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 Virginia than the US
Virginia‘s unique blend of deep historical roots, its humid subtropical climate in the east, and its mountainous geography in the west set it apart from much of the rest of the United States. The countries that are more similar to Virginia than the U.S. as a whole often share specific historical, geographic, and political characteristics.
- Republic of Congo and Virginia are mostly Protestant, but have many Catholics as well. They are also located along or heavily reliant upon major, navigable river systems (Congo River/Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries) which are vital to their economy. Both regions also share a humid climate, although Congo is even hotter.
- Bosnia‘s mountainous geography closely mirrors the rugged terrain and rolling hills of Virginia’s Appalachian and Blue Ridge regions. Both have a temperate climate and deciduous forests as well. The majority of people in Virginia have European ancestry, so this matches Bosnia’s population too.
- Benin is located in West Africa. It was a major point of origin for the transatlantic slave trade, establishing profound ancestral ties to Virginia’s historical African American population. Natural gas is the source of most of their electricity. Both economies combine agriculture with port activity, though Benin’s infrastructure is far less developed.
- Democratic Republic of Congo is very similar to the Republic of Congo, so it is no surprise it makes this list as well. Virginia and Congo have a similar rate of suicide and smoking tobacco. In addition, their governments have few laws that protect the rights of their citizens. They both have army, navy, and air force bases as well.
- Central African Republic and Virginia both have hot, humid climates for much of the year. Historically, Virginia has one of the highest percentages of African Americans in the U.S., so it aligns with the Central African region. In addition, their governments have historically leaned fiscally conservative, focusing on few taxes but also few entitlements.
- Liberia, 7. Guyana, 8. The Bahamas, 9, Togo, 10. Guinea-Bissau
(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 Virginia than the US
The five countries deemed least similar to Virginia are united by their vast geographic scale and climatic extremes, contrasting sharply with Virginia’s dense, temperate, and humid environment. They are predominantly characterized by economies heavily reliant on commodity and resource extraction.
- China is governed by a one-party communist system, in contrast to the politically divided Virginia government. Furthermore, China’s vastness and historically high degree of cultural and demographic homogeneity contrast with Virginia’s complex mix of historical Southern, Anglo-American, and rapidly diversifying immigrant populations.
- Argentina is built upon a Spanish-speaking heritage. Geographically, Argentina is a massive nation dominated by the semi-arid Pampas grasslands, which are primarily used for agriculture and ranching, standing in contrast to Virginia’s mix of dense forest, coastal plains, and mountains.
- Australia has a much drier climate than Virginia. Australia provides public healthcare and a broader welfare state, while Virginia relies more on market forces and charity, leading to worse health outcomes.
- Russia has profound differences in both geography and politics. Russia’s vast territory is dominated by a harsh subarctic and continental climate, which is fundamentally colder and drier than Virginia’s consistently mild and humid subtropical weather.
- Kazakhstan is a massive, landlocked Central Asian nation characterized by an arid and continental climate and flat steppes, entirely lacking Virginia’s crucial coastal access, humidity, and Appalachian mountain ranges.
- Mexico, 7. Canada, 8. Italy, 9. Azerbaijan, 10. New Zealand
Full Ranking of Countries and Territories More Similar to Virginia than the US
All data accurate as of 2025.