The map above shows Alaska and Idaho side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Alaska vs Idaho Geography
Land area: Alaska has a land area of 571,242 square miles (1,479,509 km²), while Idaho has 82,645 square miles (214,051 km²). Alaska's land area is 6.9 times (591%) larger than Idaho's.
Total area: Alaska: 665,725 square miles (1,724,220 km²) vs Idaho: 83,569 square miles (216,441 km²), including inland and coastal water. Alaska's total area is 8.0 times (697%) larger than Idaho's.
Length: Alaska is 1,201 miles (1,933 km) long from north to south; Idaho is 483 miles (778 km). Alaska's north-south length is 2.5 times (149%) longer than Idaho's.
Width: Alaska spans 1,544 miles (2,485 km) east to west; Idaho spans 352 miles (566 km). Alaska's east-west width is 4.4 times (339%) wider than Idaho's.
Highest point: Alaska's highest point is Denali at 20,235 feet (6,168 m); Idaho's is Borah Peak at 12,631 feet (3,850 m). Denali is 7,604 feet higher than Borah Peak.
Lowest point: Alaska's lowest point is Pacific Ocean at 0 feet; Idaho's is Snake River at 718 feet. Alaska's lowest point is 718 feet lower.
Alaska vs Idaho Population and History
Population: Alaska has a population of 740,133 (2024), while Idaho has 2,001,619 (2024). Idaho's population is 2.7 times (170%) larger than Alaska's.
Population density: Alaska: 1.3 people per square mile vs Idaho: 24.2. Idaho's population density is 18.6 times higher than Alaska's.
Biggest city: Alaska's biggest city is Anchorage with 289,600 people; Idaho's is Boise with 237,963. Anchorage's population is 1.2 times (22%) larger than Boise's.
Largest metro area: Alaska's largest metropolitan area is Anchorage, AK metro area (407,213 people) vs Idaho's Boise City, ID metro area (845,877). Boise City, ID metro area's population is 2.1 times (108%) larger than Anchorage, AK metro area's.
History: Alaska: Admitted to the Union on January 3, 1959, as the 49th state. Idaho: Admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state. In its current form, Idaho is the older of the two by 69 years.
Alaska vs Idaho Economy
GDP: Alaska's GDP is $71.6 billion (2024) vs Idaho's $129.0 billion. Idaho's economic output is 1.8 times (80%) larger than Alaska's.
GDP per capita: Alaska: $96,695 per person vs Idaho: $64,457. Alaska's GDP per capita is 1.5 times (50%) higher than Idaho's.
Average income: Alaska: $76,234 vs Idaho: $62,323 average income per person (per capita personal income). Alaska's average income is 1.2 times (22%) higher than Idaho's.
Alaska vs Idaho Counties
Number of counties: Alaska has 30 counties, while Idaho has 44. Idaho's county count is 1.5 times (47%) higher than Alaska's.
Biggest county by area: Alaska's largest county is Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area at 145,769 square miles; Idaho's is Idaho County at 8,478 square miles. Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area's land area is 17.2 times larger than Idaho County's.
Smallest county by area: Alaska: Skagway Municipality (443 sq mi) vs Idaho: Payette County (407 sq mi). Skagway Municipality's land area is 1.1 times (9%) larger than Payette County's.
Most populous county: Alaska: Anchorage Municipality (289,600 people) vs Idaho: Ada County (535,799 people). Ada County's population is 1.9 times (85%) larger than Anchorage Municipality's.
Least populous county: Alaska: Yakutat City and Borough (690 people) vs Idaho: Clark County (794 people). Clark County's population is 1.2 times (15%) larger than Yakutat City and Borough's.
Richest county: Alaska: Bristol Bay Borough ($158,406 per capita income) vs Idaho: Blaine County ($202,612). Blaine County's income is 1.3 times (28%) richer than Bristol Bay Borough's.
Poorest county: Alaska: Kusilvak Census Area ($37,765 per capita income) vs Idaho: Madison County ($29,485). Kusilvak Census Area's income is 1.3 times (28%) richer than Madison County's.
Alaska vs Idaho Taxes
State income tax: Alaska has no state income tax, while Idaho has a top income tax rate of 5.3%. Idaho's top rate is 5.3 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Alaska: 1.06% effective rate vs Idaho: 0.43% of home value per year. Alaska's rate is 0.63 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Alaska: 1.82% combined state and average local rate vs Idaho: 6.03%. Idaho's combined rate is 4.21 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Alaska official website · Idaho official website
More Size Comparisons
All Alaska 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.