The map above shows Illinois and France side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Illinois vs France Geography
Land area: Illinois has a land area of 55,513 square miles (143,778 km²), while France has 210,016 square miles (543,940 km²). France's land area is 3.8 times (278%) larger than Illinois'.
Total area: Illinois: 57,913 square miles (149,995 km²) vs France: 213,011 square miles (551,695 km²), including inland and coastal water. France's total area is 3.7 times (268%) larger than Illinois'.
Length: Illinois is 390 miles (628 km) long from north to south; France is 742 miles (1,194 km). France's north-south length is 1.9 times (90%) longer than Illinois'.
Width: Illinois spans 283 miles (456 km) east to west; France spans 818 miles (1,316 km). France's east-west width is 2.9 times (189%) wider than Illinois'.
Highest point: Illinois's highest point is Charles Mound at 1,232 feet (376 m); France's is Mont Blanc at 15,778 feet (4,809 m). Mont Blanc is 14,546 feet higher than Charles Mound.
Lowest point: Illinois's lowest point is Mississippi River at 292 feet; France's is Etang de Lavalduc at -33 feet. France's lowest point is 325 feet lower.
Illinois vs France Population and History
Population: Illinois has a population of 12,710,158 (2024), while France has 69,081,996 (2026). France's population is 5.4 times (444%) larger than Illinois'.
Population density: Illinois: 229.0 people per square mile vs France: 328.9. France's population density is 1.4 times (44%) higher than Illinois'.
Biggest city: Illinois's biggest city is Chicago with 2,721,308 people; France's is Paris with 2,148,271. Chicago's population is 1.3 times (27%) larger than Paris'.
Largest metro area: Illinois's largest metropolitan area is Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (9,408,576 people) vs France's Paris (9,381,921). Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area and Paris have about the same population.
History: Illinois: Admitted to the Union on December 3, 1818, as the 21st state. France: An independent state since the Treaty of Verdun in 843; the current Fifth Republic dates from 1958. In its current form, France is the older of the two by 975 years.
Illinois vs France Economy
GDP: Illinois's GDP is $1,148.1 billion (2024) vs France's $3,366.3 billion. France's economic output is 2.9 times (193%) larger than Illinois'.
GDP per capita: Illinois: $90,330 per person vs France: $48,986. Illinois' GDP per capita is 1.8 times (84%) higher than France's.
Average income: Illinois: $74,522 vs France: $48,630 average income per person (per capita personal income). Illinois' average income is 1.5 times (53%) higher than France's.
Official Websites
Illinois official website · France official website
More Size Comparisons
All Illinois size comparisons · All France 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.