At a glance: Maryland Maryland is the 19th most populous state in the U.S., with 6,263,220 residents across its 12,407 square miles, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The state ranked No. 31 for business in 2024 by CNBC. Nearly 20 percent of the state's workforce is employed by federal, state or local government. Significant industries in the state include agriculture, fishing, manufacturing, biotechnology, tourism, mining, and cybersecurity industries. Energy Maryland ranks No. 40 among states for most energy production, with its leading production sources being nuclear, coal and noncombustible renewables, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Maryland ranks No. 44 for most energy consumption. The leading energy sources consumed by Marylanders is natural gas, motor gasoline and nuclear. Marylanders’ residential electricity rate is $0.192/kWh, more expensive than the national average. Commercial electricity rate is also more expensive; Maryland commercial users pay a rate of $0.1277/kWh, compared to the national average commercial rate of $0.1259/kWh. Industrial users pay $0.0994/kWh, above the national average industrial electricity rate of $0.0804/kWh. Marylanders’ residential natural gas price is $17.35 per thousand cubic feet, above the national average of $14.75, according to the most recently available data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Environment Annual carbon emissions decreased 32 percent since 1970, while the state’s population increased 74.2 percent during the same span. The population is projected to increase another 9.7 percent, to 6.8 million residents, by 2045. The federal government lists 27 species in Maryland as threatened or endangered.
