Comparison of U.S. States and Prince Edward Island: Area and Population

The question of which U.S. states are smaller than the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island (PEI) is a common topic of interest among geography enthusiasts and those exploring regional comparisons. PEI, with an area of 2185 square miles (5659 square kilometers), is a smaller and more densely populated region compared to some U.S. states. This article delves into the specifics of which states fall into this category and provides a detailed comparison in terms of area and population.

Area Comparison

Several U.S. states are smaller in area than PEI. For instance, Rhode Island has an area of 1544 square miles, making it significantly smaller than PEI. Delaware, with an area of 2488 square miles, is slightly larger than PEI but still fits into the category of smaller states. Other states such as Connecticut, New Jersey, and New Hampshire have larger areas, surpassing PEI.

Specific Examples

Rhode Island: Rhode Island is notably smaller than PEI. In fact, Rhode Island's area is approximately half that of PEI. The disparity in size can be attributed to PEI's having more land for its population, while Rhode Island is densely packed with more people per unit area.

Delaware: While Delaware is larger than Rhode Island, it still does not match the area of PEI. Delaware covers 2488 square miles, which is almost 2000 square miles larger than Rhode Island but notably smaller than PEI, which measures 2185 square miles.

Population Comparison

Furthermore, the population density between PEI and the U.S. states also varies significantly. According to population statistics:

PEI: PEI has a population of approximately 150,000 people. This is significantly lower than the population numbers of many U.S. states. Rhode Island: Rhode Island, on the other hand, has a population of about 1,059,361, which is notably higher than PEI's population.

While PEI’s total area is 2185 square miles, Rhode Island’s total area is 1545 square miles. These figures highlight the stark difference in population density between the two regions, with Rhode Island being more densely populated.

Other Smaller States

PEI is indeed the only Canadian province smaller than several U.S. states. However, in the context of the U.S., the smallest states include:

Rhode Island: With an area of 1545 square miles, Rhode Island is the smallest U.S. state. VT (Vermont): Vermont has an area of 9,620 square miles, making it larger than PEI. New Jersey: New Jersey spans 8,722 square miles, significantly larger than PEI. Connecticut: Connecticut's area is 4,843 square miles, also larger than PEI. New Hampshire: New Hampshire covers 9,349 square miles, which is more than PEI.

Therefore, the only U.S. state smaller than PEI in terms of area is Rhode Island.

Area Summary

The table below provides a summary of the areas of PEI, Rhode Island, and other U.S. states for easy reference:

Region Area (Square Miles) Area (Square Kilometers) Prince Edward Island (PEI) 2185 5659 Rhode Island 1545 4002 Delaware 2488 6421 Vermont 9620 24,882 New Jersey 8722 22,593 Connecticut 4843 12,545 New Hampshire 9349 24,207

Conclusion

In summary, while several U.S. states are smaller in area than Prince Edward Island, specifically mentioning Rhode Island and possibly Vermont, PEI stands out as the only Canadian province meeting this criteria when compared to U.S. states. This comparison highlights the diverse geographical and demographic characteristics of different regions within North America.