Which state has the highest Number of Lakes?

Alaska has the highest Number of Lakes, at 3,000,000, followed by Kansas (120,000) and Wisconsin (15,000).

Which state has the lowest Number of Lakes?

District of Columbia has the lowest Number of Lakes, at 15.

What is the median Number of Lakes across US states?

The median is 1,466 across the 51 US states with data.

Where does this lakes by state data come from?

Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Alaska Lakes - Alaskan Nature; Kansas Lakes and Rivers - GeoKansas; The Florida Lakes Data Base: Resources, literature, contents - ESSIE; Lakes - Wisconsin DNR.

State rankings

Lakes by State

Name: Lakes by State
Creator: Rankodex

Alaska has the highest Number of Lakes (3,000,000), followed by Kansas (120,000) and Wisconsin (15,000). District of Columbia has the lowest (15).

Environment51 states · 1 metricUpdated Mar 23, 2025Original page

40 sources

ShowingNumber of LakesBetter directionWhether a higher or a lower value is better. A green arrow means higher is better, a red arrow means lower is better, and no arrow means neither.More in the glossary →

51 of 51 states

Compare this metric Add to combined ranking Open full map

Number of Lakes

Darker means higher. Click a place to highlight it.

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All 51 ranked

Highest first.

Distribution Median and middle halfThe median is the middle value: half of places are above it, half below. The middle half is the range holding the central 50% of places.More in the glossary →

Each dot is one state; the lines mark the median and the middle half.

Median

1,466

Middle half 141 – 3K

Average

63,563

51 states

Highest

3,000,000

Alaska

Lowest

District of Columbia

Data

Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.

51 states · # = rank by Number of Lakes

#
1	Alaska	3,000,000
2	Kansas	120,000
3	Wisconsin	15,000
4	Minnesota	14,380
5	Michigan	11,000
6	Washington	8,000
7	New York	7,850
8	Florida	7,712
9	Texas	7,000
10	Colorado	4,000
10	Wyoming	4,000
12	Montana	3,389
13	California	3,000
13	Massachusetts	3,000
15	Illinois	2,900
16	Maine	2,677
17	Arkansas	2,340
18	South Carolina	2,162
19	Connecticut	2,000
19	Idaho	2,000
21	Pennsylvania	1,878
22	Utah	1,857
23	Louisiana	1,662
24	Virginia	1,530
25	Nebraska	1,500
26	Indiana	1,466
27	Tennessee	1,406
28	Oregon	1,400
29	New Mexico	1,200
30	Georgia	860
31	New Hampshire	800
31	Vermont	800
33	Maryland	448
34	New Jersey	400
34	North Dakota	400
36	Hawaii	266
37	Rhode Island	237
38	Delaware	142
39	Iowa	140
40	South Dakota	131
41	Arizona	128
42	Mississippi	119
43	Ohio	110
44	Missouri	100
44	West Virginia	100
46	Oklahoma	62
47	North Carolina	59
48	Kentucky	45
49	Nevada	36
50	Alabama	31
51	District of Columbia	15

What correlates with Number of Lakes?

Pearson r against 2,096 other state metrics sharing at least 31 states, 2 near-identical series hidden. Correlation is not causation.

Higher together

Places that have a higher Number of Lakes tend to score higher on these

Owned by NPSPublic Land by State
r = +0.99 · very strong · n = 48
Plot
Public Land - NPSPublic Land by State
r = +0.99 · very strong · n = 51
Plot
State Area Owned by State GovtPublic Land by State
r = +0.98 · very strong · n = 50
Plot
Hunting Acres Per Person To HuntBest States For Hunting
r = +0.98 · very strong · n = 47
Plot
Trees per CapitaMost Forested States in the U.S.
r = +0.98 · very strong · n = 50
Plot
EarthquakesEarthquakes by State
r = +0.97 · very strong · n = 35
Plot

Opposite directions

Places that have a higher Number of Lakes tend to score lower on these

Public Land Change 1990-2018Public Land by State
r = −0.95 · very strong · n = 51
Plot
NFIP Cost Difference From 2021Floods by State
r = −0.57 · strong · n = 47
Plot
Avg Combined Sales Tax RateInternet Sales Tax by State
r = −0.52 · strong · n = 47
Plot
Bass Weight (Lbs)Largemouth Bass Record by State
r = −0.50 · strong · n = 50
Plot
TetanusVaccination Rates by State
r = −0.48 · moderate · n = 51
Plot
Average July Temperature (°F)Climate by State (1991–2020 Averages)
r = −0.47 · moderate · n = 50
Plot

Quick answers

Which state has the highest Number of Lakes?: Alaska has the highest Number of Lakes, at 3,000,000, followed by Kansas (120,000) and Wisconsin (15,000).
Which state has the lowest Number of Lakes?: District of Columbia has the lowest Number of Lakes, at 15.
What is the median Number of Lakes across US states?: The median is 1,466 across the 51 US states with data.
Where does this lakes by state data come from?: Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Alaska Lakes - Alaskan Nature; Kansas Lakes and Rivers - GeoKansas; The Florida Lakes Data Base: Resources, literature, contents - ESSIE; Lakes - Wisconsin DNR.