Special Report

States With the Highest Number of COVID-19 Cases

Samuel Stebbins

Published: May 22, 2022 5:45 am

Since the first known case of COVID-19 was identified in the U.S. on Jan. 21, 2020, there have been a total of 81,978,400 confirmed cases of COVID-19 nationwide — or 25,057 per 100,000 people.

Of course, infections are not evenly spread across the country, and some states have far higher infections rates per capita than others. The number of confirmed cases per 100,000 people ranges from as low as 17,579 to as high as 34,547, depending on the state.

Though the first case of the novel coronavirus in the United States was on the West Coast, the early epicenter of the outbreak was on the other side of the country, in New York City. In the months since, virtually no corner of the country has been spared.

Still, some states have been hit harder than others.

The severity of a COVID-19 outbreak across a given state is subject to a wide range of factors. States that had a hands-off approach in the early days of the pandemic are more likely to be worse off today than those that adopted strict measures to control the spread. Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming were the only states that did not issue a statewide stay-at-home order in March or early April 2020 — and of those eight states, seven currently have a higher infection rate than the U.S. as a whole.

All COVID-19 data used in this story are current as of May 19, 2022.

Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images

51. Maryland
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 17,579 per 100,000 people (1,062,235 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 241 per 100,000 people (14,545 total deaths)
> Population: 6,042,718

These are all the counties in Maryland where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: maximkabb / iStock

50. Hawaii
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 17,723 per 100,000 people (251,759 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 100 per 100,000 people (1,422 total deaths)
> Population: 1,420,491

These are all the counties in Hawaii where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: 4nadia / Getty Images

49. Oregon
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 17,748 per 100,000 people (743,781 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 181 per 100,000 people (7,567 total deaths)
> Population: 4,190,713

These are all the counties in Oregon where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

48. Maine
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 19,199 per 100,000 people (256,957 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 175 per 100,000 people (2,337 total deaths)
> Population: 1,338,404

These are all the counties in Maine where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

47. Vermont
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 19,221 per 100,000 people (120,381 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 99 per 100,000 people (623 total deaths)
> Population: 626,299

These are all the counties in Vermont where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: aiisha5 / iStock

46. Washington
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 20,443 per 100,000 people (1,540,479 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 170 per 100,000 people (12,817 total deaths)
> Population: 7,535,591

These are all the counties in Washington where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

45. Virginia
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 20,517 per 100,000 people (1,747,608 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 239 per 100,000 people (20,328 total deaths)
> Population: 8,517,685

These are all the counties in Virginia where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Matt Anderson / iStock via Getty Images

44. Washington D.C.
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 21,353 per 100,000 people (146,163 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 196 per 100,000 people (1,342 total deaths)
> Population: 702,455

Click here to see all current COVID-19 data for Washington D.C.

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

43. Connecticut
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 22,160 per 100,000 people (791,690 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 306 per 100,000 people (10,922 total deaths)
> Population: 3,572,665

These are all the counties in Connecticut where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

42. Pennsylvania
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 22,437 per 100,000 people (2,873,457 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 350 per 100,000 people (44,877 total deaths)
> Population: 12,807,060

These are all the counties in Pennsylvania where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

41. Ohio
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 23,303 per 100,000 people (2,724,041 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 330 per 100,000 people (38,550 total deaths)
> Population: 11,689,442

These are all the counties in Ohio where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: iip-photo-archive / Flickr

40. Missouri
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 23,398 per 100,000 people (1,433,482 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 333 per 100,000 people (20,417 total deaths)
> Population: 6,126,452

These are all the counties in Missouri where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

39. New Hampshire
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 23,530 per 100,000 people (319,179 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 185 per 100,000 people (2,513 total deaths)
> Population: 1,356,458

These are all the counties in New Hampshire where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / Getty Images

38. Texas
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 23,659 per 100,000 people (6,790,676 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 302 per 100,000 people (86,723 total deaths)
> Population: 28,701,845

These are all the counties in Texas where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: choness / Getty Images

37. California
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 23,726 per 100,000 people (9,385,311 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 228 per 100,000 people (90,219 total deaths)
> Population: 39,557,045

These are all the counties in California where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: f11photo / Getty Images

36. Nevada
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 23,997 per 100,000 people (728,159 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 357 per 100,000 people (10,819 total deaths)
> Population: 3,034,392

These are all the counties in Nevada where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

35. Georgia
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 24,059 per 100,000 people (2,530,918 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 362 per 100,000 people (38,086 total deaths)
> Population: 10,519,475

These are all the counties in Georgia where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: pabradyphoto / Getty Images

34. Iowa
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 24,467 per 100,000 people (772,205 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 303 per 100,000 people (9,572 total deaths)
> Population: 3,156,145

These are all the counties in Iowa where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: pawel.gaul / Getty Images

33. Michigan
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 24,736 per 100,000 people (2,472,596 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 362 per 100,000 people (36,140 total deaths)
> Population: 9,995,915

These are all the counties in Michigan where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: f11photo / Getty Images

32. Colorado
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 24,809 per 100,000 people (1,413,034 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 220 per 100,000 people (12,512 total deaths)
> Population: 5,695,564

These are all the counties in Colorado where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

31. Nebraska
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 25,160 per 100,000 people (485,409 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 220 per 100,000 people (4,240 total deaths)
> Population: 1,929,268

These are all the counties in Nebraska where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: ferrantraite / Getty Images

30. New Mexico
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 25,175 per 100,000 people (527,534 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 365 per 100,000 people (7,638 total deaths)
> Population: 2,095,428

These are all the counties in New Mexico where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: f11photo / Getty Images

29. Louisiana
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 25,337 per 100,000 people (1,180,697 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 371 per 100,000 people (17,301 total deaths)
> Population: 4,659,978

These are all the parishes in Louisiana where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

28. Illinois
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 25,363 per 100,000 people (3,231,524 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 298 per 100,000 people (38,028 total deaths)
> Population: 12,741,080

These are all the counties in Illinois where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: knowlesgallery / Getty Images

27. Idaho
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 25,554 per 100,000 people (448,269 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 281 per 100,000 people (4,934 total deaths)
> Population: 1,754,208

These are all the counties in Idaho where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images

26. Indiana
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 25,648 per 100,000 people (1,716,327 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 353 per 100,000 people (23,640 total deaths)
> Population: 6,691,878

These are all the counties in Indiana where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: peeterv / Getty Images

25. Montana
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 25,898 per 100,000 people (275,113 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 318 per 100,000 people (3,381 total deaths)
> Population: 1,062,305

These are all the counties in Montana where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

24. New Jersey
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 26,156 per 100,000 people (2,330,144 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 377 per 100,000 people (33,571 total deaths)
> Population: 8,908,520

These are all the counties in New Jersey where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

23. North Carolina
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 26,174 per 100,000 people (2,717,791 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 237 per 100,000 people (24,631 total deaths)
> Population: 10,383,620

These are all the counties in North Carolina where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

22. Massachusetts
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 26,445 per 100,000 people (1,825,247 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 296 per 100,000 people (20,441 total deaths)
> Population: 6,902,149

These are all the counties in Massachusetts where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Scruggelgreen / Getty Images

21. Minnesota
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 26,487 per 100,000 people (1,486,208 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 229 per 100,000 people (12,859 total deaths)
> Population: 5,611,179

These are all the counties in Minnesota where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

20. Oklahoma
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 26,499 per 100,000 people (1,044,868 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 365 per 100,000 people (14,380 total deaths)
> Population: 3,943,079

These are all the counties in Oklahoma where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Kruck20 / Getty Images

19. Alabama
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 26,733 per 100,000 people (1,306,662 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 402 per 100,000 people (19,633 total deaths)
> Population: 4,887,871

These are all the counties in Alabama where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

18. Kansas
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 26,821 per 100,000 people (780,892 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 300 per 100,000 people (8,720 total deaths)
> Population: 2,911,510

These are all the counties in Kansas where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

17. Mississippi
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 26,880 per 100,000 people (802,794 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 417 per 100,000 people (12,461 total deaths)
> Population: 2,986,530

These are all the counties in Mississippi where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: EunikaSopotnicka / Getty Images

16. South Dakota
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 27,049 per 100,000 people (238,635 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 331 per 100,000 people (2,917 total deaths)
> Population: 882,235

These are all the counties in South Dakota where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: FilippoBacci / Getty Images

15. New York
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 27,209 per 100,000 people (5,317,317 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 348 per 100,000 people (68,041 total deaths)
> Population: 19,542,209

These are all the counties in New York where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Cliff / Wikimedia Commons

14. Wyoming
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 27,246 per 100,000 people (157,409 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 315 per 100,000 people (1,820 total deaths)
> Population: 577,737

These are all the counties in Wyoming where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: mdgmorris / Getty Images

13. Delaware
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 27,834 per 100,000 people (269,198 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 304 per 100,000 people (2,936 total deaths)
> Population: 967,171

These are all the counties in Delaware where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

12. Arkansas
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 27,837 per 100,000 people (838,971 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 379 per 100,000 people (11,418 total deaths)
> Population: 3,013,825

These are all the counties in Arkansas where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

11. West Virginia
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 28,089 per 100,000 people (507,238 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 382 per 100,000 people (6,903 total deaths)
> Population: 1,805,832

These are all the counties in West Virginia where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Dreamframer / Getty Images

10. Arizona
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 28,319 per 100,000 people (2,030,925 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 422 per 100,000 people (30,230 total deaths)
> Population: 7,171,646

These are all the counties in Arizona where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

9. Wisconsin
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 28,331 per 100,000 people (1,647,029 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 250 per 100,000 people (14,508 total deaths)
> Population: 5,813,568

These are all the counties in Wisconsin where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

8. Florida
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 28,355 per 100,000 people (6,039,475 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 349 per 100,000 people (74,272 total deaths)
> Population: 21,299,325

These are all the counties in Florida where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

7. South Carolina
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 29,262 per 100,000 people (1,487,728 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 352 per 100,000 people (17,891 total deaths)
> Population: 5,084,127

These are all the counties in South Carolina where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Bill_Dally / iStock

6. Utah
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 29,701 per 100,000 people (938,864 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 151 per 100,000 people (4,761 total deaths)
> Population: 3,161,105

These are all the counties in Utah where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

5. Kentucky
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 30,021 per 100,000 people (1,341,465 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 355 per 100,000 people (15,855 total deaths)
> Population: 4,468,402

These are all the counties in Kentucky where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

4. Tennessee
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 30,200 per 100,000 people (2,044,573 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 388 per 100,000 people (26,267 total deaths)
> Population: 6,770,010

These are all the counties in Tennessee where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: csfotoimages / Getty Images

3. North Dakota
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 31,956 per 100,000 people (242,893 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 299 per 100,000 people (2,275 total deaths)
> Population: 760,077

These are all the counties in North Dakota where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: volvob12b / Flickr

2. Alaska
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 33,612 per 100,000 people (247,865 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 167 per 100,000 people (1,235 total deaths)
> Population: 737,438

These are all the counties in Alaska where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

1. Rhode Island
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of May 19: 34,547 per 100,000 people (365,267 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 19: 337 per 100,000 people (3,559 total deaths)
> Population: 1,057,315

These are all the counties in Rhode Island where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Click here to see all coronavirus data for every state.