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 Texas than the US
The five countries that resemble Texas more than the United States overall are Latin American nations. In fact four of the five are in Central America. Around 40% of the people in Texas are Latino. As a result, Texas is similar to many Latin America nations with conservative laws.
- El Salvador and Texas are deeply conservative, with strong evangelical and Catholic influences shaping their politics and social policy. Both have a large number of people in their prison systems. Another similarity is that their gun laws are weak. Abortion and marijuana are not legal in El Salvador and Texas either.
- Guatemala’s cultural makeup, with a mix of indigenous heritage and Spanish influence, resonates with Texas’s Latino identity and history of Spanish colonization. Both have conservative social values. In fact, they allow capital punishment and corporal punishment. Their governments have few rules protecting workers.
- Paraguay is located in South America, but it has many characteristics in common with Texas as well. Their climates are both subtropical and relatively dry. As a result, cattle farming is common in both places. Like Texas, Paraguay is culturally traditional and shaped by both indigenous and Spanish roots.
- Honduras is another Central American country that has strong religious conservatism. The slower pace of life and ranching culture bonds Texas and Honduras together. Both border the Atlantic Ocean. Agriculture and natural resources are significant in Honduras, much like Texas’s role in energy and farming.
- Nicaragua resembles Texas in its conservative political leanings. Both places value tradition and family ties strongly. They both have a unique mix of people with European, Native American, and African ancestry as well. Furthermore, soccer and baseball are quite popular in Texas and Nicaragua too.
- Bolivia, 7. Togo, 8. Equatorial Guinea, 9. Venezuela, 10. Panama
Top 10 Countries Less Similar to Texas than the US
The top 5 countries with less traits in common with Texas than the United States overall are located tend to more developed infrastructure and have colder climates. In addition, these countries have more liberal governments and have less conservative laws.
- Canada‘s climate is much colder than the climate in Texas. It also has a more centralized and generous social safety net, universal healthcare, and more gun restrictions. While parts of Canada are geographically close to the U.S., culturally and politically, it more closely resembles Northern Europe more than the American South.
- Austria‘s geography is defined by the Alps, offering an extremely mountainous and temperate climate distinct from the subropical heat and relatively flat terrain. Austria’s culture emphasizes social democracy and a strong welfare state, contrasting sharply with the more individualistic political and economic norm in Texas.
- Switzerland is another landlocked country in Europe on this list. Texas thrives on oil, gas, while Switzerland’s economy is dependent on global banking and luxury goods. Switzerland is centrist-liberal, with strong social welfare in contrast to Texas.
- New Zealand has a cool, temperate maritime climate with lush forests . It also has a strong environmental policies and liberal values. It ranks high on global indexes of trust in quality of life. These traits that align more with progressive coastal states than Texas.
- Norway is another European country on on this list. In contrast to Texas, it has a cold climate. Norway has a strong emphasis on social welfare and gender equality. Its high taxes, secularism, and low crime rates contrast sharply with Texas.
- Germany, 7. Sweden, 8. Russia, 9. Luxembourg, 10. Italy
Full Ranking of Countries and Territories More Similar to Texas than the US
All data accurate as of 2025.