California is the most populous state in the US, with an estimated population of over 39 million in 2021, while Alaska is the largest state with an area of about 665,384 square miles. It's crucial to keep in mind that, despite appearances, the population of the largest state may not necessarily match its size.
For instance, Alaska is the 48th most populous state despite having the largest area and a population of only about 730,000. Contrarily, despite having the highest population, California comes in third place in terms of total area, behind Alaska and Texas.