Health

Sunniest states in the U.S.

Written by:
Ben Wittstein
May 6, 2019
aslysun // Shutterstock

Sunniest states in the U.S.

Nothing revitalizes one's health like a good walk outdoors on a sunny day. Not only does the resulting increase in serotonin boost mood and mental state, but moderate exposure to sunlight can boost vitamin D count substantially. Moderate exposure, however, can mean different things in various regions of the country. Phoenix is sunny an overwhelming 85% of the time while Pittsburgh only experiences almost half as much sunshine: around 45% of the year.

Using data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Stacker listed the states that see the most sunshine on an annual basis. The 48 continental states (Alaska and Hawaii were not included in the CDC dataset), as well as the District of Columbia, are ranked according to their average annual sunlight totals, measured in kilojoules per square meter.

Read on to see how your state ranks when it comes to getting the most sun.

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#49. Washington

- Average annual sunlight: 3,467 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 60.24%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +0.29%

#48. Maine

- Average annual sunlight: 3,815 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 66.29%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +9.16%

#47. Vermont

- Average annual sunlight: 3,826 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 66.48%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +13.23%

#46. Oregon

- Average annual sunlight: 3,830 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 66.55%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +0.34%

#45. Montana

- Average annual sunlight: 3,847 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 66.85%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +3.5%

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#44. New Hampshire

- Average annual sunlight: 3,891 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 67.61%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +11.68%

#43. New York

- Average annual sunlight: 3,904 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 67.84%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +16.47%

#42. North Dakota

- Average annual sunlight: 3,925 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 68.2%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +10.84%

#41. Pennsylvania

- Average annual sunlight: 3,939 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 68.44%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +15.92%

#40. Massachusetts

- Average annual sunlight: 3,944 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 68.53%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +9.95%

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#39. Minnesota

- Average annual sunlight: 3,968 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 68.95%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +13.31%

#38. Connecticut

- Average annual sunlight: 3,988 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 69.3%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +11.96%

#37. Rhode Island

- Average annual sunlight: 3,989 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 69.31%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +8.34%

#36. Michigan

- Average annual sunlight: 4,018 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 69.82%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +20.52%

#35. Wisconsin

- Average annual sunlight: 4,023 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 69.9%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +18.36%

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#34. New Jersey

- Average annual sunlight: 4,056 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 70.48%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +12.42%

#33. Ohio

- Average annual sunlight: 4,139 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 71.92%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +21.27%

#32. West Virginia

- Average annual sunlight: 4,146 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 72.04%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +17.82%

#31. Delaware

- Average annual sunlight: 4,232 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 73.54%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +14.04%

#30. Idaho

- Average annual sunlight: 4,251 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 73.87%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +4.32%

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#29. Maryland

- Average annual sunlight: 4,267 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 74.14%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +16.39%

#28. District of Columbia

- Average annual sunlight: 4,307 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 74.84%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +16.85%

#27. Indiana

- Average annual sunlight: 4,318 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 75.03%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +21.81%

#26. Iowa

- Average annual sunlight: 4,331 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 75.26%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +16.46%

#25. South Dakota

- Average annual sunlight: 4,332 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 75.27%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +14.66%

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#24. Virginia

- Average annual sunlight: 4,354 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 75.66%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +14.88%

#23. Illinois

- Average annual sunlight: 4,380 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 76.11%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +16.80%

#22. Kentucky

- Average annual sunlight: 4,383 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 76.16%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +16.08%

#21. North Carolina

- Average annual sunlight: 4,466 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 77.6%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +10.85%

#20. Wyoming

- Average annual sunlight: 4,471 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 77.69%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +8.44%

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#19. Tennessee

- Average annual sunlight: 4,486 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 77.95%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +12.52%

#18. Missouri

- Average annual sunlight: 4,545 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 78.97%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +15.09%

#17. South Carolina

- Average annual sunlight: 4,624 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 80.35%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +10.38%

#16. Alabama

- Average annual sunlight: 4,660 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 80.97%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +9.01%

#15. Georgia

- Average annual sunlight: 4,661 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 80.99%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +10.74%

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#14. Nebraska

- Average annual sunlight: 4,685 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 81.41%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +16.98%

#13. Mississippi

- Average annual sunlight: 4,693 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 81.55%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +6.9%

#12. Arkansas

- Average annual sunlight: 4,724 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 82.09%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +12.16%

#11. Louisiana

- Average annual sunlight: 4,725 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 82.1%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +7.36%

#10. Florida

- Average annual sunlight: 4,859 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 84.43%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +5.91%

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#9. Utah

- Average annual sunlight: 4,887 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 84.92%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +6.91%

#8. Kansas

- Average annual sunlight: 4,890 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 84.97%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +16.29%

#7. Oklahoma

- Average annual sunlight: 4,912 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 85.35%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +13%

#6. Colorado

- Average annual sunlight: 4,960 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 86.19%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +12.6%

#5. California

- Average annual sunlight: 5,050 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 87.75%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +12.52%

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#4. Texas

- Average annual sunlight: 5,137 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 89.26%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +10.81%

#3. Nevada

- Average annual sunlight: 5,296 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 92.02%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +13.28%

#2. New Mexico

- Average annual sunlight: 5,642 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 98.04%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +14.54%

#1. Arizona

- Average annual sunlight: 5,755 kJ/m²
- Percent of sunlight as compared to top state: 100%
- Percent change in sunlight since 1992: +12.23%

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