How many U.S. states have fewer than 1 million people?

The correct answer is 5, as there are five U.S. states that have populations of fewer than 1 million people. These states are typically smaller in land area, have lower population density, or have unique geographic or economic circumstances that contribute to their smaller populations.

When analyzing population statistics, it's important to consider factors such as the overall size of the state, its urbanization, and migration patterns, which can drastically affect population numbers. The states that fall into this category often have rural areas and may not have large metropolitan regions that contribute to higher populations.

The relatively low number of states with populations under 1 million highlights the demographic distribution within the United States, illustrating that while some states, primarily those that are larger in size or have major cities, have populations in the millions, others remain relatively small.