Texas: government, population and official figures

Texas is a state of the United States, number 2 of 51 by population. Texas had an estimated 31,709,821 residents on 1 July 2025, 9.3% of the population of the 50 states and DC; 2nd largest of 51. In the year to 1 July 2025 the population grew by 1.25%, 4th fastest-growing of 51.

Who runs Texas?

The governor is Greg Abbott. Governor's office. Phone: 1-512-463-2000. Address: P.O. Box 12428 Austin , TX 78711.

In depth

• Economy, jobs and prices in Texas: The economy of Texas (gross domestic product) was worth $2.93 trillion in 2025 at current prices, 9.5% of the US total of $30.86 trillion; 2nd largest of 51. In current dollars it was up 4.5% on 2024.
• Health in Texas: Life expectancy at birth in Texas was 77.1 years in 2022, 25th shortest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 77.5 years), according to NCHS state life tables.
• Education in Texas: 89.7% of public high school students in Texas graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); 8th highest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).
• Poverty and living standards in Texas: The Census Bureau estimates that 13.4% of people in Texas lived below the federal poverty line in 2024, about 4,111,828 people; joint 11th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 12.1%).
• Government budget and revenue in Texas: Texas' state government took in $208.1 billion in fiscal year 2024, $6,646 per resident, 3rd lowest of 50 states per person (all states: $9,318 per person). The total includes taxes, federal funds, charges and pension-fund investment income.

Official bodies in Texas

• Texas
• Department of Agriculture
• Health and Human Services
• Consumer Protection
• Department of Criminal Justice
• Local governments
• District & County Attorneys Association
• Education Agency
• Elections and Voting
• Disaster Preparedness
• State Health Services
• Motor Vehicles
• Office of the Attorney General

Largest cities in Texas

1. Houston 2,397,315 (2025)
2. San Antonio 1,548,422 (2025)
3. Dallas 1,329,491 (2025)
4. Fort Worth 1,028,117 (2025)
5. Austin 1,002,632 (2025)
6. El Paso 683,012 (2025)
7. Arlington 402,134 (2025)
8. Corpus Christi 317,247 (2025)
9. Plano 293,028 (2025)
10. Lubbock 273,071 (2025)
11. Laredo 269,515 (2025)
12. Irving 257,076 (2025)
13. Garland 249,625 (2025)
14. Frisco 236,955 (2025)
15. McKinney 236,001 (2025)
16. Grand Prairie 209,434 (2025)
17. Amarillo 205,130 (2025)
18. Brownsville 192,957 (2025)
19. Denton 169,431 (2025)
20. Killeen 161,883 (2025)
21. Mesquite 150,693 (2025)
22. McAllen 150,640 (2025)
23. Pasadena 148,539 (2025)
24. Waco 147,788 (2025)
25. Midland 147,615 (2025)

How states are governed in the United States

States (50). Governor and state legislature directly elected. Hold all powers not given to the federal government (10th Amendment); create and control local governments.

Every tier of government in the United States

Other states of the United States

• California 39,355,309
• Florida 23,462,518
• New York 20,002,427
• Pennsylvania 13,059,432
• Illinois 12,719,141
• Ohio 11,900,510
• Georgia 11,302,748
• North Carolina 11,197,968
• Michigan 10,127,884
• New Jersey 9,548,215
• Virginia 8,880,107
• Washington 8,001,020
• Arizona 7,623,818
• Tennessee 7,315,076
• Massachusetts 7,154,084
• Indiana 6,973,333
• Missouri 6,270,541
• Maryland 6,265,347
• Colorado 6,012,561
• Wisconsin 5,972,787
• Minnesota 5,830,405
• South Carolina 5,570,274
• Alabama 5,193,088
• Louisiana 4,618,189
• Kentucky 4,606,864
• Oregon 4,273,586
• Oklahoma 4,123,288
• Connecticut 3,688,496
• Utah 3,538,904
• Nevada 3,282,188
• Iowa 3,238,387
• Arkansas 3,114,791
• Kansas 2,977,220
• Mississippi 2,954,160
• New Mexico 2,125,498
• Idaho 2,029,733
• Nebraska 2,018,006
• West Virginia 1,766,147
• Hawaii 1,432,820
• New Hampshire 1,415,342
• Maine 1,414,874
• Montana 1,144,694
• Rhode Island 1,114,521
• Delaware 1,059,952
• South Dakota 935,094
• North Dakota 799,358
• Alaska 737,270
• District of Columbia 693,645
• Vermont 644,663
• Wyoming 588,753

Up a level: the United States · government and power in the United States · cities

Sources

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