At a glance: Montana Montana is the 43rd most populous state in the U.S., with 1,137,233 residents across its 145,550 square miles, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The state ranked No. 46 for business in 2024 by CNBC. Montana is home to key economic industries, including agriculture, forestry, mining and energy production. Energy Montana ranks 20th for energy production, with coal the main product, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Montana also produces natural gas and oil, at a far smaller scale than the state’s coal production. The state ranks 15th for energy consumption, with coal, natural gas and ethanol the leading sources. Montana’s residential electricity rate is $0.135/kWh, below the national average of $0.16/kWh. Commercial users pay $0.121, slightly below the national average of $0.126. Industrial users pay $0.078/kWh, below the national average industrial rate of $0.0804/kWh. Residential natural gas prices average $10.17 per thousand cubic feet, 31% lower than the national average of $14.75, according to the most recently available data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Environment Annual carbon emissions have more than doubled (105%) since 1970, as the state’s population increased by 64%, going from 694,409 to 1.14 million. Montana’s population is projected to increase by an additional 12% percent, reaching 1.27 million residents by 2050. About 30 percent of Montana’s land is under permanent protection through federal and state agencies. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service lists 18 species in Montana as threatened or endangered.
