Data / Rankings / Nonemployer businesses: arts, entertainment and recreation / US states

US states by nonemployer businesses: arts, entertainment and recreation

California had the highest nonemployer businesses: arts, entertainment and recreation of 51 states in 2023, at 235,905. North Dakota had the lowest, at 3,469. The median was 20,941 and the figure for the United States was 1.74 million. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest235,905California
Lowest3,469North Dakota
Median20,94151 states
United States1,737,630History

Map of states, 2023

Alabama: 17,350 countAlaska: 3,956 countArizona: 33,571 countArkansas: 9,861 countCalifornia: 235,905 countColorado: 39,667 countConnecticut: 21,203 countDelaware: 4,889 countDistrict of Columbia: 5,810 countFlorida: 120,692 countGeorgia: 56,211 countHawaii: 7,725 countIdaho: 8,628 countIllinois: 62,805 countIndiana: 26,440 countIowa: 13,119 countKansas: 12,442 countKentucky: 17,446 countLouisiana: 18,875 countMaine: 9,230 countMaryland: 35,100 countMassachusetts: 44,730 countMichigan: 46,040 countMinnesota: 36,289 countMississippi: 9,141 countMissouri: 27,416 countMontana: 7,213 countNebraska: 8,544 countNevada: 20,941 countNew Hampshire: 7,978 countNew Jersey: 47,077 countNew Mexico: 10,671 countNew York: 147,809 countNorth Carolina: 51,005 countNorth Dakota: 3,469 countOhio: 52,133 countOklahoma: 15,478 countOregon: 26,850 countPennsylvania: 60,545 countRhode Island: 6,763 countSouth Carolina: 23,176 countSouth Dakota: 4,777 countTennessee: 46,133 countTexas: 130,718 countUtah: 18,558 countVermont: 5,462 countVirginia: 43,567 countWashington: 38,055 countWest Virginia: 5,464 countWisconsin: 26,999 countWyoming: 3,704 count
  • Under 7,000
  • 7,000 to 10K
  • 10K to 21K
  • 21K to 35K
  • 35K to 50K
  • 50K and over
count, 2023. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics, state and US files: establishments (ESTAB), arts, entertainment, and recreation (NAICS 71), all legal forms. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All states, 2023

California: 235,905 countCalifornia235,905New York: 147,809 countNew York147,809Texas: 130,718 countTexas130,718Florida: 120,692 countFlorida120,692Illinois: 62,805 countIllinois62,805Pennsylvania: 60,545 countPennsylvania60,545Georgia: 56,211 countGeorgia56,211Ohio: 52,133 countOhio52,133North Carolina: 51,005 countNorth Carolina51,005New Jersey: 47,077 countNew Jersey47,077Tennessee: 46,133 countTennessee46,133Michigan: 46,040 countMichigan46,040Massachusetts: 44,730 countMassachusetts44,730Virginia: 43,567 countVirginia43,567Colorado: 39,667 countColorado39,667Washington: 38,055 countWashington38,055Minnesota: 36,289 countMinnesota36,289Maryland: 35,100 countMaryland35,100Arizona: 33,571 countArizona33,571Missouri: 27,416 countMissouri27,416Wisconsin: 26,999 countWisconsin26,999Oregon: 26,850 countOregon26,850Indiana: 26,440 countIndiana26,440South Carolina: 23,176 countSouth Carolina23,176Connecticut: 21,203 countConnecticut21,203Nevada: 20,941 countNevada20,941Louisiana: 18,875 countLouisiana18,875Utah: 18,558 countUtah18,558Kentucky: 17,446 countKentucky17,446Alabama: 17,350 countAlabama17,350Oklahoma: 15,478 countOklahoma15,478Iowa: 13,119 countIowa13,119Kansas: 12,442 countKansas12,442New Mexico: 10,671 countNew Mexico10,671Arkansas: 9,861 countArkansas9,861Maine: 9,230 countMaine9,230Mississippi: 9,141 countMississippi9,141Idaho: 8,628 countIdaho8,628Nebraska: 8,544 countNebraska8,544New Hampshire: 7,978 countNew Hampshire7,978Hawaii: 7,725 countHawaii7,725Montana: 7,213 countMontana7,213Rhode Island: 6,763 countRhode Island6,763District of Columbia: 5,810 countDistrict of Columbia5,810West Virginia: 5,464 countWest Virginia5,464Vermont: 5,462 countVermont5,462Delaware: 4,889 countDelaware4,889South Dakota: 4,777 countSouth Dakota4,777Alaska: 3,956 countAlaska3,956Wyoming: 3,704 countWyoming3,704North Dakota: 3,469 countNorth Dakota3,469California: 235,905 countCalifornia235,905New York: 147,809 countNew York147,809Texas: 130,718 countTexas130,718Florida: 120,692 countFlorida120,692Illinois: 62,805 countIllinois62,805Pennsylvania: 60,545 countPennsylvania60,545Georgia: 56,211 countGeorgia56,211Ohio: 52,133 countOhio52,133North Carolina: 51,005 countNorth Carolina51,005New Jersey: 47,077 countNew Jersey47,077Tennessee: 46,133 countTennessee46,133Michigan: 46,040 countMichigan46,040Massachusetts: 44,730 countMassachusetts44,730Virginia: 43,567 countVirginia43,567Colorado: 39,667 countColorado39,667Washington: 38,055 countWashington38,055Minnesota: 36,289 countMinnesota36,289Maryland: 35,100 countMaryland35,100Arizona: 33,571 countArizona33,571Missouri: 27,416 countMissouri27,416Wisconsin: 26,999 countWisconsin26,999Oregon: 26,850 countOregon26,850Indiana: 26,440 countIndiana26,440South Carolina: 23,176 countSouth Carolina23,176Connecticut: 21,203 countConnecticut21,203Nevada: 20,941 countNevada20,941Louisiana: 18,875 countLouisiana18,875Utah: 18,558 countUtah18,558Kentucky: 17,446 countKentucky17,446Alabama: 17,350 countAlabama17,350Oklahoma: 15,478 countOklahoma15,478Iowa: 13,119 countIowa13,119Kansas: 12,442 countKansas12,442New Mexico: 10,671 countNew Mexico10,671Arkansas: 9,861 countArkansas9,861Maine: 9,230 countMaine9,230Mississippi: 9,141 countMississippi9,141Idaho: 8,628 countIdaho8,628Nebraska: 8,544 countNebraska8,544New Hampshire: 7,978 countNew Hampshire7,978Hawaii: 7,725 countHawaii7,725Montana: 7,213 countMontana7,213Rhode Island: 6,763 countRhode Island6,763District of Columbia: 5,810 countDistrict of Columbia5,810West Virginia: 5,464 countWest Virginia5,464Vermont: 5,462 countVermont5,462Delaware: 4,889 countDelaware4,889South Dakota: 4,777 countSouth Dakota4,777Alaska: 3,956 countAlaska3,956Wyoming: 3,704 countWyoming3,704North Dakota: 3,469 countNorth Dakota3,469
count. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics, state and US files: establishments (ESTAB), arts, entertainment, and recreation (NAICS 71), all legal forms. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankStates2023
count		Change on 2022
1California235,905+2.4%
2New York147,809+2.2%
3Texas130,718+3.4%
4Florida120,692+2.5%
5Illinois62,805+5.1%
6Pennsylvania60,545+4.4%
7Georgia56,211+0.6%
8Ohio52,133+3.6%
9North Carolina51,005+2.5%
10New Jersey47,077+4.1%
11Tennessee46,133+4.2%
12Michigan46,040+4.1%
13Massachusetts44,730+4.6%
14Virginia43,567+5.6%
15Colorado39,667+5.4%
16Washington38,055+4.5%
17Minnesota36,289+5.5%
18Maryland35,100+5.1%
19Arizona33,571+4.5%
20Missouri27,416+4.2%
21Wisconsin26,999+4.7%
22Oregon26,850+3.3%
23Indiana26,440+4.1%
24South Carolina23,176+3.4%
25Connecticut21,203+5.9%
26Nevada20,941+1.1%
27Louisiana18,875+0.6%
28Utah18,558+3.9%
29Kentucky17,446+5.5%
30Alabama17,350+3.6%
31Oklahoma15,478+5.2%
32Iowa13,119+5.4%
33Kansas12,442+3.4%
34New Mexico10,671+1.4%
35Arkansas9,861+3.5%
36Maine9,230+4.1%
37Mississippi9,141+4.3%
38Idaho8,628+4.6%
39Nebraska8,544+5.1%
40New Hampshire7,978+3.2%
41Hawaii7,725+5.4%
42Montana7,213+4.4%
43Rhode Island6,763+4.5%
44District of Columbia5,810+5.5%
45West Virginia5,464+4.6%
46Vermont5,462+0.7%
47Delaware4,889+4.2%
48South Dakota4,777+2.9%
49Alaska3,956+2.5%
50Wyoming3,704+5.5%
51North Dakota3,469+4.1%

Other periods

About this ranking

Number of businesses without paid employees in arts, entertainment, and recreation (NAICS 71), from the U.S. Census Bureau Nonemployer Statistics.

Nonemployer Statistics: businesses with no paid employees that are subject to federal income tax, mostly the self-employed, counted from tax records, with receipts above small minimum amounts. Census says some years are not comparable with earlier ones, and they are marked as series breaks: 2018 in every sector (businesses were reclassified from their descriptions, which moved many out of other services), 2022 in every sector (new receipts cutoffs) and 2017 in utilities (the same reclassification). Most nonemployers are sole proprietors whose business may be a side activity. Published about 18 months after the reference year.

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. Nonemployer Statistics, state and US files: establishments (ESTAB), arts, entertainment, and recreation (NAICS 71), all legal forms. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/nonemployer-statistics/datasets/2023/historical-datasets/. 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). Nonemployer Statistics, state and US files: establishments (ESTAB), arts, entertainment, and recreation (NAICS 71), all legal forms (US states by nonemployer businesses: arts, entertainment and recreation, 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/nonemployer-statistics/datasets/2023/historical-datasets/

MLA 9

Nonemployer Statistics, state and US files: establishments (ESTAB), arts, entertainment, and recreation (NAICS 71), all legal forms, US states by nonemployer businesses: arts, entertainment and recreation, 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 15 May 2025, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/nonemployer-statistics/datasets/2023/historical-datasets/. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/nonemployer-businesses-arts-entertainment/us-states?period=2023. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2025. Nonemployer Statistics, state and US files: establishments (ESTAB), arts, entertainment, and recreation (NAICS 71), all legal forms. US states by nonemployer businesses: arts, entertainment and recreation, 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/nonemployer-statistics/datasets/2023/historical-datasets/. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/nonemployer-businesses-arts-entertainment/us-states?period=2023.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2025) Nonemployer Statistics, state and US files: establishments (ESTAB), arts, entertainment, and recreation (NAICS 71), all legal forms, US states by nonemployer businesses: arts, entertainment and recreation, 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/nonemployer-statistics/datasets/2023/historical-datasets/, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/nonemployer-businesses-arts-entertainment/us-states?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_us_states_by_nonemployer_2023,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Nonemployer Statistics, state and US files: establishments (ESTAB), arts, entertainment, and recreation (NAICS 71), all legal forms: US states by nonemployer businesses: arts, entertainment and recreation, 2023}},
  year = {2025},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/nonemployer-statistics/datasets/2023/historical-datasets/},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/nonemployer-businesses-arts-entertainment/us-states?period=2023. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Nonemployer Statistics, state and US files: establishments (ESTAB), arts, entertainment, and recreation (NAICS 71), all legal forms. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/nonemployer-statistics/datasets/2023/historical-datasets/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - Nonemployer Statistics, state and US files: establishments (ESTAB), arts, entertainment, and recreation (NAICS 71), all legal forms: US states by nonemployer businesses: arts, entertainment and recreation, 2023
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/05/15
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/nonemployer-statistics/datasets/2023/historical-datasets/
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/nonemployer-businesses-arts-entertainment/us-states?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/nonemployer-businesses-arts-entertainment/us-states?period=2023.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Nonemployer Statistics, state and US files: establishments (ESTAB), arts, entertainment, and recreation (NAICS 71), all legal forms. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/nonemployer-statistics/datasets/2023/historical-datasets/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which state has the highest nonemployer businesses: arts, entertainment and recreation?

California, with 235,905 in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which state has the lowest nonemployer businesses: arts, entertainment and recreation?

North Dakota, with 3,469 in 2023.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics, state and US files: establishments (ESTAB), arts, entertainment, and recreation (NAICS 71), all legal forms. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

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