The map above shows Alabama and District of Columbia side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Alabama vs District of Columbia Geography
Land area: Alabama has a land area of 50,651 square miles (131,185 km²), while District of Columbia has 61 square miles (158 km²). Alabama's land area is 830.3 times larger than District of Columbia's.
Total area: Alabama: 52,420 square miles (135,767 km²) vs District of Columbia: 68 square miles (177 km²), including inland and coastal water. Alabama's total area is 767.0 times larger than District of Columbia's.
Length: Alabama is 331 miles (532 km) long from north to south; District of Columbia is 13 miles (22 km). Alabama's north-south length is 25.5 times longer than District of Columbia's.
Width: Alabama spans 212 miles (341 km) east to west; District of Columbia spans 12 miles (19 km). Alabama's east-west width is 17.7 times wider than District of Columbia's.
Highest point: Alabama's highest point is Cheaha Mountain at 2,405 feet (733 m); District of Columbia's is Fort Reno at 429 feet (131 m). Cheaha Mountain is 1,976 feet higher than Fort Reno.
Lowest point: Alabama's lowest point is Gulf of Mexico at 0 feet; District of Columbia's is Potomac River at 0 feet. Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
Alabama vs District of Columbia Population and History
Population: Alabama has a population of 5,157,699 (2024), while District of Columbia has 702,250 (2024). Alabama's population is 7.3 times (634%) larger than District of Columbia's.
Population density: Alabama: 101.8 people per square mile vs District of Columbia: 11,493.5. District of Columbia's population density is 112.9 times higher than Alabama's.
Biggest city: Alabama's biggest city is Huntsville with 230,402 people; District of Columbia's is Washington with 702,250. Washington's population is 3.0 times (205%) larger than Huntsville's.
Largest metro area: Alabama's largest metropolitan area is Birmingham, AL metro area (1,192,583 people) vs District of Columbia'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 5.4 times (440%) larger than Birmingham, AL metro area's.
History: Alabama: Admitted to the Union on December 14, 1819, as the 22nd state. District of Columbia: The federal district, established by the Residence Act on July 16, 1790; not a state. In its current form, District of Columbia is the older of the two by 29 years.
Alabama vs District of Columbia Economy
GDP: Alabama's GDP is $325.3 billion (2024) vs District of Columbia's $184.3 billion. Alabama's economic output is 1.8 times (77%) larger than District of Columbia's.
GDP per capita: Alabama: $63,080 per person vs District of Columbia: $262,439. District of Columbia's GDP per capita is 4.2 times (316%) higher than Alabama's.
Average income: Alabama: $57,311 vs District of Columbia: $111,185 average income per person (per capita personal income). District of Columbia's average income is 1.9 times (94%) higher than Alabama's.
Alabama vs District of Columbia Counties
Number of counties: Alabama has 67 counties, while District of Columbia has 1. Alabama's county count is 67.0 times higher than District of Columbia's.
Biggest county by area: Alabama's largest county is Baldwin County at 1,590 square miles; District of Columbia's is District of Columbia at 61 square miles. Baldwin County's land area is 26.0 times larger than District of Columbia's.
Smallest county by area: Alabama: Etowah County (535 sq mi) vs District of Columbia: District of Columbia (61 sq mi). Etowah County's land area is 8.8 times (776%) larger than District of Columbia's.
Most populous county: Alabama: Jefferson County (664,744 people) vs District of Columbia: District of Columbia (702,250 people). District of Columbia's population is 1.1 times (6%) larger than Jefferson County's.
Least populous county: Alabama: Greene County (7,127 people) vs District of Columbia: District of Columbia (702,250 people). District of Columbia's population is 98.5 times larger than Greene County's.
Richest county: Alabama: Jefferson County ($75,312 per capita income) vs District of Columbia: District of Columbia ($111,185). District of Columbia's income is 1.5 times (48%) richer than Jefferson County's.
Poorest county: Alabama: Bullock County ($39,403 per capita income) vs District of Columbia: District of Columbia ($111,185). District of Columbia's income is 2.8 times (182%) richer than Bullock County's.
Alabama vs District of Columbia Taxes
State income tax: Alabama has a top income tax rate of 5%, while District of Columbia has a top income tax rate of 10.75%. District of Columbia's top rate is 5.75 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Alabama: 0.38% effective rate vs District of Columbia: 0.63% of home value per year. District of Columbia's rate is 0.25 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Alabama: 9.46% combined state and average local rate vs District of Columbia: 6%. Alabama's combined rate is 3.46 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Alabama official website · District of Columbia official website
More Size Comparisons
All Alabama size comparisons · All District of Columbia 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.