The map above shows Alabama and Arkansas side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Alabama vs Arkansas Geography
Land area: Alabama has a land area of 50,651 square miles (131,185 km²), while Arkansas has 51,992 square miles (134,658 km²). Alabama and Arkansas have about the same land area.
Total area: Alabama: 52,420 square miles (135,767 km²) vs Arkansas: 53,198 square miles (137,781 km²), including inland and coastal water. Alabama and Arkansas have about the same total area.
Length: Alabama is 331 miles (532 km) long from north to south; Arkansas is 243 miles (392 km). Alabama's north-south length is 1.4 times (36%) longer than Arkansas'.
Width: Alabama spans 212 miles (341 km) east to west; Arkansas spans 279 miles (449 km). Arkansas' east-west width is 1.3 times (32%) wider than Alabama's.
Highest point: Alabama's highest point is Cheaha Mountain at 2,405 feet (733 m); Arkansas's is Mount Magazine at 2,752 feet (839 m). Mount Magazine is 347 feet higher than Cheaha Mountain.
Lowest point: Alabama's lowest point is Gulf of Mexico at 0 feet; Arkansas's is Ouachita River at 55 feet. Alabama's lowest point is 55 feet lower.
Alabama vs Arkansas Population and History
Population: Alabama has a population of 5,157,699 (2024), while Arkansas has 3,088,354 (2024). Alabama's population is 1.7 times (67%) larger than Arkansas'.
Population density: Alabama: 101.8 people per square mile vs Arkansas: 59.4. Alabama's population density is 1.7 times (71%) higher than Arkansas'.
Biggest city: Alabama's biggest city is Huntsville with 230,402 people; Arkansas's is Little Rock with 204,774. Huntsville's population is 1.1 times (13%) larger than Little Rock's.
Largest metro area: Alabama's largest metropolitan area is Birmingham, AL metro area (1,192,583 people) vs Arkansas's Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area (1,339,345). Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area's population is 1.1 times (12%) larger than Birmingham, AL metro area's.
History: Alabama: Admitted to the Union on December 14, 1819, as the 22nd state. Arkansas: Admitted to the Union on June 15, 1836, as the 25th state. In its current form, Alabama is the older of the two by 17 years.
Alabama vs Arkansas Economy
GDP: Alabama's GDP is $325.3 billion (2024) vs Arkansas's $188.3 billion. Alabama's economic output is 1.7 times (73%) larger than Arkansas'.
GDP per capita: Alabama: $63,080 per person vs Arkansas: $60,984. Alabama and Arkansas have about the same GDP per capita.
Average income: Alabama: $57,311 vs Arkansas: $59,320 average income per person (per capita personal income). Alabama and Arkansas have about the same average income.
Alabama vs Arkansas Counties
Number of counties: Alabama has 67 counties, while Arkansas has 75. Arkansas' county count is 1.1 times (12%) higher than Alabama's.
Biggest county by area: Alabama's largest county is Baldwin County at 1,590 square miles; Arkansas's is Union County at 1,039 square miles. Baldwin County's land area is 1.5 times (53%) larger than Union County's.
Smallest county by area: Alabama: Etowah County (535 sq mi) vs Arkansas: Lafayette County (530 sq mi). Etowah County and Lafayette County have about the same land area.
Most populous county: Alabama: Jefferson County (664,744 people) vs Arkansas: Pulaski County (401,209 people). Jefferson County's population is 1.7 times (66%) larger than Pulaski County's.
Least populous county: Alabama: Greene County (7,127 people) vs Arkansas: Calhoun County (4,690 people). Greene County's population is 1.5 times (52%) larger than Calhoun County's.
Richest county: Alabama: Jefferson County ($75,312 per capita income) vs Arkansas: Benton County ($120,594). Benton County's income is 1.6 times (60%) richer than Jefferson County's.
Poorest county: Alabama: Bullock County ($39,403 per capita income) vs Arkansas: Lincoln County ($36,032). Bullock County's income is 1.1 times (9%) richer than Lincoln County's.
Alabama vs Arkansas Taxes
State income tax: Alabama has a top income tax rate of 5%, while Arkansas has a top income tax rate of 3.9%. Alabama's top rate is 1.1 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Alabama: 0.38% effective rate vs Arkansas: 0.52% of home value per year. Arkansas's rate is 0.14 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Alabama: 9.46% combined state and average local rate vs Arkansas: 9.48%. Arkansas's combined rate is 0.02 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Alabama official website · Arkansas official website
More Size Comparisons
All Alabama size comparisons · All Arkansas 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.