The map above shows Illinois and Ireland side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Illinois vs Ireland Geography
Land area: Illinois has a land area of 55,513 square miles (143,778 km²), while Ireland has 26,596 square miles (68,883 km²). Illinois' land area is 2.1 times (109%) larger than Ireland's.
Total area: Illinois: 57,913 square miles (149,995 km²) vs Ireland: 27,133 square miles (70,273 km²), including inland and coastal water. Illinois' total area is 2.1 times (113%) larger than Ireland's.
Length: Illinois is 390 miles (628 km) long from north to south; Ireland is 287 miles (462 km). Illinois' north-south length is 1.4 times (36%) longer than Ireland's.
Width: Illinois spans 283 miles (456 km) east to west; Ireland spans 191 miles (308 km). Illinois' east-west width is 1.5 times (48%) wider than Ireland's.
Highest point: Illinois's highest point is Charles Mound at 1,232 feet (376 m); Ireland's is Carrauntoohil at 3,406 feet (1,038 m). Carrauntoohil is 2,174 feet higher than Charles Mound.
Lowest point: Illinois's lowest point is Mississippi River at 292 feet; Ireland's is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet. Ireland's lowest point is 292 feet lower.
Illinois vs Ireland Population and History
Population: Illinois has a population of 12,710,158 (2024), while Ireland has 5,525,600 (2026). Illinois' population is 2.3 times (130%) larger than Ireland's.
Population density: Illinois: 229.0 people per square mile vs Ireland: 207.8. Illinois' population density is 1.1 times (10%) higher than Ireland's.
Biggest city: Illinois's biggest city is Chicago with 2,721,308 people; Ireland's is Dublin with 592,713. Chicago's population is 4.6 times (359%) larger than Dublin's.
Largest metro area: Illinois's largest metropolitan area is Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (9,408,576 people) vs Ireland's Greater Dublin Area (2,082,605). Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area's population is 4.5 times (352%) larger than Greater Dublin Area's.
History: Illinois: Admitted to the Union on December 3, 1818, as the 21st state. Ireland: Independent since December 6, 1922, as the Irish Free State; a republic since 1949. In its current form, Illinois is the older of the two by 104 years.
Illinois vs Ireland Economy
GDP: Illinois's GDP is $1,148.1 billion (2024) vs Ireland's $721.7 billion. Illinois' economic output is 1.6 times (59%) larger than Ireland's.
GDP per capita: Illinois: $90,330 per person vs Ireland: $131,593. Ireland's GDP per capita is 1.5 times (46%) higher than Illinois'.
Average income: Illinois: $74,522 vs Ireland: $87,360 average income per person (per capita personal income). Ireland's average income is 1.2 times (17%) higher than Illinois'.
Official Websites
Illinois official website · Ireland official website
More Size Comparisons
All Illinois size comparisons · All Ireland 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.