The map above shows Illinois and Louisiana side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Illinois vs Louisiana Geography
Land area: Illinois has a land area of 55,513 square miles (143,778 km²), while Louisiana has 43,213 square miles (111,921 km²). Illinois' land area is 1.3 times (28%) larger than Louisiana's.
Total area: Illinois: 57,913 square miles (149,995 km²) vs Louisiana: 52,375 square miles (135,652 km²), including inland and coastal water. Illinois' total area is 1.1 times (11%) larger than Louisiana's.
Length: Illinois is 390 miles (628 km) long from north to south; Louisiana is 301 miles (484 km). Illinois' north-south length is 1.3 times (30%) longer than Louisiana's.
Width: Illinois spans 283 miles (456 km) east to west; Louisiana spans 356 miles (574 km). Louisiana's east-west width is 1.3 times (26%) wider than Illinois'.
Highest point: Illinois's highest point is Charles Mound at 1,232 feet (376 m); Louisiana's is Driskill Mountain at 533 feet (162 m). Charles Mound is 699 feet higher than Driskill Mountain.
Lowest point: Illinois's lowest point is Mississippi River at 292 feet; Louisiana's is New Orleans at -8 feet. Louisiana's lowest point is 300 feet lower.
Illinois vs Louisiana Population and History
Population: Illinois has a population of 12,710,158 (2024), while Louisiana has 4,597,740 (2024). Illinois' population is 2.8 times (176%) larger than Louisiana's.
Population density: Illinois: 229.0 people per square mile vs Louisiana: 106.4. Illinois' population density is 2.2 times (115%) higher than Louisiana's.
Biggest city: Illinois's biggest city is Chicago with 2,721,308 people; Louisiana's is New Orleans with 362,701. Chicago's population is 7.5 times (650%) larger than New Orleans'.
Largest metro area: Illinois's largest metropolitan area is Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (9,408,576 people) vs Louisiana's New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area (966,230). Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area's population is 9.7 times (874%) larger than New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area's.
History: Illinois: Admitted to the Union on December 3, 1818, as the 21st 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 6 years.
Illinois vs Louisiana Economy
GDP: Illinois's GDP is $1,148.1 billion (2024) vs Louisiana's $329.2 billion. Illinois' economic output is 3.5 times (249%) larger than Louisiana's.
GDP per capita: Illinois: $90,330 per person vs Louisiana: $71,594. Illinois' GDP per capita is 1.3 times (26%) higher than Louisiana's.
Average income: Illinois: $74,522 vs Louisiana: $61,897 average income per person (per capita personal income). Illinois' average income is 1.2 times (20%) higher than Louisiana's.
Illinois vs Louisiana Counties
Number of counties: Illinois has 102 counties, while Louisiana has 64. Illinois' county count is 1.6 times (59%) higher than Louisiana's.
Biggest county by area: Illinois's largest county is McLean County at 1,183 square miles; Louisiana's is Vernon Parish at 1,327 square miles. Vernon Parish's land area is 1.1 times (12%) larger than McLean County's.
Smallest county by area: Illinois: Putnam County (160 sq mi) vs Louisiana: Orleans Parish (170 sq mi). Orleans Parish's land area is 1.1 times (6%) larger than Putnam County's.
Most populous county: Illinois: Cook County (5,182,617 people) vs Louisiana: East Baton Rouge Parish (453,022 people). Cook County's population is 11.4 times larger than East Baton Rouge Parish's.
Least populous county: Illinois: Hardin County (3,550 people) vs Louisiana: Tensas Parish (3,844 people). Tensas Parish's population is 1.1 times (8%) larger than Hardin County's.
Richest county: Illinois: Cumberland County ($104,890 per capita income) vs Louisiana: St. Tammany Parish ($82,398). Cumberland County's income is 1.3 times (27%) richer than St. Tammany Parish's.
Poorest county: Illinois: Lawrence County ($43,606 per capita income) vs Louisiana: East Carroll Parish ($36,751). Lawrence County's income is 1.2 times (19%) richer than East Carroll Parish's.
Illinois vs Louisiana Taxes
State income tax: Illinois has a top income tax rate of 4.95%, while Louisiana has a top income tax rate of 3%. Illinois's top rate is 1.95 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Illinois: 1.92% effective rate vs Louisiana: 0.53% of home value per year. Illinois's rate is 1.39 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Illinois: 8.98% combined state and average local rate vs Louisiana: 10.13%. Louisiana's combined rate is 1.15 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Illinois official website · Louisiana official website
More Size Comparisons
All Illinois 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.