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 New Jersey than the US
The five countries that resemble New Jersey more than the United States overall are all located in Western Europe. Not do these countries have a similar climate to New Jersey, but they are also densely populated and relatively wealthy.
- Netherlands and New Jersey both densely populated and border the Atlantic Ocean. They have a lot of wetlands as well. In addition, both tend to have extremely liberal laws. They also have low rates of gun ownership and suicide. Netherlands and New Jersey play a key logistical role in its respective region: Rotterdam is one of the world’s busiest ports, while Newark and Elizabeth form one of the largest port complexes in the United States.
- Belgium is located just to the south of the Netherlands, so it is no surprise New Jersey and Belgium are similar as well. Their climates are extremely similar. Belgium is one of the wealthiest nations in Europe and New Jersey is one of the wealthiest states. In fact, both have extremely high minimum wages.
- Germany and New Jersey share a strong industrial and technological base. Both are densely settled and have well-developed transportation networks. Like New Jersey, Germany’s population is one of the most highly educated. Furthermore, they both have a mix of Catholics and Protestants.
- Luxembourg boasts one of the highest GDPs per capita in the world, while New Jersey has one of the highest GDPs in the United States. Although Luxembourg is landlocked, their climates and landscapes are otherwise very similar. Luxembourg and New Jersey also have a lot of workers that have moved from other locations.
- France and New Jersey are both well-known for their beaches. Northern France’s climate is very similar to that of New Jersey, with mild winters and warm summers. In addition, France has one of the most. diverse populations in Europe, while New Jersey has one of the most diverse in the United States.
- Slovenia, 7. United Kingdom, 8, Lithuania, 9. Czechia, 10. Denmark
Top 10 Countries Less Similar to New Jersey than the US
The top 5 countries with less traits in common with New Jersey than the United States overall are located tend to be predominately Muslim nations. As a result, these countries have more conservative governments and are also quite religious as well. Furthermore, they have drier climates than New Jersey.
- Iraq has a hot desert climate, frequent political instability, and low gender equality. Its infrastructure and education system are recovering from decades of conflict. It is also deeply religious nation. These characteristics are all very different from New Jersey’s stable, secular, and progressive norms.
- Afghanistan is among the least similar countries to New Jersey due to its rugged terrain, low levels of economic development, and highly traditional society. It has experienced continuous conflict for decades, with limited access to education and healthcare.
- Iran is a theocratic state governed by Islamic law, with few civil liberties. Its political structure, religious conservatism, and restrictions on women’s rights are nearly the opposite of New Jersey’s liberal, rights-based framework.
- Yemen faces widespread poverty, famine, and ongoing civil war. It is one of the least developed countries in the Middle East, with very limited infrastructure and healthcare. Furthermore, it has a high rate of gun ownership, in contrast to New Jersey.
- Pakistan remains far less developed than New Jersey, with lower literacy rates and weaker infrastructure. Its hot, dry climate and conservative social norms differ markedly from New Jersey’s temperate weather and liberal values.
- China, 7. Syria, 8. Egypt, 9. Turkey, 10. Jordan
Full Ranking of Countries and Territories More Similar to New Jersey than the US
All data accurate as of 2025.