The map above shows California and Mexico side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
California vs Mexico Geography
Land area: California has a land area of 155,859 square miles (403,673 km²), while Mexico has 750,561 square miles (1,943,945 km²). Mexico's land area is 4.8 times (382%) larger than California's.
Total area: California: 163,694 square miles (423,965 km²) vs Mexico: 758,449 square miles (1,964,375 km²), including inland and coastal water. Mexico's total area is 4.6 times (363%) larger than California's.
Length: California is 761 miles (1,224 km) long from north to south; Mexico is 1,890 miles (3,041 km). Mexico's north-south length is 2.5 times (148%) longer than California's.
Width: California spans 706 miles (1,137 km) east to west; Mexico spans 2,021 miles (3,252 km). Mexico's east-west width is 2.9 times (186%) wider than California's.
Highest point: California's highest point is Mount Whitney at 14,484 feet (4,415 m); Mexico's is Pico de Orizaba at 18,491 feet (5,636 m). Pico de Orizaba is 4,007 feet higher than Mount Whitney.
Lowest point: California's lowest point is Death Valley at -279 feet; Mexico's is Laguna Salada at -33 feet. California's lowest point is 246 feet lower.
California vs Mexico Population and History
Population: California has a population of 39,431,263 (2024), while Mexico has 131,231,919 (2026). Mexico's population is 3.3 times (233%) larger than California's.
Population density: California: 253.0 people per square mile vs Mexico: 174.8. California's population density is 1.4 times (45%) higher than Mexico's.
Biggest city: California's biggest city is Los Angeles with 3,878,704 people; Mexico's is Mexico City with 9,209,944. Mexico City's population is 2.4 times (137%) larger than Los Angeles'.
Largest metro area: California's largest metropolitan area is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (12,927,614 people) vs Mexico's Mexico City (17,734,212). Mexico City's population is 1.4 times (37%) larger than Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area's.
History: California: Admitted to the Union on September 9, 1850, as the 31st state. Mexico: Independent from Spain since September 27, 1821. In its current form, Mexico is the older of the two by 29 years.
California vs Mexico Economy
GDP: California's GDP is $4,048.1 billion (2024) vs Mexico's $1,832.6 billion. California's economic output is 2.2 times (121%) larger than Mexico's.
GDP per capita: California: $102,662 per person vs Mexico: $13,889. California's GDP per capita is 7.4 times (639%) higher than Mexico's.
Average income: California: $86,232 vs Mexico: $13,730 average income per person (per capita personal income). California's average income is 6.3 times (528%) higher than Mexico's.
Official Websites
California official website · Mexico official website
More Size Comparisons
All California size comparisons · All Mexico 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.