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 Delaware than the US
Most of the nations that resemble Delaware far more than the United States overall are located in Europe. These countries tend to be densely populated, but also have a high percentage of their territory is devoted to farmland.
- Netherlands shares Delaware’s flat geography, mild climate, and high population density. Both have large seaports along the Atlantic Ocean. They also have a diverse mix of Protestants, Catholics, and atheists. Interestingly enough, the Dutch were the first Europeans to occupy its land, but they were later removed by the British.
- Belgium is very similar to the Netherlands, so it is no surprise it makes this list as well. Both have a strong financial sector and serve as important hubs for corporate headquarters and finance despite their small size. They are relatively flat and have a humid, temperate climate as well.
- Burundi is the only African country on this list. Although it is much less developed than Delaware, Burundi is surprisingly similar in population density and small geographic footprint. In addition, they have similar rates of homicide and smoking. Although Burundi’s climate is significantly hotter, they receive a similar amount of rainfall.
- Slovenia and Delaware are both small yet strategically located, with easy access to larger markets: Slovenia in Central Europe and Delaware in the U.S. East Coast. Both have relatively high education levels for their regions and a mix of urban centers and rural landscapes. Their lands have a mix of cornfields and forested lands as well.
- Czech Republic is a landlocked, developed nation in Central Europe. Similar to Delaware, the Czech Republic has a strong and growing economy. Both have well developed infrastructure. They lack vast uninhabited expanses like those in many U.S. states. Furthermore, they both tend to consume a lot of alcohol.
- Germany, 7. Lithuania, 8. Bosnia, 9. United Kingdom, 10. Ireland
Top 10 Countries Less Similar to Delaware than the US
The countries that are less similar to Delaware than to the United States overall tend to be larger, more geographically varied, and often have political, cultural, or economic structures far removed from Delaware’s compact, densely populated, and business-oriented profile.
- Malaysia’s tropical climate and mountainous rainforest terrain are a stark contrast to Delaware’s temperate environment. Its economy relies heavily on palm oil, rubber, and electronics manufacturing, whereas Delaware focuses on finance, chemical industries, and corporate services.
- Saudi Arabia’s vast barren desert landscape is extremely different from Delaware’s densely populated mix of farmlands and forested land. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia’s laws are much more strict than Delaware’s, since their people tend to be significantly more religious.
- Angola is a sparsely populated country in Africa. It is mostly forested and has a tropical climate. While Delaware’s economy is highly diversified and service-based, Angola relies heavily on oil exports and has far less developed infrastructure.
- Canada and Delaware share strong infrastructure and high standards of living, their differences are substantial. Canada’s immense landmass, frigid northern climate, and abundant wilderness contrast with Delaware’s small, densely settled geography.
- Pakistan’s much larger size, mountainous and desert regions, and majority Muslim population make it very different from Delaware. It is less urbanized, has a younger population, and operates within a different political and religious context.
- Turkey, 7. Morocco, 8. China, 9. Oman, 10. New Zealand
Full Ranking of Countries and Territories More Similar to Delaware than the US
All data accurate as of 2025.