The map above shows Illinois and Nova Scotia side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Illinois vs Nova Scotia Geography
Land area: Illinois has a land area of 55,513 square miles (143,778 km²), while Nova Scotia has 20,594 square miles (53,338 km²). Illinois' land area is 2.7 times (170%) larger than Nova Scotia's.
Total area: Illinois: 57,913 square miles (149,995 km²) vs Nova Scotia: 21,345 square miles (55,284 km²), including inland and coastal water. Illinois' total area is 2.7 times (171%) larger than Nova Scotia's.
Length: Illinois is 390 miles (628 km) long from north to south; Nova Scotia is 342 miles (550 km). Illinois' north-south length is 1.1 times (14%) longer than Nova Scotia's.
Width: Illinois spans 283 miles (456 km) east to west; Nova Scotia spans 338 miles (544 km). Nova Scotia's east-west width is 1.2 times (19%) wider than Illinois'.
Highest point: Illinois's highest point is Charles Mound at 1,232 feet (376 m); Nova Scotia's is White Hill at 1,749 feet (533 m). White Hill is 517 feet higher than Charles Mound.
Lowest point: Illinois's lowest point is Mississippi River at 292 feet; Nova Scotia's is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet. Nova Scotia's lowest point is 292 feet lower.
Illinois vs Nova Scotia Population and History
Population: Illinois has a population of 12,710,158 (2024), while Nova Scotia has 1,090,074 (2026). Illinois' population is 11.7 times larger than Nova Scotia's.
Population density: Illinois: 229.0 people per square mile vs Nova Scotia: 52.9. Illinois' population density is 4.3 times (333%) higher than Nova Scotia's.
Biggest city: Illinois's biggest city is Chicago with 2,721,308 people; Nova Scotia's is ''Halifax'' with 439,819. Chicago's population is 6.2 times (519%) larger than ''Halifax'''s.
Largest metro area: Illinois's largest metropolitan area is Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (9,408,576 people) vs Nova Scotia's Halifax CMA (465,703). Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area's population is 20.2 times larger than Halifax CMA's.
History: Illinois: Admitted to the Union on December 3, 1818, as the 21st state. Nova Scotia: Joined Confederation on July 1, 1867, as one of the four founding provinces. In its current form, Illinois is the older of the two by 49 years.
Illinois vs Nova Scotia Economy
GDP: Illinois's GDP is $1,148.1 billion (2024) vs Nova Scotia's $47.7 billion. Illinois' economic output is 24.1 times larger than Nova Scotia's.
GDP per capita: Illinois: $90,330 per person vs Nova Scotia: $44,056. Illinois' GDP per capita is 2.1 times (105%) higher than Nova Scotia's.
Official Websites
Illinois official website · Nova Scotia official website
More Size Comparisons
All Illinois size comparisons · All Nova Scotia 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.