Countries More Similar to Alaska than the US

_{Have you ever wondered which U.S. states resemble countries more closely than others? The Country – US State Comparisons are designed to quantify just that — measuring how similar each U.S. state is to different countries around the world relative to the United States. This index provides a data-driven way to make those comparisons. It equally weights five major factors: demographics, culture, politics, technology, and geography. Over 1,000 different data points are used to generate the results.}

Top 10 Countries More Similar to Alaska than the US

Alaska is a very unique state. Few countries are more similar to it than the United States. This is because it is much more sparsely populated and colder than most countries. Four of the five countries that resemble Alaska the most are European nations.

1. Iceland and Alaska both sit at high latitudes, with cold temperatures and limited daylight in winter. They are volcanically active and have many glaciers. Both economies historically rely heavily on fishing, natural resources, and tourism. Their populations tend to be relatively wealthy, but their infrastructure is not as well developed.
2. Canada shares an extensive border with Alaska and has similarly vast, sparsely populated northern regions with cold subarctic and Arctic climates. Both have abundant natural resources, including oil, natural gas, timber, minerals, and fisheries. Canada also shares Alaska’s strong interest in ice hockey and outdoor recreation.
3. Russia once owned Alaska, but was acquired by the United States in 1867. In fact, Russian Orthodox churches still dot parts of Alaska. Much of Alaska’s climate and landscape is very similar to the Siberian portion of Russia. Natural resources, such as oil, gas, fishing, mining, and timber are big parts of their economies as well.
4. Norway and Alaska have a lot of coastline and mountainous terrain. Both have important fishing industries and substantial oil and natural gas production. Their coastal communities also rely on maritime transportation. Both places offer opportunities for outdoor recreation, including skiing, hiking, and fishing, and experience limited winter daylight in their northern regions.
5. Finland is another Nordic country on this list. Both Alaskans and Finnish people tend to like ice hockey, due in part to their similar cold subarctic climates. In addition, their people tend to drink a lot of alcohol too. They also do not criminalize the possession of marijuana and also do not allow gambling.
6. Solomon Islands, 7. Mongolia, 8. Kyrgyzstan, 9. Papua New Guinea, 10. Djibouti

(Note: if Greenland was an independent country it would have ranked as number 1 on this list)

Top 10 Countries Less Similar to Alaska than the US

Interestingly enough, 4 of the top 5 countries with less traits in common with Alaska than the United States overall are located in Europe as well. They tend to be much more densely populated, more infrastructure, and have a longer history of permanent settlements.

1. France is much more densely populated than Alaska, with extensive urban areas, agricultural land, and transportation infrastructure. Its generally milder climate and long history of permanent settlement also contrast with Alaska’s vast wilderness and harsh winters.
2. Serbia has a much higher population density than Alaska and a landscape dominated by towns, villages, and agricultural areas. Its continental climate brings hot summers, while Alaska experiences much colder conditions across much of its territory.
3. Cuba has a tropical climate and its terrain is quite flat, so its landscape is quite different from Alaska’s. Its population is concentrated in settled areas, and its economy and agricultural landscape differ considerably from Alaska’s resource-based economy and extensive wilderness.
4. Portugal is another country in Southern Europe on this list. It it lacks the vast, uninhabited wilderness and tundra that characterize much of Alaska. In addition, Portugal has not yet won any medal at the Winter Olympics.
5. Belgium is one of Europe’s most densely populated countries, with extensive urban development, agriculture, and transportation networks. In contrast, Alaska has a small population spread across an enormous area, with large stretches of undeveloped land and a much colder climate.
6. Croatia, 7. Germany, 8. Bosnia, 9. United Kingdom, 10. Brazil

Full Ranking of Countries and Territories More Similar to Alaska than the US

All data accurate as of 2026.