5 Least Developed States in the USA

2. West Virginia

Human Development Index score: 0.877

Located in the Appalachian region, West Virginia, also known as the Mountain State, has some of the most rugged land in the United States. Given around 80% of its land is forests, the state has the third most forests in the country. West Virginians have the lowest level of higher education attainment in the nation, with only 23.1% of its residents holding a Bachelor’s degree or higher. With a $48,037 median household income and a poverty rate of more than 14.6% as of 2022, West Virginia is one of the poorest states in the U.S.