At a glance: Missouri Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the U.S., with 6,245,466 residents across its 69,704 square miles, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The state ranked No. 18 for business in 2024 by CNBC. Missouri is known for its agriculture and forestry, which together contribute approximately $88.4 billion to the state's economy. About 100,000 farms cover about two-thirds of Missouri's land area. Additionally, Missouri is a key player in the aerospace and defense industry, with other significant sectors including manufacturing, mining and power, services and taxation, and transportation and logistics. Energy Missouri ranks No. 39 among states for most energy production, with its leading production sources being nuclear, noncombustible renewables and wood and waste, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Missouri ranks No. 26 for most energy consumption. The leading energy sources consumed by Missourians is natural gas, motor gasoline and coal. Missourians’ residential electricity rate is $0.126/kWh, cheaper than the national average. Commercial electricity rate is also cheaper; Missouri commercial users pay a rate of $0.1014/kWh, compared to the national average commercial rate of $0.1259/kWh. Industrial users pay $0.0790/kWh, just below the national average industrial electricity rate of $0.0804/kWh. Missourians’ residential natural gas price is $17.17 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 increased 30 percent since 1970, while the state’s population raised 37 percent during the same span. The population is projected to increase another 8 percent, to 6.7 million residents, by 2030. The federal government lists 41 species in Missouri as threatened or endangered.
