California is the largest state in the Union, measured by population. Let’s treat is as a country. In that case it would fit between Poland and Algeria. In the tabulation that follows, I show other comparative figures.
| | Population | GDP (in $ billions) | Per capita income ($) | Land Area (square miles) | Water as % of land area | Density (people per sq.m) |
| Poland | 38,092,000 | 468.539 | 12,300 | 120,696 | 3.07 | 320 |
| California | 37,253,956 | 1,500.279 | 42,578 | 163,696 | 4.70 | 234 |
| Algeria | 36,300,000 | 192.384 | 7,179 | 919,595 | negl. | 38 |
Brigitte was born in Poland—so we have a way of relating in this comparison too. Last month I showed Michigan. It was sandwiched between Hungary (my place of birth) and Somalia. This time, again, Europe and Africa. I must say, though. When the Bureau of Economic Analysis absolutely insisted that California’s state product was greater than a trillion dollars in 2010, I was somewhat taken aback. That’s a rich country, even if it isn’t, strictly speaking. Someday, someday, you’ll break away. And then I will be justified in my recurring typo. I always type Lost Angeles and must then backspace to correct it.
Next I will show Texas, honoring the large states first.
