The map above shows Alaska and West Virginia side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Alaska vs West Virginia Geography
Land area: Alaska has a land area of 571,242 square miles (1,479,509 km²), while West Virginia has 24,041 square miles (62,266 km²). Alaska's land area is 23.8 times larger than West Virginia's.
Total area: Alaska: 665,725 square miles (1,724,220 km²) vs West Virginia: 24,230 square miles (62,755 km²), including inland and coastal water. Alaska's total area is 27.5 times larger than West Virginia's.
Length: Alaska is 1,201 miles (1,933 km) long from north to south; West Virginia is 245 miles (394 km). Alaska's north-south length is 4.9 times (390%) longer than West Virginia's.
Width: Alaska spans 1,544 miles (2,485 km) east to west; West Virginia spans 276 miles (444 km). Alaska's east-west width is 5.6 times (459%) wider than West Virginia's.
Highest point: Alaska's highest point is Denali at 20,235 feet (6,168 m); West Virginia's is Spruce Knob at 4,863 feet (1,482 m). Denali is 15,372 feet higher than Spruce Knob.
Lowest point: Alaska's lowest point is Pacific Ocean at 0 feet; West Virginia's is Potomac River at 240 feet. Alaska's lowest point is 240 feet lower.
Alaska vs West Virginia Population and History
Population: Alaska has a population of 740,133 (2024), while West Virginia has 1,769,979 (2024). West Virginia's population is 2.4 times (139%) larger than Alaska's.
Population density: Alaska: 1.3 people per square mile vs West Virginia: 73.6. West Virginia's population density is 56.6 times higher than Alaska's.
Biggest city: Alaska's biggest city is Anchorage with 289,600 people; West Virginia's is Charleston with 46,482. Anchorage's population is 6.2 times (523%) larger than Charleston's.
Largest metro area: Alaska's largest metropolitan area is Anchorage, AK metro area (407,213 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 15.8 times larger than Anchorage, AK metro area's.
History: Alaska: Admitted to the Union on January 3, 1959, as the 49th state. West Virginia: Admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, as the 35th state. In its current form, West Virginia is the older of the two by 96 years.
Alaska vs West Virginia Economy
GDP: Alaska's GDP is $71.6 billion (2024) vs West Virginia's $106.5 billion. West Virginia's economic output is 1.5 times (49%) larger than Alaska's.
GDP per capita: Alaska: $96,695 per person vs West Virginia: $60,156. Alaska's GDP per capita is 1.6 times (61%) higher than West Virginia's.
Average income: Alaska: $76,234 vs West Virginia: $55,351 average income per person (per capita personal income). Alaska's average income is 1.4 times (38%) higher than West Virginia's.
Alaska vs West Virginia Counties
Number of counties: Alaska has 30 counties, while West Virginia has 55. West Virginia's county count is 1.8 times (83%) higher than Alaska's.
Biggest county by area: Alaska's largest county is Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area at 145,769 square miles; West Virginia's is Randolph County at 1,040 square miles. Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area's land area is 140.2 times larger than Randolph County's.
Smallest county by area: Alaska: Skagway Municipality (443 sq mi) vs West Virginia: Hancock County (83 sq mi). Skagway Municipality's land area is 5.4 times (436%) larger than Hancock County's.
Most populous county: Alaska: Anchorage Municipality (289,600 people) vs West Virginia: Kanawha County (173,906 people). Anchorage Municipality's population is 1.7 times (67%) larger than Kanawha County's.
Least populous county: Alaska: Yakutat City and Borough (690 people) vs West Virginia: Wirt County (4,924 people). Wirt County's population is 7.1 times (614%) larger than Yakutat City and Borough's.
Richest county: Alaska: Bristol Bay Borough ($158,406 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Jefferson County ($70,542). Bristol Bay Borough's income is 2.2 times (125%) richer than Jefferson County's.
Poorest county: Alaska: Kusilvak Census Area ($37,765 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Webster County ($35,039). Kusilvak Census Area's income is 1.1 times (8%) richer than Webster County's.
Alaska vs West Virginia Taxes
State income tax: Alaska has no state income tax, while West Virginia has a top income tax rate of 4.82%. West Virginia's top rate is 4.82 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Alaska: 1.06% effective rate vs West Virginia: 0.52% of home value per year. Alaska's rate is 0.54 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Alaska: 1.82% combined state and average local rate vs West Virginia: 6.6%. West Virginia's combined rate is 4.78 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Alaska official website · West Virginia official website
More Size Comparisons
All Alaska 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.