Special Report

States With the Most Americans Serving in the US Army and Air National Guard

J.D. Pooley / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Facts surrounding the storming of the U.S. Capitol by a violent mob on Jan. 6 continue to emerge, revealing more about possible involvement of some members of the Capitol police and several lawmakers. Prosecutors also filed conspiracy charges against several people, the most severe to date.

While the extent of the conspiracy is unclear at this time, the attack — during which five people were killed — was at the very least a massive national security failure, especially for a city as heavily policed and protected as the nation’s capital. (Here is How much money goes to police departments in America’s largest cities).

There will likely be a strong effort by defense agencies to avoid another security failure and prevent similar violence from occurring again during the inauguration of Joe Biden on Jan. 20.

To add further context and provide a bigger picture to the security event, 24/7 Wall St. analyzed DoD statistics to identify the states with the largest national guard units. This data reflects active duty units as of September 2020.

Click here to see the states with the most Americans serving in the US Army and Air National Guard.

More than 25,000 national guard men and women from all 50 states and territories are currently deployed to support the inauguration event, according to a recent press briefing by the Pentagon. Across the entire National Guard, 91,000 are on duty, including 22,000 for COVID-19 response, 16,000 overseas, and 6,000 protecting selected infrastructure and capitol buildings in 30 states. This represents 21% of the 434,334 National Guard men and women, according to the Pentagon.

The Guard consists of the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard and serves primarily for disaster relief, military support, and law enforcement. For example, the Guard was deployed during the historic 2020 wildfire season that ravaged California, Oregon, Washington, and other areas. In 2019, the Guard responded to seven severe storms, 19 floods, and 12 fires.

During the pandemic, the National Guard has supported new technology rollouts, conducted contact tracing, operated testing sites, and assisted first responders across the country.

To identify the states with the most national guard personnel, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the Department of Defense’s “Number of Military and DoD Appropriated Fund (APF) Civilian Personnel Permanently Assigned,” a statistics file maintained by the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) under the Secretary of Defense. We added together and adjusted to the population the total Army National Guard and Air National Guard units in every state. These data are current as of Sep 2020.

Total active duty personnel and the largest active duty branch in every state were also obtained using the DMDC file.

The DMDC data only reflects personnel who are permanently assigned for duty at these locations. The table does not include personnel on temporary duty, or deployed in support of contingency operations.

50. California
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 45.9 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 39,512,223 (the largest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 13,240 (3rd largest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 4,896 (3rd largest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 424.4 per 100,000 people (17th largest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 167,671 (the largest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Navy (79,551)

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49. Florida
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 55.6 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 21,477,737 (3rd largest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 9,830 (11th largest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 2,118 (23rd largest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 315.4 per 100,000 people (25th fewest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 67,740 (6th largest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Navy (29,463)

48. Texas
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 75.9 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 28,995,881 (2nd largest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 18,617 (the largest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 3,390 (6th largest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 404.7 per 100,000 people (18th largest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 117,343 (3rd largest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Army (72,909)

47. New York
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 82.8 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 19,453,561 (4th largest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 10,420 (9th largest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 5,685 (the largest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 102.9 per 100,000 people (16th fewest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 20,014 (18th largest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Army (17,152)

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46. New Jersey
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 95.5 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 8,882,190 (11th largest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 6,113 (25th largest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 2,373 (14th largest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 92.3 per 100,000 people (15th fewest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 8,202 (25th largest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Air Force (4,974)

45. Colorado
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 96.9 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 5,758,736 (21st largest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 3,778 (17th fewest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,802 (21st fewest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 648.0 per 100,000 people (10th largest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 37,316 (10th largest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Army (27,084)

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thenationalguard / Flickr

44. Washington
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 99.1 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 7,614,893 (13th largest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 5,538 (23rd fewest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 2,005 (25th largest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 779.8 per 100,000 people (7th largest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 59,383 (7th largest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Army (27,670)

chiefngb / Flickr

43. Virginia
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 100.7 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 8,535,519 (12th largest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 7,127 (20th largest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,469 (18th fewest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 1,523.5 per 100,000 people (3rd largest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 130,035 (2nd largest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Navy (79,925)

42. Illinois
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 105.6 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 12,671,821 (6th largest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 10,469 (8th largest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 2,911 (7th largest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 209.1 per 100,000 people (22nd fewest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 26,500 (13th largest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Navy (20,555)

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41. Maryland
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 106.3 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 6,045,680 (19th largest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 4,586 (20th fewest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,840 (22nd fewest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 492.3 per 100,000 people (15th largest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 29,762 (12th largest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Navy (9,807)

40. North Carolina
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 106.7 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 10,488,084 (9th largest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 9,721 (13th largest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,467 (17th fewest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 968.8 per 100,000 people (5th largest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 101,605 (4th largest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Army (45,869)

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39. Michigan
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 108.4 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 9,986,857 (10th largest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 8,378 (18th largest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 2,448 (11th largest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 21.1 per 100,000 people (7th fewest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 2,106 (10th fewest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Coast Guard (1,091)

38. Arizona
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 108.7 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 7,278,717 (14th largest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 5,340 (21st fewest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 2,570 (10th largest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 275.4 per 100,000 people (23rd fewest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 20,049 (17th largest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Air Force (11,227)

Darren McCollester / Getty Images News via Getty Images

37. Massachusetts
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 115.3 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 6,892,503 (15th largest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 5,880 (25th fewest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 2,064 (24th largest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 53.3 per 100,000 people (11th fewest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 3,671 (18th fewest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Coast Guard (1,480)

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36. Georgia
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 133.2 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 10,617,423 (8th largest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 11,294 (5th largest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 2,844 (8th largest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 647.4 per 100,000 people (11th largest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 68,736 (5th largest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Army (51,166)

35. Connecticut
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 135.6 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 3,565,287 (22nd fewest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 3,664 (16th fewest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,171 (11th fewest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 187.6 per 100,000 people (20th fewest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 6,687 (23rd fewest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Navy (5,781)

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34. Pennsylvania
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 139.6 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 12,801,989 (5th largest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 13,806 (2nd largest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 4,069 (4th largest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 19.7 per 100,000 people (6th fewest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 2,519 (12th fewest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Army (1,010)

33. Ohio
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 140.4 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 11,689,100 (7th largest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 11,321 (4th largest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 5,092 (2nd largest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 60.5 per 100,000 people (12th fewest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 7,071 (24th fewest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Air Force (5,609)

32. Nevada
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 146.1 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 3,080,156 (19th fewest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 3,302 (15th fewest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,199 (12th fewest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 387.7 per 100,000 people (20th largest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 11,943 (23rd largest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Air Force (10,551)

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31. Wisconsin
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 164.1 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 5,822,434 (20th largest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 7,219 (19th largest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 2,333 (15th largest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 18.1 per 100,000 people (5th fewest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 1,054 (7th fewest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Army (468)

thenationalguard / Flickr

30. Kentucky
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 175.4 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 4,467,673 (25th fewest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 6,577 (22nd largest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,260 (15th fewest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 758.8 per 100,000 people (8th largest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 33,900 (11th largest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Army (33,369)

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29. New Mexico
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 184.3 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 2,096,829 (15th fewest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 2,875 (9th fewest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 989 (2nd fewest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 606.4 per 100,000 people (12th largest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 12,715 (21st largest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Air Force (12,221)

28. Indiana
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 184.7 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 6,732,219 (17th largest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 10,491 (7th largest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,945 (24th fewest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 15.6 per 100,000 people (4th fewest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 1,047 (6th fewest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Army (645)

27. Tennessee
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 186.6 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 6,829,174 (16th largest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 9,256 (16th largest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 3,490 (5th largest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 35.8 per 100,000 people (9th fewest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 2,444 (11th fewest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Navy (1,564)

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26. Oregon
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 187.2 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 4,217,737 (24th fewest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 5,504 (22nd fewest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 2,391 (13th largest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 43.7 per 100,000 people (10th fewest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 1,842 (9th fewest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Coast Guard (995)

25. Missouri
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 189.0 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 6,137,428 (18th largest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 9,355 (14th largest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 2,244 (18th largest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 285.3 per 100,000 people (24th fewest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 17,509 (19th largest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Army (11,604)

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24. New Hampshire
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 202.0 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 1,359,711 (10th fewest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,642 (2nd fewest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,104 (8th fewest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 85.0 per 100,000 people (14th fewest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 1,156 (8th fewest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Navy (856)

23. South Carolina
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 204.3 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 5,148,714 (23rd largest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 9,270 (15th largest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,250 (14th fewest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 787.9 per 100,000 people (6th largest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 40,567 (9th largest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Army (12,110)

thenationalguard / Flickr

22. Maine
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 217.0 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 1,344,212 (9th fewest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,842 (5th fewest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,075 (7th fewest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 60.7 per 100,000 people (13th fewest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 816 (5th fewest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Coast Guard (614)

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21. Oklahoma
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 217.9 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 3,956,971 (23rd fewest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 6,398 (24th largest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 2,225 (19th largest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 549.0 per 100,000 people (14th largest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 21,724 (15th largest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Army (12,419)

20. Nebraska
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 219.7 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 1,934,408 (14th fewest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 3,244 (14th fewest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,005 (4th fewest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 329.6 per 100,000 people (23rd largest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 6,375 (22nd fewest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Air Force (5,834)

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19. Utah
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 222.7 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 3,205,958 (21st fewest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 5,666 (24th fewest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,473 (19th fewest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 143.8 per 100,000 people (18th fewest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 4,609 (21st fewest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Air Force (4,303)

18. Kansas
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 227.4 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 2,913,314 (16th fewest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 4,446 (19th fewest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 2,180 (20th largest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 753.2 per 100,000 people (9th largest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 21,942 (14th largest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Army (18,499)

17. Minnesota
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 233.5 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 5,639,632 (22nd largest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 10,901 (6th largest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 2,269 (17th largest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 11.6 per 100,000 people (3rd fewest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 652 (4th fewest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Army (200)

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16. Louisiana
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 247.1 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 4,648,794 (25th largest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 9,959 (10th largest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,529 (20th fewest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 338.5 per 100,000 people (22nd largest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 15,734 (20th largest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Army (8,084)

thenationalguard / Flickr

15. Alabama
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 248.8 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 4,903,185 (24th largest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 9,755 (12th largest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 2,444 (12th largest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 178.9 per 100,000 people (19th fewest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 8,770 (24th largest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Army (4,584)

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14. Idaho
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 253.0 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 1,787,065 (12th fewest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 3,185 (13th fewest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,336 (16th fewest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 204.1 per 100,000 people (21st fewest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 3,648 (17th fewest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Air Force (3,505)

13. Iowa
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 277.4 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 3,155,070 (20th fewest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 6,829 (21st largest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,923 (23rd fewest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 08.2 per 100,000 people (the fewest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 260 (3rd fewest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Army (119)

12. Delaware
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 281.6 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 973,764 (6th fewest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,686 (4th fewest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,056 (6th fewest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 381.7 per 100,000 people (21st largest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 3,717 (19th fewest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Air Force (3,565)

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11. Arkansas
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 282.0 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 3,017,804 (18th fewest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 6,556 (23rd largest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,953 (25th fewest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 129.9 per 100,000 people (17th fewest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 3,920 (20th fewest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Air Force (3,634)

10. Rhode Island
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 289.6 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 1,059,361 (7th fewest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 2,049 (6th fewest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,019 (5th fewest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 329.3 per 100,000 people (24th largest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 3,488 (15th fewest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Navy (2,768)

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9. Montana
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 312.5 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 1,068,778 (8th fewest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 2,408 (8th fewest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 932 (the fewest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 329.3 per 100,000 people (25th largest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 3,519 (16th fewest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Air Force (3,423)

8. West Virginia
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 344.7 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 1,792,147 (13th fewest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 4,052 (18th fewest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 2,125 (22nd largest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 10.3 per 100,000 people (2nd fewest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 184 (2nd fewest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Coast Guard (74)

7. Hawaii
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 369.3 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 1,415,872 (11th fewest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 2,911 (10th fewest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 2,318 (16th largest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 2,949.6 per 100,000 people (the largest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 41,762 (8th largest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Army (15,451)

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6. Mississippi
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 393.0 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 2,976,149 (17th fewest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 9,060 (17th largest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 2,637 (9th largest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 425.2 per 100,000 people (16th largest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 12,654 (22nd largest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Air Force (6,857)

5. South Dakota
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 481.7 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 884,659 (5th fewest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 3,149 (12th fewest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,112 (9th fewest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 392.2 per 100,000 people (19th largest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 3,470 (14th fewest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Air Force (3,378)

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4. Wyoming
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 490.0 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 578,759 (the fewest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,586 (the fewest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,250 (14th fewest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 561.7 per 100,000 people (13th largest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 3,251 (13th fewest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Air Force (3,203)

thenationalguard / Flickr

3. Vermont
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 517.5 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 623,989 (2nd fewest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 2,229 (7th fewest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,000 (3rd fewest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 25.3 per 100,000 people (8th fewest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 158 (the fewest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Air Force (59)

2. Alaska
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 520.4 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 731,545 (3rd fewest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,649 (3rd fewest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 2,158 (21st largest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 2,749.8 per 100,000 people (2nd largest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 20,116 (16th largest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Army (10,093)

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Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images

1. North Dakota
> Army and Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 545.0 per 100,000 people
> Total population in 2019: 762,062 (4th fewest)
> Army National Guard, Sep 2020: 2,990 (11th fewest)
> Air National Guard, Sep 2020: 1,163 (10th fewest)
> Active duty, Sep 2020: 1,002.3 per 100,000 people (4th largest)
> Total active duty, Sep 2020: 7,638 (25th fewest)
> Largest branch of active duty military: Air Force (7,596)

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