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 Louisiana than the US
Louisiana‘s unique blend of French and African heritage, its subtropical climate, and its coastal geography set it apart from much of the rest of the United States. The countries that are more similar to Louisiana than the U.S. as a whole often share these characteristics.
- Central African Republic and Louisiana both have hot, humid climates for much of the year. Louisiana has one of the highest percentages of African Americans in the U.S, so their population’s ancestry is similar as well. In addition, the government in both places is quite conservative. They also have few taxes, but also few entitlements.
- Gabon’s equatorial climate closely mirrors the heat and humidity of coastal Louisiana. Culturally, Louisiana’s French/Creole influence echoes Gabon’s Francophone heritage, visible in language and their Catholic traditions. Both economies lean heavily on the oil and gas industry.
- Republic of Congo borders Gabon, so it has many similar traits. Louisiana and the Republic of Congo both are mostly Protestant Christian, but have many Catholics as well, due in part to their historical colonization by France. In addition, they are located along major navigable rivers.
- Bahamas and Louisiana areare low-lying, hurricane-prone coastal regions. Demographically, they have large populations of people who were brought over from Africa to be slaves. Bahamas and Lousiana also have a lot of seafood in their cuisine. However, their people tend to be more overweight than average.
- Togo is located in West Africa. The two share French colonial legacies, reflected in Catholicism, family structures, and aspects of language. Both have economies that combine agriculture and port activity, but Togo’s infrastructure is less developed. While both they are mostly Christian, Togo has significantly more Muslims.
- Democratic Republic of Congo, 7. Ivory Coast, 8. Haiti, 9. Guinea-Bissau, 10. Senegal
(Note: if French Guiana would be number 1 on this list if it was considered to be a sovereign nation)
Top 10 Countries Less Similar to Louisiana than the US
Louisiana’s least similar matches tend to be wealthy, higher-latitude nations with cooler climates. Most of these countries are more mountainous. Three of the five are former British colonies, like the United States.
- Canada is located to the north of the United States and has a much colder climate than Louisiana. It is also much less densely populated. In addition, Canadians tend to be more liberal than people in Louisiana.
- Australia has a much drier climate than Louisiana. Australia provides public healthcare and a broader welfare state, while Louisiana relies more on market forces and charity, leading to worse health outcomes.
- China‘s immense and diverse geography ranges from deserts to mountains and subtropical forests, but its climate and landscapes are largely different from Louisiana’s coastal plains. Furthermore, its public transportation infrastructure is more advanced.
- New Zealand is one of the most progressive, secular, egalitarian countries in the world, while Louisiana is more conservative and religious. In addition, it has few people with African ancestry, since most of its citizens have roots in Europe or native Maori ancestry.
- Switzerland’s alpine geography, cold winters, and high elevation could hardly be more different from Louisiana’s low-lying, subtropical coast. Furthermore, people in Switzerland tend to be significantly wealthier than people living in Louisiana.
- Norway, 7. Germany, 8. Austria, 9. Luxembourg, 10. Russia
Full Ranking of Countries and Territories More Similar to Louisiana than the US
All data accurate as of 2025.