The map above shows Arkansas and Iowa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Arkansas vs Iowa Geography
Land area: Arkansas has a land area of 51,992 square miles (134,658 km²), while Iowa has 55,854 square miles (144,660 km²). Iowa's land area is 1.1 times (7%) larger than Arkansas'.
Total area: Arkansas: 53,198 square miles (137,781 km²) vs Iowa: 56,273 square miles (145,746 km²), including inland and coastal water. Iowa's total area is 1.1 times (6%) larger than Arkansas'.
Length: Arkansas is 243 miles (392 km) long from north to south; Iowa is 216 miles (347 km). Arkansas' north-south length is 1.1 times (13%) longer than Iowa's.
Width: Arkansas spans 279 miles (449 km) east to west; Iowa spans 335 miles (539 km). Iowa's east-west width is 1.2 times (20%) wider than Arkansas'.
Highest point: Arkansas's highest point is Mount Magazine at 2,752 feet (839 m); Iowa's is Hawkeye Point at 1,669 feet (509 m). Mount Magazine is 1,083 feet higher than Hawkeye Point.
Lowest point: Arkansas's lowest point is Ouachita River at 55 feet; Iowa's is Mississippi River at 480 feet. Arkansas's lowest point is 425 feet lower.
Arkansas vs Iowa Population and History
Population: Arkansas has a population of 3,088,354 (2024), while Iowa has 3,241,488 (2024). Iowa's population is 1.0 times (5%) larger than Arkansas'.
Population density: Arkansas: 59.4 people per square mile vs Iowa: 58.0. Arkansas and Iowa have about the same population density.
Biggest city: Arkansas's biggest city is Little Rock with 204,774 people; Iowa's is Des Moines with 213,096. Little Rock and Des Moines have about the same population.
Largest metro area: Arkansas's largest metropolitan area is Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area (1,339,345 people) vs Iowa's Omaha, NE-IA metro area (1,001,010). Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area's population is 1.3 times (34%) larger than Omaha, NE-IA metro area's.
History: Arkansas: Admitted to the Union on June 15, 1836, as the 25th state. Iowa: Admitted to the Union on December 28, 1846, as the 29th state. In its current form, Arkansas is the older of the two by 10 years.
Arkansas vs Iowa Economy
GDP: Arkansas's GDP is $188.3 billion (2024) vs Iowa's $265.8 billion. Iowa's economic output is 1.4 times (41%) larger than Arkansas'.
GDP per capita: Arkansas: $60,984 per person vs Iowa: $81,998. Iowa's GDP per capita is 1.3 times (34%) higher than Arkansas'.
Average income: Arkansas: $59,320 vs Iowa: $65,225 average income per person (per capita personal income). Iowa's average income is 1.1 times (10%) higher than Arkansas'.
Arkansas vs Iowa Counties
Number of counties: Arkansas has 75 counties, while Iowa has 99. Iowa's county count is 1.3 times (32%) higher than Arkansas'.
Biggest county by area: Arkansas's largest county is Union County at 1,039 square miles; Iowa's is Kossuth County at 973 square miles. Union County's land area is 1.1 times (7%) larger than Kossuth County's.
Smallest county by area: Arkansas: Lafayette County (530 sq mi) vs Iowa: Dickinson County (381 sq mi). Lafayette County's land area is 1.4 times (39%) larger than Dickinson County's.
Most populous county: Arkansas: Pulaski County (401,209 people) vs Iowa: Polk County (516,185 people). Polk County's population is 1.3 times (29%) larger than Pulaski County's.
Least populous county: Arkansas: Calhoun County (4,690 people) vs Iowa: Adams County (3,606 people). Calhoun County's population is 1.3 times (30%) larger than Adams County's.
Richest county: Arkansas: Benton County ($120,594 per capita income) vs Iowa: Mitchell County ($98,211). Benton County's income is 1.2 times (23%) richer than Mitchell County's.
Poorest county: Arkansas: Lincoln County ($36,032 per capita income) vs Iowa: Decatur County ($46,134). Decatur County's income is 1.3 times (28%) richer than Lincoln County's.
Arkansas vs Iowa Taxes
State income tax: Arkansas has a top income tax rate of 3.9%, while Iowa has a top income tax rate of 3.8%. Arkansas's top rate is 0.1 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Arkansas: 0.52% effective rate vs Iowa: 1.29% of home value per year. Iowa's rate is 0.77 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Arkansas: 9.48% combined state and average local rate vs Iowa: 6.94%. Arkansas's combined rate is 2.54 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Arkansas official website · Iowa official website
More Size Comparisons
All Arkansas size comparisons · All Iowa 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.