Data / Rankings / Establishment entry rate / US states

US states by establishment entry rate

Nevada had the highest establishment entry rate of 51 states in 2018, at 12.262%. West Virginia had the lowest, at 6.796%. The median was 8.394% and the figure for the United States was 9.414%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest12.262Nevada
Lowest6.796West Virginia
Median8.39451 states
United States9.414History

Map of states, 2018

Alabama: 7.49 %Alaska: 9.147 %Arizona: 10.615 %Arkansas: 8.27 %California: 10.623 %Colorado: 11.291 %Connecticut: 8.111 %Delaware: 9.733 %District of Columbia: 9.316 %Florida: 11.686 %Georgia: 10.15 %Hawaii: 8.346 %Idaho: 11.638 %Illinois: 8.494 %Indiana: 7.919 %Iowa: 7.727 %Kansas: 7.688 %Kentucky: 7.578 %Louisiana: 8.105 %Maine: 7.992 %Maryland: 8.716 %Massachusetts: 8.382 %Michigan: 8.155 %Minnesota: 7.929 %Mississippi: 7.678 %Missouri: 9.663 %Montana: 9.691 %Nebraska: 7.698 %Nevada: 12.262 %New Hampshire: 7.999 %New Jersey: 9.225 %New Mexico: 8.317 %New York: 9.736 %North Carolina: 9.537 %North Dakota: 7.882 %Ohio: 7.265 %Oklahoma: 8.64 %Oregon: 9.926 %Pennsylvania: 7.857 %Rhode Island: 8.308 %South Carolina: 9.35 %South Dakota: 8.282 %Tennessee: 8.394 %Texas: 10.41 %Utah: 11.83 %Vermont: 7.262 %Virginia: 8.817 %Washington: 10.53 %West Virginia: 6.796 %Wisconsin: 7.423 %Wyoming: 10.253 %
  • Under 7.7
  • 7.7 to 8.1
  • 8.1 to 8.4
  • 8.4 to 9.4
  • 9.4 to 10
  • 10 and over
%, 2018. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment entry rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All states, 2018

Nevada: 12.262 %Nevada12.262Utah: 11.83 %Utah11.83Florida: 11.686 %Florida11.686Idaho: 11.638 %Idaho11.638Colorado: 11.291 %Colorado11.291California: 10.623 %California10.623Arizona: 10.615 %Arizona10.615Washington: 10.53 %Washington10.53Texas: 10.41 %Texas10.41Wyoming: 10.253 %Wyoming10.253Georgia: 10.15 %Georgia10.15Oregon: 9.926 %Oregon9.926New York: 9.736 %New York9.736Delaware: 9.733 %Delaware9.733Montana: 9.691 %Montana9.691Missouri: 9.663 %Missouri9.663North Carolina: 9.537 %North Carolina9.537South Carolina: 9.35 %South Carolina9.35District of Columbia: 9.316 %District of Columbia9.316New Jersey: 9.225 %New Jersey9.225Alaska: 9.147 %Alaska9.147Virginia: 8.817 %Virginia8.817Maryland: 8.716 %Maryland8.716Oklahoma: 8.64 %Oklahoma8.64Illinois: 8.494 %Illinois8.494Tennessee: 8.394 %Tennessee8.394Massachusetts: 8.382 %Massachusetts8.382Hawaii: 8.346 %Hawaii8.346New Mexico: 8.317 %New Mexico8.317Rhode Island: 8.308 %Rhode Island8.308South Dakota: 8.282 %South Dakota8.282Arkansas: 8.27 %Arkansas8.27Michigan: 8.155 %Michigan8.155Connecticut: 8.111 %Connecticut8.111Louisiana: 8.105 %Louisiana8.105New Hampshire: 7.999 %New Hampshire7.999Maine: 7.992 %Maine7.992Minnesota: 7.929 %Minnesota7.929Indiana: 7.919 %Indiana7.919North Dakota: 7.882 %North Dakota7.882Pennsylvania: 7.857 %Pennsylvania7.857Iowa: 7.727 %Iowa7.727Nebraska: 7.698 %Nebraska7.698Kansas: 7.688 %Kansas7.688Mississippi: 7.678 %Mississippi7.678Kentucky: 7.578 %Kentucky7.578Alabama: 7.49 %Alabama7.49Wisconsin: 7.423 %Wisconsin7.423Ohio: 7.265 %Ohio7.265Vermont: 7.262 %Vermont7.262West Virginia: 6.796 %West Virginia6.796Nevada: 12.262 %Nevada12.262Utah: 11.83 %Utah11.83Florida: 11.686 %Florida11.686Idaho: 11.638 %Idaho11.638Colorado: 11.291 %Colorado11.291California: 10.623 %California10.623Arizona: 10.615 %Arizona10.615Washington: 10.53 %Washington10.53Texas: 10.41 %Texas10.41Wyoming: 10.253 %Wyoming10.253Georgia: 10.15 %Georgia10.15Oregon: 9.926 %Oregon9.926New York: 9.736 %New York9.736Delaware: 9.733 %Delaware9.733Montana: 9.691 %Montana9.691Missouri: 9.663 %Missouri9.663North Carolina: 9.537 %North Carolina9.537South Carolina: 9.35 %South Carolina9.35District of Columbia: 9.316 %District of Columbia9.316New Jersey: 9.225 %New Jersey9.225Alaska: 9.147 %Alaska9.147Virginia: 8.817 %Virginia8.817Maryland: 8.716 %Maryland8.716Oklahoma: 8.64 %Oklahoma8.64Illinois: 8.494 %Illinois8.494Tennessee: 8.394 %Tennessee8.394Massachusetts: 8.382 %Massachusetts8.382Hawaii: 8.346 %Hawaii8.346New Mexico: 8.317 %New Mexico8.317Rhode Island: 8.308 %Rhode Island8.308South Dakota: 8.282 %South Dakota8.282Arkansas: 8.27 %Arkansas8.27Michigan: 8.155 %Michigan8.155Connecticut: 8.111 %Connecticut8.111Louisiana: 8.105 %Louisiana8.105New Hampshire: 7.999 %New Hampshire7.999Maine: 7.992 %Maine7.992Minnesota: 7.929 %Minnesota7.929Indiana: 7.919 %Indiana7.919North Dakota: 7.882 %North Dakota7.882Pennsylvania: 7.857 %Pennsylvania7.857Iowa: 7.727 %Iowa7.727Nebraska: 7.698 %Nebraska7.698Kansas: 7.688 %Kansas7.688Mississippi: 7.678 %Mississippi7.678Kentucky: 7.578 %Kentucky7.578Alabama: 7.49 %Alabama7.49Wisconsin: 7.423 %Wisconsin7.423Ohio: 7.265 %Ohio7.265Vermont: 7.262 %Vermont7.262West Virginia: 6.796 %West Virginia6.796
%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment entry rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankStates2018 (%)Change on 2017
1Nevada12.262+0.48 pts
2Utah11.83+0.03 pts
3Florida11.686-0.3 pts
4Idaho11.638+0.89 pts
5Colorado11.291-0.39 pts
6California10.623-0.33 pts
7Arizona10.615-0.38 pts
8Washington10.53-0.05 pts
9Texas10.41-0.38 pts
10Wyoming10.253+0.59 pts
11Georgia10.15-0.38 pts
12Oregon9.926-0.23 pts
13New York9.736-0.29 pts
14Delaware9.733+0.03 pts
15Montana9.691+0.6 pts
16Missouri9.663-0.42 pts
17North Carolina9.537-0.41 pts
18South Carolina9.35-0.04 pts
19District of Columbia9.316+0.07 pts
20New Jersey9.225-0.55 pts
21Alaska9.147-0.58 pts
22Virginia8.817-0.23 pts
23Maryland8.716-0.15 pts
24Oklahoma8.64-0.17 pts
25Illinois8.494-0.54 pts
26Tennessee8.394-0.45 pts
27Massachusetts8.382-0.43 pts
28Hawaii8.346-0.11 pts
29New Mexico8.317-0.14 pts
30Rhode Island8.308+0.24 pts
31South Dakota8.282+0.37 pts
32Arkansas8.27-0.45 pts
33Michigan8.155+0.03 pts
34Connecticut8.111+0.35 pts
35Louisiana8.105+0.06 pts
36New Hampshire7.999+0.32 pts
37Maine7.992-0.43 pts
38Minnesota7.929-0.66 pts
39Indiana7.919-0.08 pts
40North Dakota7.882-0.31 pts
41Pennsylvania7.857+0.01 pts
42Iowa7.727+0.17 pts
43Nebraska7.698-0.58 pts
44Kansas7.688-0.43 pts
45Mississippi7.678-0.28 pts
46Kentucky7.578-0.52 pts
47Alabama7.49-0.64 pts
48Wisconsin7.423-0.27 pts
49Ohio7.265-0.35 pts
50Vermont7.262-0.4 pts
51West Virginia6.796-0.48 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Establishments that opened during the year (employees in March of the year and none a year earlier), as a percentage of the average number of establishments in the two years. United States: Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics.

An establishment is a single physical location, so a new branch of an existing firm counts as an entry: this is not the rate of new firms. Not comparable with enterprise_birth_rate, which counts new enterprises in Europe. The year is the twelve months to March: 2023 compares March 2022 with March 2023.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the states are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment entry rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2025). Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment entry rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010 (US states by establishment entry rate, 2018) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st.csv

MLA 9

Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment entry rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010, US states by establishment entry rate, 2018. U.S. Census Bureau, 25 Sept. 2025, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-entry-rate/us-states?period=2018. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2025. Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment entry rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. US states by establishment entry rate, 2018. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-entry-rate/us-states?period=2018.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2025) Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment entry rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010, US states by establishment entry rate, 2018 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-entry-rate/us-states?period=2018 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_us_states_by_establishment_2018,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment entry rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010: US states by establishment entry rate, 2018}},
  year = {2025},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-entry-rate/us-states?period=2018. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment entry rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023\_st.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment entry rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010: US states by establishment entry rate, 2018
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/09/25
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-entry-rate/us-states?period=2018
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-entry-rate/us-states?period=2018.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment entry rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
Embed this chart

Paste this code into a web page or a blog post. The chart shows the latest figures as they are published, with the source and a link back to this page.

Sites that read oEmbed links, such as WordPress, can show the chart when you paste the link to this page.

Use this data in your AI agent

Invokely serves this figure to AI assistants through MCP and to code through a REST API, with the source and citation attached. Ask your assistant:

Rank US states by establishment entry rate using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"establishment_entry_rate","level":"region","within":"United States","limit":10}
GET https://invokely.ai/api/v1/rank?indicator=establishment_entry_rate&level=region&within=United%20States&limit=10

Connect Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor in one step. The trial answers 25 calls a day without an account.

Questions

Which state has the highest establishment entry rate?

Nevada, with 12.262% in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which state has the lowest establishment entry rate?

West Virginia, with 6.796% in 2018.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment entry rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Establishment entry rate: other rankings

US states: more rankings