There isn’t one fixed official number, because “red state” is an informal label and can change with election cycles. A commonly cited current count is 24 red states and 23 blue states.

What “red state” means

A red state is usually a state that tends to vote Republican in presidential and statewide elections. That label is descriptive, not a legal category, so different sources may count states a bit differently depending on the election they use.

Important caveat

Because political leanings shift over time, the number can move after major elections, redistricting, or changing voter patterns. So if you see a different count elsewhere, it’s usually because the source is using a different method or year.

TL;DR: A simple answer is 24 red states right now, but it’s an informal and changeable count.