how many territories does the us have
The United States currently administers 14 territories in total, of which five are permanently inhabited and the rest are small, mostly uninhabited islands and reefs.
Quick answer
How many territories does the US have?
- 14 U.S. territories (as of 2026).
- 5 inhabited : Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Inhabited vs uninhabited
- Inhabited territories (5):
- Puerto Rico
- Guam
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- American Samoa
- Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)
- Uninhabited territories (9):
- Baker Island
- Howland Island
- Jarvis Island
- Johnston Atoll
- Kingman Reef
- Midway Atoll
- Navassa Island
- Wake Island
- Palmyra Atoll
Territory types (mini‑legal lens)
Territories are broadly grouped by how the U.S. Constitution applies and whether they have their own local government:
- Unincorporated organized (e.g., Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands).
- Unincorporated unorganized (most of the tiny Pacific and Caribbean islands).
- Incorporated organized (Palmyra Atoll is the only one).
Simple table of the 14
| Territory | Region | Inhabited? |
|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | Caribbean | Yes |
| Guam | North Pacific | Yes |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Caribbean | Yes |
| American Samoa | South Pacific | Yes |
| Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) | North Pacific | Yes |
| Baker Island | North Pacific | No |
| Howland Island | North Pacific | No |
| Jarvis Island | South Pacific | No |
| Johnston Atoll | North Pacific | No |
| Kingman Reef | North Pacific | No |
| Midway Atoll | North Pacific | No |
| Navassa Island | Caribbean | No |
| Wake Island | North Pacific | No |
| Palmyra Atoll | North Pacific | No (unoccupied) |