The map above shows Alabama and Kentucky side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Alabama vs Kentucky Geography
Land area: Alabama has a land area of 50,651 square miles (131,185 km²), while Kentucky has 39,485 square miles (102,267 km²). Alabama's land area is 1.3 times (28%) larger than Kentucky's.
Total area: Alabama: 52,420 square miles (135,767 km²) vs Kentucky: 40,406 square miles (104,651 km²), including inland and coastal water. Alabama's total area is 1.3 times (30%) larger than Kentucky's.
Length: Alabama is 331 miles (532 km) long from north to south; Kentucky is 257 miles (414 km). Alabama's north-south length is 1.3 times (29%) longer than Kentucky's.
Width: Alabama spans 212 miles (341 km) east to west; Kentucky spans 418 miles (672 km). Kentucky's east-west width is 2.0 times (97%) wider than Alabama's.
Highest point: Alabama's highest point is Cheaha Mountain at 2,405 feet (733 m); Kentucky's is Black Mountain at 4,134 feet (1,260 m). Black Mountain is 1,729 feet higher than Cheaha Mountain.
Lowest point: Alabama's lowest point is Gulf of Mexico at 0 feet; Kentucky's is Mississippi River at 270 feet. Alabama's lowest point is 270 feet lower.
Alabama vs Kentucky Population and History
Population: Alabama has a population of 5,157,699 (2024), while Kentucky has 4,588,372 (2024). Alabama's population is 1.1 times (12%) larger than Kentucky's.
Population density: Alabama: 101.8 people per square mile vs Kentucky: 116.2. Kentucky's population density is 1.1 times (14%) higher than Alabama's.
Biggest city: Alabama's biggest city is Huntsville with 230,402 people; Kentucky's is Louisville with 640,796. Louisville's population is 2.8 times (178%) larger than Huntsville's.
Largest metro area: Alabama's largest metropolitan area is Birmingham, AL metro area (1,192,583 people) vs Kentucky's Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area (2,302,815). Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area's population is 1.9 times (93%) larger than Birmingham, AL metro area's.
History: Alabama: Admitted to the Union on December 14, 1819, as the 22nd state. Kentucky: Admitted to the Union on June 1, 1792, as the 15th state. In its current form, Kentucky is the older of the two by 27 years.
Alabama vs Kentucky Economy
GDP: Alabama's GDP is $325.3 billion (2024) vs Kentucky's $295.4 billion. Alabama's economic output is 1.1 times (10%) larger than Kentucky's.
GDP per capita: Alabama: $63,080 per person vs Kentucky: $64,375. Alabama and Kentucky have about the same GDP per capita.
Average income: Alabama: $57,311 vs Kentucky: $58,256 average income per person (per capita personal income). Alabama and Kentucky have about the same average income.
Alabama vs Kentucky Counties
Number of counties: Alabama has 67 counties, while Kentucky has 120. Kentucky's county count is 1.8 times (79%) higher than Alabama's.
Biggest county by area: Alabama's largest county is Baldwin County at 1,590 square miles; Kentucky's is Pike County at 786 square miles. Baldwin County's land area is 2.0 times (102%) larger than Pike County's.
Smallest county by area: Alabama: Etowah County (535 sq mi) vs Kentucky: Gallatin County (98 sq mi). Etowah County's land area is 5.4 times (444%) larger than Gallatin County's.
Most populous county: Alabama: Jefferson County (664,744 people) vs Kentucky: Jefferson County (793,881 people). Jefferson County's population is 1.2 times (19%) larger than Jefferson County's.
Least populous county: Alabama: Greene County (7,127 people) vs Kentucky: Robertson County (2,382 people). Greene County's population is 3.0 times (199%) larger than Robertson County's.
Richest county: Alabama: Jefferson County ($75,312 per capita income) vs Kentucky: Oldham County ($87,137). Oldham County's income is 1.2 times (16%) richer than Jefferson County's.
Poorest county: Alabama: Bullock County ($39,403 per capita income) vs Kentucky: Elliott County ($31,817). Bullock County's income is 1.2 times (24%) richer than Elliott County's.
Alabama vs Kentucky Taxes
State income tax: Alabama has a top income tax rate of 5%, while Kentucky has a top income tax rate of 3.5%. Alabama's top rate is 1.5 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Alabama: 0.38% effective rate vs Kentucky: 0.71% of home value per year. Kentucky's rate is 0.33 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Alabama: 9.46% combined state and average local rate vs Kentucky: 6%. Alabama's combined rate is 3.46 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Alabama official website · Kentucky official website
More Size Comparisons
All Alabama size comparisons · All Kentucky 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.