The map above shows Alabama and Illinois side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Alabama vs Illinois Geography
Land area: Alabama has a land area of 50,651 square miles (131,185 km²), while Illinois has 55,513 square miles (143,778 km²). Illinois' land area is 1.1 times (10%) larger than Alabama's.
Total area: Alabama: 52,420 square miles (135,767 km²) vs Illinois: 57,913 square miles (149,995 km²), including inland and coastal water. Illinois' total area is 1.1 times (10%) larger than Alabama's.
Length: Alabama is 331 miles (532 km) long from north to south; Illinois is 390 miles (628 km). Illinois' north-south length is 1.2 times (18%) longer than Alabama's.
Width: Alabama spans 212 miles (341 km) east to west; Illinois spans 283 miles (456 km). Illinois' east-west width is 1.3 times (33%) wider than Alabama's.
Highest point: Alabama's highest point is Cheaha Mountain at 2,405 feet (733 m); Illinois's is Charles Mound at 1,232 feet (376 m). Cheaha Mountain is 1,173 feet higher than Charles Mound.
Lowest point: Alabama's lowest point is Gulf of Mexico at 0 feet; Illinois's is Mississippi River at 292 feet. Alabama's lowest point is 292 feet lower.
Alabama vs Illinois Population and History
Population: Alabama has a population of 5,157,699 (2024), while Illinois has 12,710,158 (2024). Illinois' population is 2.5 times (146%) larger than Alabama's.
Population density: Alabama: 101.8 people per square mile vs Illinois: 229.0. Illinois' population density is 2.2 times (125%) higher than Alabama's.
Biggest city: Alabama's biggest city is Huntsville with 230,402 people; Illinois's is Chicago with 2,721,308. Chicago's population is 11.8 times larger than Huntsville's.
Largest metro area: Alabama's largest metropolitan area is Birmingham, AL metro area (1,192,583 people) vs Illinois's Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (9,408,576). Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area's population is 7.9 times (689%) larger than Birmingham, AL metro area's.
History: Alabama: Admitted to the Union on December 14, 1819, as the 22nd state. Illinois: Admitted to the Union on December 3, 1818, as the 21st state. In its current form, Illinois is the older of the two by 1 years.
Alabama vs Illinois Economy
GDP: Alabama's GDP is $325.3 billion (2024) vs Illinois's $1,148.1 billion. Illinois' economic output is 3.5 times (253%) larger than Alabama's.
GDP per capita: Alabama: $63,080 per person vs Illinois: $90,330. Illinois' GDP per capita is 1.4 times (43%) higher than Alabama's.
Average income: Alabama: $57,311 vs Illinois: $74,522 average income per person (per capita personal income). Illinois' average income is 1.3 times (30%) higher than Alabama's.
Alabama vs Illinois Counties
Number of counties: Alabama has 67 counties, while Illinois has 102. Illinois' county count is 1.5 times (52%) higher than Alabama's.
Biggest county by area: Alabama's largest county is Baldwin County at 1,590 square miles; Illinois's is McLean County at 1,183 square miles. Baldwin County's land area is 1.3 times (34%) larger than McLean County's.
Smallest county by area: Alabama: Etowah County (535 sq mi) vs Illinois: Putnam County (160 sq mi). Etowah County's land area is 3.3 times (234%) larger than Putnam County's.
Most populous county: Alabama: Jefferson County (664,744 people) vs Illinois: Cook County (5,182,617 people). Cook County's population is 7.8 times (680%) larger than Jefferson County's.
Least populous county: Alabama: Greene County (7,127 people) vs Illinois: Hardin County (3,550 people). Greene County's population is 2.0 times (101%) larger than Hardin County's.
Richest county: Alabama: Jefferson County ($75,312 per capita income) vs Illinois: Cumberland County ($104,890). Cumberland County's income is 1.4 times (39%) richer than Jefferson County's.
Poorest county: Alabama: Bullock County ($39,403 per capita income) vs Illinois: Lawrence County ($43,606). Lawrence County's income is 1.1 times (11%) richer than Bullock County's.
Alabama vs Illinois Taxes
State income tax: Alabama has a top income tax rate of 5%, while Illinois has a top income tax rate of 4.95%. Alabama's top rate is 0.05 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Alabama: 0.38% effective rate vs Illinois: 1.92% of home value per year. Illinois's rate is 1.54 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Alabama: 9.46% combined state and average local rate vs Illinois: 8.98%. Alabama's combined rate is 0.48 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Alabama official website · Illinois official website
More Size Comparisons
All Alabama size comparisons · All Illinois 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.