Where in America Would People Survive the Most if Squid Game Were Real?

With Season 2 of Squid Game: The Challenge, Netflix’s high-stakes reality competition series inspired by the original Squid Game drama, now streaming in the United States, viewers are once again wondering how they would perform in an elimination-style setting.

The show rewards strength, strategy, emotional control, and physical coordination — qualities many Americans develop through fitness routines, brain-training habits, outdoor hobbies, and everyday problem-solving.

So, if a real-life Squid Game took place across the country, which states would give people the best chance of making it to the end?

To find out, we analyzed Google search behavior across five skill pillars linked to survival performance: strength, focus, logic, adventure, and balance. Each state’s search activity was converted into implied survival probability, betting-style odds, and a simple “1 in X” survival estimate.

The results highlight clear differences in search behavior across the country, revealing where curiosity around survival-style skills is highest — and where interest appears lower.

Key Findings

• Virginia ranks No. 1, with a 4.84% implied chance of reaching the final round — roughly 1 in 21 residents potentially surviving to the end.
• Colorado and California follow, each with about a 1 in 29 survival chance.
• Florida ranks fourth at 3.21% — or 1 in 31 likely to make it through all rounds.
• The West dominates the top 10, led by Colorado, California, Oregon, Hawaii, and Utah.
• Wyoming ranks last, with a 0.22% survival chance — about 1 in 461 people potentially reaching the final stage.

Top 10 States Most Likely to Survive a Real-Life Squid Game

1. Virginia

Virginia leads the nation with strong interest in fitness, mental focus, and strategic-thinking skills. It posts the highest survival outlook at 4.84%, or roughly 1 in 21 residents likely to reach the final round.

Our take: When we analyzed Virginia’s search behavior, we saw a clear blend of discipline, mental focus, and strategic thinking — the kind of mindset that naturally supports strong survival instincts.

2. Colorado

Colorado claims second place, backed by its outdoor-driven culture and endurance-related search activity. The model suggests 3.50%, or 1 in 29 Coloradans, could make it to the end.

Our take: Colorado’s search activity reflects a lifestyle built around endurance, clarity, and outdoor challenge — traits that translate well into staying composed when the pressure rises.

3. California

California ranks third thanks to strong interest in wellness, problem-solving, and balance-focused activities. Residents show a 3.40% chance — about 1 in 29 participants.

Our take: California’s search trends show a strong mix of wellness, problem-solving, and balance, pointing to a population that stays centered and thinks ahead when stakes are high.

4. Florida

Florida places fourth, driven by interest in physical conditioning and stress-management habits. The survival likelihood is 3.21%, or 1 in 31 residents.

Our take: Florida’s search behavior leans toward conditioning and stress management, suggesting a community that adapts quickly and keeps moving even when things get unpredictable.

5. Oregon

Oregon rounds out the top five with balanced curiosity across adventure, logic, and resilience-based searches. Residents hold a 3.18% chance — close to 1 in 31.

Our take: Oregon’s patterns reveal thoughtful, resilience-driven interests — the kind of slow-burn determination that tends to pay off in strategic, high-pressure scenarios.

6. Hawaii

Hawaii ranks sixth with strong engagement in coordination and mobility-focused routines. The implied survival outlook is 3.16% — around 1 in 32.

Our take: Hawaii’s search habits emphasize coordination, movement, and presence, hinting at a calm, grounded decision-making style that holds steady under intense challenges.

7. Utah

Utah follows closely with a 3.16% probability, supported by outdoor fitness culture and disciplined-training interest — just under 1 in 32.

Our take: Utah’s data reflects disciplined routines and outdoor-ready habits, suggesting residents who stay focused, prepared, and level-headed when navigating complex tasks.

8. Texas

Texas places eighth with above-average focus on strength, strategy, and endurance. Texans show a 3.13% chance — approximately 1 in 32 survivors.

Our take: Texas’ search interest shows a familiar mix of strength, confidence, and mental resilience — a mindset well suited to handling competitive, high-pressure moments.

9. Arizona

Arizona ranks ninth, supported by search interest tied to adventure and fitness. With 3.11%, about 1 in 32 Arizonans could make it all the way.

Our take: Arizona’s search behavior points to curiosity around adventure and adaptability, suggesting a population comfortable taking calculated risks when it counts.

10. New York

New York completes the top ten with strong interest in focus, strategy, and problem-solving content. The state posts a 3.05% survival outlook — around 1 in 33 residents statistically reaching the final stage.

Our take: New York’s trends reveal strong interest in focus and problem-solving, which fits a state where quick thinking and sharp instincts are part of daily life.

Explore the complete Squid Game survival rankings below to see how all 50 U.S. states compare.

Mid-Ranking States

States such as Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and North Carolina show a balanced mix of focus, fitness interest, and problem-solving tendencies. While not leading, they represent everyday competitors with 1-in-35 to 1-in-60 odds — steady, strategic, and capable of progressing quietly through multiple rounds.

Lower-Ranking States

At the other end of the spectrum are states like Mississippi, West Virginia, and Wyoming, where odds fall near 1 in 250 or worse. This does not suggest a lack of ability — rather, lower search engagement around fitness, problem-solving, and survival-oriented behaviors.

Residents in these states may simply face tougher competition from states with higher everyday interest in endurance, strategy, and reaction-based activities.

Overall, while a handful of states show standout survival instincts, most Americans still face slim odds, and real-life Squid Game success would demand much more than luck alone.

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Methodology

This analysis examined how likely residents in each U.S. state would be to succeed in a real-life Squid Game based on search interest tied to survival-style skills.

We analyzed five skill pillars commonly linked to success in high-pressure elimination games:

• Strength
• Focus
• Logic
• Adventure
• Balance

Search terms aligned to each pillar were gathered using Google Keyword Planner across all 50 states. Data was normalized to produce comparable state-level index scores, which were then combined into a single survival score.

These scores were converted into:

• Implied survival probability (%)
• Moneyline-style odds
• “1 in X” survival ratio

This study measures interest and curiosity around survival-style skills, not guaranteed physical outcomes. It highlights where survival-oriented thinking and training appear most concentrated across the United States.