The map above shows Alaska and District of Columbia side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Alaska vs District of Columbia Geography
Land area: Alaska has a land area of 571,242 square miles (1,479,509 km²), while District of Columbia has 61 square miles (158 km²). Alaska's land area is 9,364.0 times larger than District of Columbia's.
Total area: Alaska: 665,725 square miles (1,724,220 km²) vs District of Columbia: 68 square miles (177 km²), including inland and coastal water. Alaska's total area is 9,741.4 times larger than District of Columbia's.
Length: Alaska is 1,201 miles (1,933 km) long from north to south; District of Columbia is 13 miles (22 km). Alaska's north-south length is 92.4 times longer than District of Columbia's.
Width: Alaska spans 1,544 miles (2,485 km) east to west; District of Columbia spans 12 miles (19 km). Alaska's east-west width is 128.7 times wider than District of Columbia's.
Highest point: Alaska's highest point is Denali at 20,235 feet (6,168 m); District of Columbia's is Fort Reno at 429 feet (131 m). Denali is 19,806 feet higher than Fort Reno.
Lowest point: Alaska's lowest point is Pacific Ocean at 0 feet; District of Columbia's is Potomac River at 0 feet. Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
Alaska vs District of Columbia Population and History
Population: Alaska has a population of 740,133 (2024), while District of Columbia has 702,250 (2024). Alaska's population is 1.1 times (5%) larger than District of Columbia's.
Population density: Alaska: 1.3 people per square mile vs District of Columbia: 11,493.5. District of Columbia's population density is 8,841.2 times higher than Alaska's.
Biggest city: Alaska's biggest city is Anchorage with 289,600 people; District of Columbia's is Washington with 702,250. Washington's population is 2.4 times (142%) larger than Anchorage's.
Largest metro area: Alaska's largest metropolitan area is Anchorage, AK metro area (407,213 people) vs District of Columbia's Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (6,436,489). Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area's population is 15.8 times larger than Anchorage, AK metro area's.
History: Alaska: Admitted to the Union on January 3, 1959, as the 49th state. District of Columbia: The federal district, established by the Residence Act on July 16, 1790; not a state. In its current form, District of Columbia is the older of the two by 169 years.
Alaska vs District of Columbia Economy
GDP: Alaska's GDP is $71.6 billion (2024) vs District of Columbia's $184.3 billion. District of Columbia's economic output is 2.6 times (157%) larger than Alaska's.
GDP per capita: Alaska: $96,695 per person vs District of Columbia: $262,439. District of Columbia's GDP per capita is 2.7 times (171%) higher than Alaska's.
Average income: Alaska: $76,234 vs District of Columbia: $111,185 average income per person (per capita personal income). District of Columbia's average income is 1.5 times (46%) higher than Alaska's.
Alaska vs District of Columbia Counties
Number of counties: Alaska has 30 counties, while District of Columbia has 1. Alaska's county count is 30.0 times higher than District of Columbia's.
Biggest county by area: Alaska's largest county is Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area at 145,769 square miles; District of Columbia's is District of Columbia at 61 square miles. Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area's land area is 2,385.7 times larger than District of Columbia's.
Smallest county by area: Alaska: Skagway Municipality (443 sq mi) vs District of Columbia: District of Columbia (61 sq mi). Skagway Municipality's land area is 7.2 times (625%) larger than District of Columbia's.
Most populous county: Alaska: Anchorage Municipality (289,600 people) vs District of Columbia: District of Columbia (702,250 people). District of Columbia's population is 2.4 times (142%) larger than Anchorage Municipality's.
Least populous county: Alaska: Yakutat City and Borough (690 people) vs District of Columbia: District of Columbia (702,250 people). District of Columbia's population is 1,017.8 times larger than Yakutat City and Borough's.
Richest county: Alaska: Bristol Bay Borough ($158,406 per capita income) vs District of Columbia: District of Columbia ($111,185). Bristol Bay Borough's income is 1.4 times (42%) richer than District of Columbia's.
Poorest county: Alaska: Kusilvak Census Area ($37,765 per capita income) vs District of Columbia: District of Columbia ($111,185). District of Columbia's income is 2.9 times (194%) richer than Kusilvak Census Area's.
Alaska vs District of Columbia Taxes
State income tax: Alaska has no state income tax, while District of Columbia has a top income tax rate of 10.75%. District of Columbia's top rate is 10.75 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Alaska: 1.06% effective rate vs District of Columbia: 0.63% of home value per year. Alaska's rate is 0.43 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Alaska: 1.82% combined state and average local rate vs District of Columbia: 6%. District of Columbia's combined rate is 4.18 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Alaska official website · District of Columbia official website
More Size Comparisons
All Alaska size comparisons · All District of Columbia 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.