The map above shows Illinois and Michigan side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Illinois vs Michigan Geography
Land area: Illinois has a land area of 55,513 square miles (143,778 km²), while Michigan has 56,611 square miles (146,622 km²). Illinois and Michigan have about the same land area.
Total area: Illinois: 57,913 square miles (149,995 km²) vs Michigan: 96,713 square miles (250,486 km²), including inland and coastal water. Michigan's total area is 1.7 times (67%) larger than Illinois'.
Length: Illinois is 390 miles (628 km) long from north to south; Michigan is 489 miles (786 km). Michigan's north-south length is 1.3 times (25%) longer than Illinois'.
Width: Illinois spans 283 miles (456 km) east to west; Michigan spans 453 miles (728 km). Michigan's east-west width is 1.6 times (60%) wider than Illinois'.
Highest point: Illinois's highest point is Charles Mound at 1,232 feet (376 m); Michigan's is Mount Arvon at 2,014 feet (614 m). Mount Arvon is 782 feet higher than Charles Mound.
Lowest point: Illinois's lowest point is Mississippi River at 292 feet; Michigan's is Lake Erie at 571 feet. Illinois's lowest point is 279 feet lower.
Illinois vs Michigan Population and History
Population: Illinois has a population of 12,710,158 (2024), while Michigan has 10,140,459 (2024). Illinois' population is 1.3 times (25%) larger than Michigan's.
Population density: Illinois: 229.0 people per square mile vs Michigan: 179.1. Illinois' population density is 1.3 times (28%) higher than Michigan's.
Biggest city: Illinois's biggest city is Chicago with 2,721,308 people; Michigan's is Detroit with 645,705. Chicago's population is 4.2 times (321%) larger than Detroit's.
Largest metro area: Illinois's largest metropolitan area is Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (9,408,576 people) vs Michigan's Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area (4,400,578). Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area's population is 2.1 times (114%) larger than Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area's.
History: Illinois: Admitted to the Union on December 3, 1818, as the 21st state. Michigan: Admitted to the Union on January 26, 1837, as the 26th state. In its current form, Illinois is the older of the two by 19 years.
Illinois vs Michigan Economy
GDP: Illinois's GDP is $1,148.1 billion (2024) vs Michigan's $702.5 billion. Illinois' economic output is 1.6 times (63%) larger than Michigan's.
GDP per capita: Illinois: $90,330 per person vs Michigan: $69,274. Illinois' GDP per capita is 1.3 times (30%) higher than Michigan's.
Average income: Illinois: $74,522 vs Michigan: $63,690 average income per person (per capita personal income). Illinois' average income is 1.2 times (17%) higher than Michigan's.
Illinois vs Michigan Counties
Number of counties: Illinois has 102 counties, while Michigan has 83. Illinois' county count is 1.2 times (23%) higher than Michigan's.
Biggest county by area: Illinois's largest county is McLean County at 1,183 square miles; Michigan's is Marquette County at 1,809 square miles. Marquette County's land area is 1.5 times (53%) larger than McLean County's.
Smallest county by area: Illinois: Putnam County (160 sq mi) vs Michigan: Benzie County (320 sq mi). Benzie County's land area is 2.0 times (100%) larger than Putnam County's.
Most populous county: Illinois: Cook County (5,182,617 people) vs Michigan: Wayne County (1,771,063 people). Cook County's population is 2.9 times (193%) larger than Wayne County's.
Least populous county: Illinois: Hardin County (3,550 people) vs Michigan: Keweenaw County (2,161 people). Hardin County's population is 1.6 times (64%) larger than Keweenaw County's.
Richest county: Illinois: Cumberland County ($104,890 per capita income) vs Michigan: Oakland County ($93,579). Cumberland County's income is 1.1 times (12%) richer than Oakland County's.
Poorest county: Illinois: Lawrence County ($43,606 per capita income) vs Michigan: Lake County ($39,505). Lawrence County's income is 1.1 times (10%) richer than Lake County's.
Illinois vs Michigan Taxes
State income tax: Illinois has a top income tax rate of 4.95%, while Michigan has a top income tax rate of 4.25%. Illinois's top rate is 0.7 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Illinois: 1.92% effective rate vs Michigan: 1.18% of home value per year. Illinois's rate is 0.74 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Illinois: 8.98% combined state and average local rate vs Michigan: 6%. Illinois's combined rate is 2.98 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Illinois official website · Michigan official website
More Size Comparisons
All Illinois size comparisons · All Michigan 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.