<P> As of the July 2013 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the population of the region totaled 55,943,073 . With an average of 345.5 people per square mile, the Northeast is 2.5 times as densely populated as the second-most dense region, the South . Since the last century, the U.S. population has been shifting away from the Northeast (and Midwest) toward the South and West . </P> <P> The two U.S. Census Bureau divisions in the Northeast (New England and Mid-Atlantic) rank #1 and #2 among the 9 divisions in population density according to the 2013 population estimate . The South Atlantic region (233.1) was very close behind New England (233.2). Due to the faster growth of the South Atlantic region, it will take over the #2 division rank in population density in the next estimate, dropping New England to 3rd position . New England is projected to retain the number 3 rank for many, many years, as the only other lower - ranked division with even half the population density of New England is the East North Central division (192.1) and this region's population is projected to grow slowly . </P> <Table> Population, area and density <Tr> <Th> Rank </Th> <Th> State Division / Region </Th> <Th> Population (2015 est .) </Th> <Th> Land area (sq. mi) </Th> <Th> Density (sq. mi) </Th> <Th> Geog . sort </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 43 </Td> <Td> 39! Rhode Island </Td> <Td> 1,056,298 </Td> <Td> 50! 1,034 </Td> <Td> 04! 1,017.1 </Td> <Td> 01! NEng </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td> 21! Massachusetts </Td> <Td> 6,794,422 </Td> <Td> 45! 7,800 </Td> <Td> 06! 858.0 </Td> <Td> 02! NEng </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 29 </Td> <Td> 07! Connecticut </Td> <Td> 3,590,886 </Td> <Td> 48! 4,842 </Td> <Td> 09! 742.6 </Td> <Td> 03! NEng </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 41 </Td> <Td> 29! New Hampshire </Td> <Td> 1,330,608 </Td> <Td> 44! 8,953 </Td> <Td> 33! 147.8 </Td> <Td> 04! NEng </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 49 </Td> <Td> 45! Vermont </Td> <Td> 626,043 </Td> <Td> 43! 9,217 </Td> <Td> 48! 68.0 </Td> <Td> 05! NEng </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 42 </Td> <Td> 19! Maine </Td> <Td> 1,329,328 </Td> <Td> 39! 30,843 </Td> <Td> 56! 43.1 </Td> <Td> 06! NEng </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 52! 2 </Td> <Td> 55! New England </Td> <Td> 14,727,585 </Td> <Td> 59! 62,688 </Td> <Td> 21! 233.2 </Td> <Td> 07! NEast </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> 30! New Jersey </Td> <Td> 11! 8,899,339 </Td> <Td> 46! 7,354 </Td> <Td> 02! 1,210.1 </Td> <Td> 08! MdAtl </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> 32! New York </Td> <Td> 03! 19,651,127 </Td> <Td> 30! 47,126 </Td> <Td> 07! 420.1 </Td> <Td> 09! MdAtl </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 38! Pennsylvania </Td> <Td> 06! 12,773,801 </Td> <Td> 32! 44,743 </Td> <Td> 18! 285.5 </Td> <Td> 10! MdAtl </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 51! 1 </Td> <Td> 53! Mid-Atlantic </Td> <Td> 54! 41,324,267 </Td> <Td> 58! 99,223 </Td> <Td> 14! 416.5 </Td> <Td> 11! NEast </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 60! 1 </Td> <Td> 61! Northeast </Td> <Td> 63! 55,943,073 </Td> <Td> 63! 161,912 </Td> <Td> 16! 345.5 </Td> <Td> 12! USA </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Rank </Th> <Th> State Division / Region </Th> <Th> Population (2015 est .) </Th> <Th> Land area (sq. mi) </Th> <Th> Density (sq. mi) </Th> <Th> Geog . sort </Th> </Tr>

What is the smallest state in northeast region