Animal Population
Alligators by State 2026
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- Data includes only alligators living in the wild. Captive populations kept in zoos or other facilities are excluded
- Alligators’ natural range excludes the majority of states, including Alaska, Illinois, and California
Top 10 States with the Highest Alligator Population
Louisiana
What States have alligators? Look no further than the most prominent state to find an alligator in the country. Louisiana is also famous for its gator-laden swamplands. Although this infamous distinction is likely a little overdone, it is true that in the right parts of Louisiana, the chances are better that you will come across an alligator than the chances are that you won’t because there are about 2,000,000 in the state.
Florida
The hottest state for gator sightings, and also with one of its most prestigious universities named after these many-toothed creatures, Florida is as close as it comes to being gator-crazy. When many people think about alligators, they think about Florida. Alligators are a part of the tourism scene in Florida, so the chances aren’t only good that one of the state’s 1.3 million alligators might be spotted in Florida, but the state is banking on it.
Texas
Although large parts of the state are uninhabitable by alligators, there are still around 400,000. Down by the Rio Grande, there is a reasonable chance that if given enough time and if you are paying close attention, you may just find an alligator paying attention too.
Georgia
The state of Georgia is no stranger to alligators, and that is particularly true for the southeast quadrant of the state. This doesn’t mean that residents should expect to see an alligator hanging out on every corner, but they shouldn’t necessarily be shocked to spot an alligator now and again either. Georgia has about 200,000 alligators.
South Carolina
What states have alligators? Well, South Carolina isn’t exactly crawling with gators, but it does offer more marsh and wetlands than its northern brethren. That also equates to a somewhat increased chance of seeing one of the 100,000 alligators in South Carolina too.
Alabama
A good portion of the state of Alabama is inland, but those places in the state that reach the shoreline and those parts in proximity? Well, they may be gator-friendly. Like most of the states too, that border the Florida panhandle, there are some swampland and wetlands that create potential conditions for approximately 70,000 alligator inhabitants in Alabama.
Mississippi
Like its neighbors, Mississippi has some areas that are the perfect ecosystem for alligators to thrive. There are more than half of the number of alligators—32,000— than in neighboring Alabama, but it is still a fairly popular home for alligators in the U.S.
Arkansas
Because of its proximity to Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi, it isn’t surprising that Arkansas has a small population of alligators. Because the state is totally inland, the number of alligators is much smaller, with only about 2,000 in the state.
North Carolina
The farther south along the southeastern coast of the US you travel, the more likely you are to come across a gator. Although alligators aren’t necessarily prominent in North Carolina, with only about 1,000 statewide, running across one of these oversized reptiles isn’t out of the question.
Oklahoma
There isn’t much of a chance of finding an alligator in Oklahoma - that is at least until you get to the southernmost parts of the state. Here, gator spotting isn’t unheard of, although not very likely. If you are lucky, you will be able to spot one of the approximately 100 alligators in Oklahoma, the fewest of any U.S. state.
