The map above shows Arkansas and West Virginia side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Arkansas vs West Virginia Geography
Land area: Arkansas has a land area of 51,992 square miles (134,658 km²), while West Virginia has 24,041 square miles (62,266 km²). Arkansas' land area is 2.2 times (116%) larger than West Virginia's.
Total area: Arkansas: 53,198 square miles (137,781 km²) vs West Virginia: 24,230 square miles (62,755 km²), including inland and coastal water. Arkansas' total area is 2.2 times (120%) larger than West Virginia's.
Length: Arkansas is 243 miles (392 km) long from north to south; West Virginia is 245 miles (394 km). Arkansas and West Virginia have about the same north-south length.
Width: Arkansas spans 279 miles (449 km) east to west; West Virginia spans 276 miles (444 km). Arkansas and West Virginia have about the same east-west width.
Highest point: Arkansas's highest point is Mount Magazine at 2,752 feet (839 m); West Virginia's is Spruce Knob at 4,863 feet (1,482 m). Spruce Knob is 2,111 feet higher than Mount Magazine.
Lowest point: Arkansas's lowest point is Ouachita River at 55 feet; West Virginia's is Potomac River at 240 feet. Arkansas's lowest point is 185 feet lower.
Arkansas vs West Virginia Population and History
Population: Arkansas has a population of 3,088,354 (2024), while West Virginia has 1,769,979 (2024). Arkansas' population is 1.7 times (74%) larger than West Virginia's.
Population density: Arkansas: 59.4 people per square mile vs West Virginia: 73.6. West Virginia's population density is 1.2 times (24%) higher than Arkansas'.
Biggest city: Arkansas's biggest city is Little Rock with 204,774 people; West Virginia's is Charleston with 46,482. Little Rock's population is 4.4 times (341%) larger than Charleston's.
Largest metro area: Arkansas's largest metropolitan area is Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area (1,339,345 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 4.8 times (381%) larger than Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area's.
History: Arkansas: Admitted to the Union on June 15, 1836, as the 25th state. West Virginia: Admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, as the 35th state. In its current form, Arkansas is the older of the two by 27 years.
Arkansas vs West Virginia Economy
GDP: Arkansas's GDP is $188.3 billion (2024) vs West Virginia's $106.5 billion. Arkansas' economic output is 1.8 times (77%) larger than West Virginia's.
GDP per capita: Arkansas: $60,984 per person vs West Virginia: $60,156. Arkansas and West Virginia have about the same GDP per capita.
Average income: Arkansas: $59,320 vs West Virginia: $55,351 average income per person (per capita personal income). Arkansas' average income is 1.1 times (7%) higher than West Virginia's.
Arkansas vs West Virginia Counties
Number of counties: Arkansas has 75 counties, while West Virginia has 55. Arkansas' county count is 1.4 times (36%) higher than West Virginia's.
Biggest county by area: Arkansas's largest county is Union County at 1,039 square miles; West Virginia's is Randolph County at 1,040 square miles. Union County and Randolph County have about the same land area.
Smallest county by area: Arkansas: Lafayette County (530 sq mi) vs West Virginia: Hancock County (83 sq mi). Lafayette County's land area is 6.4 times (541%) larger than Hancock County's.
Most populous county: Arkansas: Pulaski County (401,209 people) vs West Virginia: Kanawha County (173,906 people). Pulaski County's population is 2.3 times (131%) larger than Kanawha County's.
Least populous county: Arkansas: Calhoun County (4,690 people) vs West Virginia: Wirt County (4,924 people). Wirt County's population is 1.0 times (5%) larger than Calhoun County's.
Richest county: Arkansas: Benton County ($120,594 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Jefferson County ($70,542). Benton County's income is 1.7 times (71%) richer than Jefferson County's.
Poorest county: Arkansas: Lincoln County ($36,032 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Webster County ($35,039). Lincoln County and Webster County have about the same income.
Arkansas vs West Virginia Taxes
State income tax: Arkansas has a top income tax rate of 3.9%, while West Virginia has a top income tax rate of 4.82%. West Virginia's top rate is 0.92 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Arkansas: 0.52% effective rate vs West Virginia: 0.52% of home value per year. The two are essentially equal.
Sales tax: Arkansas: 9.48% combined state and average local rate vs West Virginia: 6.6%. Arkansas's combined rate is 2.88 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Arkansas official website · West Virginia official website
More Size Comparisons
All Arkansas 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.