Facts. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://texasproud.com/how-big-is-texas-its-huge/

[3] Texas Economic Development Corporation. (2023, February 21). Texas Economic Strength: Texas economy growth: TXEDC. Texas EDC. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://businessintexas.com/why-texas/economic-strength/

[4] Stebbins, S. (2021, September 21). This is the largest industry in Texas. 247 Wall St. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://247wallst.com/state/this-is-the-largest-industry-in-texas/