What is the most populous country in North America?

The United States is the most populous country in North America. Its population is substantially larger than those of Mexico and Canada, the continent's other two largest countries by area and population.

The United States includes 50 states and the federal district of Washington, D.C. Its population is spread across a vast area stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, with major concentrations around the northeastern corridor, the Great Lakes, California, Texas, and Florida. Alaska and Hawaii are also part of the country, although they are outside the contiguous mainland.

A common mix-up is choosing Mexico because it is the most populous Spanish-speaking country in North America, or Canada because it is the continent's largest country by area. Population and land area are different measures: Canada is geographically larger, but the United States has more residents. Even when North America is understood to include Central America and the Caribbean, the United States remains the continent's population leader.