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 Pennsylvania than the US
The countries that resemble Pennsylvania much more than the United States are all located in the eastern part of Europe. Like Pennsylvania, they have relatively cold climates and are moderate politically. Furthermore, their infrastructure is developed, but not the most advanced.
- Latvia has a very similar climate to Pennsylvania. Furthermore, both have a mix of Catholics and Protestants. Politically, both regions tend to be moderate. Although they do not have high minimum wages, their governments tend to have many rules in place to protect unions and workers.
- Bosnia & Herzegovina and Pennsylvania have rolling hills and are quite forested, but their farms have many cornfields. Both are practically landlocked, but have small outlets that lead to the ocean. Furthermore, their lands have many iron ore deposits. Their populations have a similar median age. They have high gun ownership rates as well.
- Lithuania is another Baltic country on this list. It has a continental climate with cold winters and mild summers. Politically, Lithuania exhibits moderate stances and stable governance, while its infrastructure and industry are developed without being the most technologically advanced.
- Czechia is a Slavic country that shares several traits with Pennsylvania. Both have historically been known for manufacturing and industrial development. Coal and nuclear power are big sources of electricity as well. Prague and Philadelphia both have large subway systems.
- Slovakia and Pennsylvania share a relatively cold climate. Slovakia has the Carpathian mountain range, which is comparable in character to Pennsylvania’s Appalachians. In addition, they have almost exactly the same population density. Both do a lot of manufacturing, while still retaining strong rural traditions.
- Moldova, 7. Serbia, 8. Hungary, 9. Germany, 10. Montenegro
Top 10 Countries Less Similar to Pennsylvania than the US
Interestingly enough, four of the five countries with significantly fewer similarities to Pennsylvania than the United States overall tend to be predominately Muslim. A large portion of these nations are barren desert.
- Mexico’s climate is much hotter than Pennsylvania’s temperate and cold winters. Its culture, politics, and social structure are shaped by a mix of Indigenous and Hispanic traditions, which differs greatly from Pennsylvania’s European-influenced demographics.
- Oman is located on the Arabian peninsula. It has a hot desert climate with limited rainfall, while Pennsylvania has a more moderate climate. Oman’s society is more conservative and deeply influenced by Islam, whereas Pennsylvania is less religious.
- United Arab Emirates is in many ways the opposite of Pennsylvania. It has a hot desert climate and barren landscape. In addition, its population much younger than Pennsylvania’s, since it has many migrant workers.
- Saudi Arabia has an extreme desert climate. Much of its land is barren and it is not especially mountainous. It also has very different social and political structures compared to Pennsylvania. Its laws are much more conservative than Pennsylvania’s as well.
- Pakistan is heavily influenced by Islamic traditions, with a younger population and different cultural norms. Economically and technologically, Pakistan is less developed in comparison to Pennsylvania, which has a robust industrial and service-based economy.
- Kuwait, 7. Iran, 8. Iraq, 9. China, 10. Vietnam
Full Ranking of Countries and Territories More Similar to Pennsylvania than the US
All data accurate as of 2025.
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