The map above shows Illinois and Nebraska side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Illinois vs Nebraska Geography
Land area: Illinois has a land area of 55,513 square miles (143,778 km²), while Nebraska has 76,815 square miles (198,950 km²). Nebraska's land area is 1.4 times (38%) larger than Illinois'.
Total area: Illinois: 57,913 square miles (149,995 km²) vs Nebraska: 77,347 square miles (200,329 km²), including inland and coastal water. Nebraska's total area is 1.3 times (34%) larger than Illinois'.
Length: Illinois is 390 miles (628 km) long from north to south; Nebraska is 497 miles (800 km). Nebraska's north-south length is 1.3 times (27%) longer than Illinois'.
Width: Illinois spans 283 miles (456 km) east to west; Nebraska spans 464 miles (747 km). Nebraska's east-west width is 1.6 times (64%) wider than Illinois'.
Highest point: Illinois's highest point is Charles Mound at 1,232 feet (376 m); Nebraska's is Panorama Point at 5,428 feet (1,654 m). Panorama Point is 4,196 feet higher than Charles Mound.
Lowest point: Illinois's lowest point is Mississippi River at 292 feet; Nebraska's is Missouri River at 840 feet. Illinois's lowest point is 548 feet lower.
Illinois vs Nebraska Population and History
Population: Illinois has a population of 12,710,158 (2024), while Nebraska has 2,005,465 (2024). Illinois' population is 6.3 times (534%) larger than Nebraska's.
Population density: Illinois: 229.0 people per square mile vs Nebraska: 26.1. Illinois' population density is 8.8 times (777%) higher than Nebraska's.
Biggest city: Illinois's biggest city is Chicago with 2,721,308 people; Nebraska's is Omaha with 489,265. Chicago's population is 5.6 times (456%) larger than Omaha's.
Largest metro area: Illinois's largest metropolitan area is Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (9,408,576 people) vs Nebraska's Omaha, NE-IA metro area (1,001,010). Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area's population is 9.4 times (840%) larger than Omaha, NE-IA metro area's.
History: Illinois: Admitted to the Union on December 3, 1818, as the 21st state. Nebraska: Admitted to the Union on March 1, 1867, as the 37th state. In its current form, Illinois is the older of the two by 49 years.
Illinois vs Nebraska Economy
GDP: Illinois's GDP is $1,148.1 billion (2024) vs Nebraska's $189.2 billion. Illinois' economic output is 6.1 times (507%) larger than Nebraska's.
GDP per capita: Illinois: $90,330 per person vs Nebraska: $94,363. Illinois and Nebraska have about the same GDP per capita.
Average income: Illinois: $74,522 vs Nebraska: $72,701 average income per person (per capita personal income). Illinois and Nebraska have about the same average income.
Illinois vs Nebraska Counties
Number of counties: Illinois has 102 counties, while Nebraska has 93. Illinois' county count is 1.1 times (10%) higher than Nebraska's.
Biggest county by area: Illinois's largest county is McLean County at 1,183 square miles; Nebraska's is Cherry County at 5,960 square miles. Cherry County's land area is 5.0 times (404%) larger than McLean County's.
Smallest county by area: Illinois: Putnam County (160 sq mi) vs Nebraska: Sarpy County (238 sq mi). Sarpy County's land area is 1.5 times (49%) larger than Putnam County's.
Most populous county: Illinois: Cook County (5,182,617 people) vs Nebraska: Douglas County (601,158 people). Cook County's population is 8.6 times (762%) larger than Douglas County's.
Least populous county: Illinois: Hardin County (3,550 people) vs Nebraska: McPherson County (376 people). Hardin County's population is 9.4 times (844%) larger than McPherson County's.
Richest county: Illinois: Cumberland County ($104,890 per capita income) vs Nebraska: Pierce County ($112,729). Pierce County's income is 1.1 times (7%) richer than Cumberland County's.
Poorest county: Illinois: Lawrence County ($43,606 per capita income) vs Nebraska: Johnson County ($45,756). Johnson County's income is 1.0 times (5%) richer than Lawrence County's.
Illinois vs Nebraska Taxes
State income tax: Illinois has a top income tax rate of 4.95%, while Nebraska has a top income tax rate of 4.55%. Illinois's top rate is 0.4 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Illinois: 1.92% effective rate vs Nebraska: 1.42% of home value per year. Illinois's rate is 0.5 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Illinois: 8.98% combined state and average local rate vs Nebraska: 6.98%. Illinois's combined rate is 2 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Illinois official website · Nebraska official website
More Size Comparisons
All Illinois size comparisons · All Nebraska 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.