Countries More Similar to Nevada 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 Nevada than the US

The countries that resemble Nevada more than the United States overall tend to have a lower population density and are landlocked. Interestingly enough, the top five are located on three different continents.

1. Bolivia is more like Nevada than the U.S. because of its high number of Spanish-speakers. Furthermore, much of Bolivia is high-altitude or semi-arid, with towns separated by difficult landscapes, much as Nevada’s deserts and mountain ranges isolate its communities. Natural gas is their primary source of power as well.
2. Mongolia resembles Nevada because both are defined by wide stretches of sparsely populated land with little infrastructure, desert climates, and populations concentrated in a few urban areas with some high-rises. Nevada’s empty basins and ranges mirror Mongolia’s Gobi Desert and high plateaus.
3. Paraguay is another country on this list where many people speak Spanish, since both Nevada and Paraguay were once colonized by Spain. Paraguay is a relatively young, mestizo-majority nation, while Nevada is unusually diverse within the U.S. In addition, their governments have decriminalized marijuana. They also have loose gun laws.
4. Mali is a large sparsely populated country in West Africa. Its similarity to Nevada stems primarily from its geography. Much of Mali is part of the Sahara Desert and the Sahel region, making it very arid. This mirrors Nevada’s dry climate. Nevada and Mali also produce a lot of gold.
5. Botswana is another large sparsely populated country, but it is in Southern Africa. About 70% of Botswana is covered by the Kalahari Desert, so it has a similar landscape to Nevada. Nevada is known for its gold and silver, while Botswana is a global leader in diamond production. In addition, Botswana and Nevada have a high rate of suicide.
6. Niger, 7. Nicaragua, 8. Honduras, 9. Turkmenistan, 10. Venezuela

Top 10 Countries Less Similar to Nevada than the US

The five countries with the fewest similarities to Nevada tend to be countries with a lot of coastlines. Four of the five are located in Asia. They are also significantly more densely populated than Nevada.

1. Turkey is a predominately Muslim country. Its coastal geography makes it quite different from Nevada. Its cities tend to be much older than Nevada’s. Furthermore, Turkey has more shipping and railroad infrastructure. It is a lot more dependent on manufacturing.
2. Italy is a peninsula in Southern Europe with a very long coastline and several islands. Its geography is one reason for its dissimilarity to Nevada. Italy also has a higher population density and its cities are much older. It has an aging population unlike Nevada.
3. Malaysia is a predominately Muslim country in Southeast Asia with a tropical climate. Much of its land is forested unlike Nevada. Malaysia is also significantly more densely populated. Furthermore, it has more conservative laws.
4. South Korea is a highly developed country in East Asia. South Korea is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, while Nevada is one of the least densely populated U.S. states. This influences every aspect of life.
5. Singapore is a tiny island nation with a population of over 5 million people, making it one of the most densely populated places on Earth. This is the polar opposite of Nevada’s vast, empty spaces. It gets far more rainfall as well.

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

All data accurate as of 2025.