The map above shows California and Wales side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
California vs Wales Geography
Land area: California has a land area of 155,859 square miles (403,673 km²), while Wales has 8,023 square miles (20,779 km²). California's land area is 19.4 times larger than Wales'.
Total area: California: 163,694 square miles (423,965 km²) vs Wales: 8,023 square miles (20,779 km²), including inland and coastal water. California's total area is 20.4 times larger than Wales'.
Length: California is 761 miles (1,224 km) long from north to south; Wales is 149 miles (239 km). California's north-south length is 5.1 times (411%) longer than Wales'.
Width: California spans 706 miles (1,137 km) east to west; Wales spans 111 miles (179 km). California's east-west width is 6.4 times (536%) wider than Wales'.
Highest point: California's highest point is Mount Whitney at 14,484 feet (4,415 m); Wales's is Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) at 3,560 feet (1,085 m). Mount Whitney is 10,924 feet higher than Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa).
Lowest point: California's lowest point is Death Valley at -279 feet; Wales's is Irish Sea at 0 feet. California's lowest point is 279 feet lower.
California vs Wales Population and History
Population: California has a population of 39,431,263 (2024), while Wales has 3,105,000 (2022). California's population is 12.7 times larger than Wales'.
Population density: California: 253.0 people per square mile vs Wales: 387.0. Wales' population density is 1.5 times (53%) higher than California's.
Biggest city: California's biggest city is Los Angeles with 3,878,704 people; Wales's is Cardiff with 372,089. Los Angeles' population is 10.4 times larger than Cardiff's.
History: California: Admitted to the Union on September 9, 1850, as the 31st state. Wales: A country within the United Kingdom; formally joined with England by the Laws in Wales Acts of 1536. In its current form, Wales is the older of the two by 314 years.
California vs Wales Economy
GDP: California's GDP is $4,048.1 billion (2024) vs Wales's $89.5 billion. California's economic output is 45.2 times larger than Wales'.
GDP per capita: California: $102,662 per person vs Wales: $28,606. California's GDP per capita is 3.6 times (259%) higher than Wales'.
Official Websites
California official website · Wales official website
More Size Comparisons
All California size comparisons · All Wales 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.