The map above shows Alabama and Idaho side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Alabama vs Idaho Geography
Land area: Alabama has a land area of 50,651 square miles (131,185 km²), while Idaho has 82,645 square miles (214,051 km²). Idaho's land area is 1.6 times (63%) larger than Alabama's.
Total area: Alabama: 52,420 square miles (135,767 km²) vs Idaho: 83,569 square miles (216,441 km²), including inland and coastal water. Idaho's total area is 1.6 times (59%) larger than Alabama's.
Length: Alabama is 331 miles (532 km) long from north to south; Idaho is 483 miles (778 km). Idaho's north-south length is 1.5 times (46%) longer than Alabama's.
Width: Alabama spans 212 miles (341 km) east to west; Idaho spans 352 miles (566 km). Idaho's east-west width is 1.7 times (66%) wider than Alabama's.
Highest point: Alabama's highest point is Cheaha Mountain at 2,405 feet (733 m); Idaho's is Borah Peak at 12,631 feet (3,850 m). Borah Peak is 10,226 feet higher than Cheaha Mountain.
Lowest point: Alabama's lowest point is Gulf of Mexico at 0 feet; Idaho's is Snake River at 718 feet. Alabama's lowest point is 718 feet lower.
Alabama vs Idaho Population and History
Population: Alabama has a population of 5,157,699 (2024), while Idaho has 2,001,619 (2024). Alabama's population is 2.6 times (158%) larger than Idaho's.
Population density: Alabama: 101.8 people per square mile vs Idaho: 24.2. Alabama's population density is 4.2 times (321%) higher than Idaho's.
Biggest city: Alabama's biggest city is Huntsville with 230,402 people; Idaho's is Boise with 237,963. Huntsville and Boise have about the same population.
Largest metro area: Alabama's largest metropolitan area is Birmingham, AL metro area (1,192,583 people) vs Idaho's Boise City, ID metro area (845,877). Birmingham, AL metro area's population is 1.4 times (41%) larger than Boise City, ID metro area's.
History: Alabama: Admitted to the Union on December 14, 1819, as the 22nd state. Idaho: Admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state. In its current form, Alabama is the older of the two by 71 years.
Alabama vs Idaho Economy
GDP: Alabama's GDP is $325.3 billion (2024) vs Idaho's $129.0 billion. Alabama's economic output is 2.5 times (152%) larger than Idaho's.
GDP per capita: Alabama: $63,080 per person vs Idaho: $64,457. Alabama and Idaho have about the same GDP per capita.
Average income: Alabama: $57,311 vs Idaho: $62,323 average income per person (per capita personal income). Idaho's average income is 1.1 times (9%) higher than Alabama's.
Alabama vs Idaho Counties
Number of counties: Alabama has 67 counties, while Idaho has 44. Alabama's county count is 1.5 times (52%) higher than Idaho's.
Biggest county by area: Alabama's largest county is Baldwin County at 1,590 square miles; Idaho's is Idaho County at 8,478 square miles. Idaho County's land area is 5.3 times (433%) larger than Baldwin County's.
Smallest county by area: Alabama: Etowah County (535 sq mi) vs Idaho: Payette County (407 sq mi). Etowah County's land area is 1.3 times (32%) larger than Payette County's.
Most populous county: Alabama: Jefferson County (664,744 people) vs Idaho: Ada County (535,799 people). Jefferson County's population is 1.2 times (24%) larger than Ada County's.
Least populous county: Alabama: Greene County (7,127 people) vs Idaho: Clark County (794 people). Greene County's population is 9.0 times (798%) larger than Clark County's.
Richest county: Alabama: Jefferson County ($75,312 per capita income) vs Idaho: Blaine County ($202,612). Blaine County's income is 2.7 times (169%) richer than Jefferson County's.
Poorest county: Alabama: Bullock County ($39,403 per capita income) vs Idaho: Madison County ($29,485). Bullock County's income is 1.3 times (34%) richer than Madison County's.
Alabama vs Idaho Taxes
State income tax: Alabama has a top income tax rate of 5%, while Idaho has a top income tax rate of 5.3%. Idaho's top rate is 0.3 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Alabama: 0.38% effective rate vs Idaho: 0.43% of home value per year. Idaho's rate is 0.05 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Alabama: 9.46% combined state and average local rate vs Idaho: 6.03%. Alabama's combined rate is 3.43 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Alabama official website · Idaho official website
More Size Comparisons
All Alabama size comparisons · All Idaho size comparisons
Area, elevation and boundary figures come from official national statistics and US Census Bureau and Natural Earth boundary data; US state population, economic, county and tax figures come from the US Census Bureau, the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Tax Foundation. Figures are rounded and for general reference.