The map above shows Louisiana and West Virginia side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Louisiana vs West Virginia Geography
Land area: Louisiana has a land area of 43,213 square miles (111,921 km²), while West Virginia has 24,041 square miles (62,266 km²). Louisiana's land area is 1.8 times (80%) larger than West Virginia's.
Total area: Louisiana: 52,375 square miles (135,652 km²) vs West Virginia: 24,230 square miles (62,755 km²), including inland and coastal water. Louisiana's total area is 2.2 times (116%) larger than West Virginia's.
Length: Louisiana is 301 miles (484 km) long from north to south; West Virginia is 245 miles (394 km). Louisiana's north-south length is 1.2 times (23%) longer than West Virginia's.
Width: Louisiana spans 356 miles (574 km) east to west; West Virginia spans 276 miles (444 km). Louisiana's east-west width is 1.3 times (29%) wider than West Virginia's.
Highest point: Louisiana's highest point is Driskill Mountain at 533 feet (162 m); West Virginia's is Spruce Knob at 4,863 feet (1,482 m). Spruce Knob is 4,330 feet higher than Driskill Mountain.
Lowest point: Louisiana's lowest point is New Orleans at -8 feet; West Virginia's is Potomac River at 240 feet. Louisiana's lowest point is 248 feet lower.
Louisiana vs West Virginia Population and History
Population: Louisiana has a population of 4,597,740 (2024), while West Virginia has 1,769,979 (2024). Louisiana's population is 2.6 times (160%) larger than West Virginia's.
Population density: Louisiana: 106.4 people per square mile vs West Virginia: 73.6. Louisiana's population density is 1.4 times (45%) higher than West Virginia's.
Biggest city: Louisiana's biggest city is New Orleans with 362,701 people; West Virginia's is Charleston with 46,482. New Orleans' population is 7.8 times (680%) larger than Charleston's.
Largest metro area: Louisiana's largest metropolitan area is New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area (966,230 people) vs West Virginia's Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (6,436,489). Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area's population is 6.7 times (566%) larger than New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area's.
History: Louisiana: Admitted to the Union on April 30, 1812, as the 18th state. West Virginia: Admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, as the 35th state. In its current form, Louisiana is the older of the two by 51 years.
Louisiana vs West Virginia Economy
GDP: Louisiana's GDP is $329.2 billion (2024) vs West Virginia's $106.5 billion. Louisiana's economic output is 3.1 times (209%) larger than West Virginia's.
GDP per capita: Louisiana: $71,594 per person vs West Virginia: $60,156. Louisiana's GDP per capita is 1.2 times (19%) higher than West Virginia's.
Average income: Louisiana: $61,897 vs West Virginia: $55,351 average income per person (per capita personal income). Louisiana's average income is 1.1 times (12%) higher than West Virginia's.
Louisiana vs West Virginia Counties
Number of counties: Louisiana has 64 counties, while West Virginia has 55. Louisiana's county count is 1.2 times (16%) higher than West Virginia's.
Biggest county by area: Louisiana's largest county is Vernon Parish at 1,327 square miles; West Virginia's is Randolph County at 1,040 square miles. Vernon Parish's land area is 1.3 times (28%) larger than Randolph County's.
Smallest county by area: Louisiana: Orleans Parish (170 sq mi) vs West Virginia: Hancock County (83 sq mi). Orleans Parish's land area is 2.1 times (105%) larger than Hancock County's.
Most populous county: Louisiana: East Baton Rouge Parish (453,022 people) vs West Virginia: Kanawha County (173,906 people). East Baton Rouge Parish's population is 2.6 times (160%) larger than Kanawha County's.
Least populous county: Louisiana: Tensas Parish (3,844 people) vs West Virginia: Wirt County (4,924 people). Wirt County's population is 1.3 times (28%) larger than Tensas Parish's.
Richest county: Louisiana: St. Tammany Parish ($82,398 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Jefferson County ($70,542). St. Tammany Parish's income is 1.2 times (17%) richer than Jefferson County's.
Poorest county: Louisiana: East Carroll Parish ($36,751 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Webster County ($35,039). East Carroll Parish's income is 1.0 times (5%) richer than Webster County's.
Louisiana vs West Virginia Taxes
State income tax: Louisiana has a top income tax rate of 3%, while West Virginia has a top income tax rate of 4.82%. West Virginia's top rate is 1.82 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Louisiana: 0.53% effective rate vs West Virginia: 0.52% of home value per year. The two are essentially equal.
Sales tax: Louisiana: 10.13% combined state and average local rate vs West Virginia: 6.6%. Louisiana's combined rate is 3.53 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Louisiana official website · West Virginia official website
More Size Comparisons
All Louisiana size comparisons · All West Virginia 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.