The 15 States in the US Most Likely to Endure WW3 in 2026

With the Doomsday Clock set at just 85 seconds to midnight — the most critical position ever recorded — and three active nuclear flashpoints around the world, a recent study highlights the US states with the highest and lowest chances of survival in a nuclear conflict. The states with the greatest likelihood of withstanding WW3 are characterized by lower population densities, greater distances from military installations and large metropolitan areas, as well as access to farmland and water resources. This study, based on Princeton's nuclear strike models and FEMA data, points to Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Vermont, and North Dakota as having a comparatively higher chance of survival. Meanwhile, states located in primary target areas include Virginia, Colorado, Nebraska, and Missouri.