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 Washington than the US
Few countries resemble Washington much more than the United States overall, but four of the five countries that do border the Pacific Ocean. These countries tend to have a lot of coastline and are also quite mountainous.
- Iceland and Washington have many mountains and beautiful coastline. The majority of their people have European ancestry. Both have especially high median incomes. Politically, they are socially progressive and have many laws that protect the rights of their workers. However, Iceland and Washington also have high rates of gun ownership.
- Vanuatu is a Melanesian island nation with lush forests, heavy rainfall, and deep cultural respect for nature, much like Washington’s Pacific coastline. While economically less developed, Vanuatu’s reliance on fishing, maritime trade, and eco-tourism mirrors some of Washington’s characteristics.
- Colombia is located in South America. Both governments have many liberal laws. They ban capital punishment and corporal punishment but allow same sex marriage. Colombia and Washington also have decriminalized marijuana. Furthermore, most of their electricity is created by hydropower.
- Fiji , like Vanuatu, is a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean. Like Washington, it has many seaports and a laid-back coastal culture. Fiji has abundant rainfall, fertile land, and a population concentrated in a few urban centers surrounded by wilderness and water, just like Washington.
- Ecuador is another South American nation similar to Washington. They have an intense environmental focus and breathtaking geographic diversity. Ecuador’s progressive environmental policies, including granting rights to nature in its constitution, align closely with Washington’s ecological activism and climate leadership.
- Cambodia, 7. Latvia, 8. Bolivia, 9. Mongolia, 10. Luxembourg
Top 10 Countries Less Similar to Washington than the US
The five countries with much fewer traits in common with Washington than the United States overall are predominately Muslim countries. Their governments have more conservative laws. In addition, they much hotter and drier climates.
- Egypt‘s desert geography contrasts Washington’s green forests and farmlands. Culturally, Egypt’s traditions and norms differ greatly from Washington’s culture. Egypt struggles with development issues while Washington thrives in technology and services.
- Iraq is extremely arid with vast stretches of desert, the opposite of Washington’s rainy climate and evergreen landscapes. Its political environment is far more volatile, shaped by religious and sectarian divisions. Unlike Washington’s progressive values and strong civil liberties, Iraq enforces conservative laws rooted in Islamic tradition.
- Syria’s long civil conflict and humanitarian crisis sharply contrast with Washington’s stability and high quality of life. The country’s hot, dry climate and limited natural forests bear little resemblance to Washington’s temperate rainforests.
- Libya is dominated by the Sahara Desert and experiences extreme heat. Its economy is heavily dependent on oil and plagued by political instability, compared to Washington’s diversified economy centered on technology, aerospace, and trade.
- United Arab Emirates is mostly barren desert but is densely populated, in contrast to Washington. Its Muslim-majority culture is very different from Washington’s secular, progressive society, so its laws are significantly more conservative.
- Jordan, 7. Iran, 8. Yemen, 9. Argentina, 10. Turkey
Full Ranking of Countries and Territories More Similar to Washington than the US
All data accurate as of 2025.