The map above shows California and Louisiana side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
California vs Louisiana Geography
Land area: California has a land area of 155,859 square miles (403,673 km²), while Louisiana has 43,213 square miles (111,921 km²). California's land area is 3.6 times (261%) larger than Louisiana's.
Total area: California: 163,694 square miles (423,965 km²) vs Louisiana: 52,375 square miles (135,652 km²), including inland and coastal water. California's total area is 3.1 times (213%) larger than Louisiana's.
Length: California is 761 miles (1,224 km) long from north to south; Louisiana is 301 miles (484 km). California's north-south length is 2.5 times (153%) longer than Louisiana's.
Width: California spans 706 miles (1,137 km) east to west; Louisiana spans 356 miles (574 km). California's east-west width is 2.0 times (98%) wider than Louisiana's.
Highest point: California's highest point is Mount Whitney at 14,484 feet (4,415 m); Louisiana's is Driskill Mountain at 533 feet (162 m). Mount Whitney is 13,951 feet higher than Driskill Mountain.
Lowest point: California's lowest point is Death Valley at -279 feet; Louisiana's is New Orleans at -8 feet. California's lowest point is 271 feet lower.
California vs Louisiana Population and History
Population: California has a population of 39,431,263 (2024), while Louisiana has 4,597,740 (2024). California's population is 8.6 times (758%) larger than Louisiana's.
Population density: California: 253.0 people per square mile vs Louisiana: 106.4. California's population density is 2.4 times (138%) higher than Louisiana's.
Biggest city: California's biggest city is Los Angeles with 3,878,704 people; Louisiana's is New Orleans with 362,701. Los Angeles' population is 10.7 times larger than New Orleans'.
Largest metro area: California's largest metropolitan area is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (12,927,614 people) vs Louisiana's New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area (966,230). Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area's population is 13.4 times larger than New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area's.
History: California: Admitted to the Union on September 9, 1850, as the 31st state. Louisiana: Admitted to the Union on April 30, 1812, as the 18th state. In its current form, Louisiana is the older of the two by 38 years.
California vs Louisiana Economy
GDP: California's GDP is $4,048.1 billion (2024) vs Louisiana's $329.2 billion. California's economic output is 12.3 times larger than Louisiana's.
GDP per capita: California: $102,662 per person vs Louisiana: $71,594. California's GDP per capita is 1.4 times (43%) higher than Louisiana's.
Average income: California: $86,232 vs Louisiana: $61,897 average income per person (per capita personal income). California's average income is 1.4 times (39%) higher than Louisiana's.
California vs Louisiana Counties
Number of counties: California has 58 counties, while Louisiana has 64. Louisiana's county count is 1.1 times (10%) higher than California's.
Biggest county by area: California's largest county is San Bernardino County at 20,068 square miles; Louisiana's is Vernon Parish at 1,327 square miles. San Bernardino County's land area is 15.1 times larger than Vernon Parish's.
Smallest county by area: California: San Francisco County (47 sq mi) vs Louisiana: Orleans Parish (170 sq mi). Orleans Parish's land area is 3.6 times (263%) larger than San Francisco County's.
Most populous county: California: Los Angeles County (9,757,179 people) vs Louisiana: East Baton Rouge Parish (453,022 people). Los Angeles County's population is 21.5 times larger than East Baton Rouge Parish's.
Least populous county: California: Alpine County (1,099 people) vs Louisiana: Tensas Parish (3,844 people). Tensas Parish's population is 3.5 times (250%) larger than Alpine County's.
Richest county: California: Marin County ($190,891 per capita income) vs Louisiana: St. Tammany Parish ($82,398). Marin County's income is 2.3 times (132%) richer than St. Tammany Parish's.
Poorest county: California: Trinity County ($42,191 per capita income) vs Louisiana: East Carroll Parish ($36,751). Trinity County's income is 1.1 times (15%) richer than East Carroll Parish's.
California vs Louisiana Taxes
State income tax: California has a top income tax rate of 13.3%, while Louisiana has a top income tax rate of 3%. California's top rate is 10.3 percentage points higher.
Property tax: California: 0.71% effective rate vs Louisiana: 0.53% of home value per year. California's rate is 0.18 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: California: 9.03% combined state and average local rate vs Louisiana: 10.13%. Louisiana's combined rate is 1.1 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
California official website · Louisiana official website
More Size Comparisons
All California size comparisons · All Louisiana 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.