The map above shows Illinois and Nevada side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Illinois vs Nevada Geography
Land area: Illinois has a land area of 55,513 square miles (143,778 km²), while Nevada has 109,860 square miles (284,537 km²). Nevada's land area is 2.0 times (98%) larger than Illinois'.
Total area: Illinois: 57,913 square miles (149,995 km²) vs Nevada: 110,571 square miles (286,377 km²), including inland and coastal water. Nevada's total area is 1.9 times (91%) larger than Illinois'.
Length: Illinois is 390 miles (628 km) long from north to south; Nevada is 484 miles (780 km). Nevada's north-south length is 1.2 times (24%) longer than Illinois'.
Width: Illinois spans 283 miles (456 km) east to west; Nevada spans 469 miles (755 km). Nevada's east-west width is 1.7 times (66%) wider than Illinois'.
Highest point: Illinois's highest point is Charles Mound at 1,232 feet (376 m); Nevada's is Boundary Peak at 13,115 feet (3,997 m). Boundary Peak is 11,883 feet higher than Charles Mound.
Lowest point: Illinois's lowest point is Mississippi River at 292 feet; Nevada's is Colorado River at 481 feet. Illinois's lowest point is 189 feet lower.
Illinois vs Nevada Population and History
Population: Illinois has a population of 12,710,158 (2024), while Nevada has 3,267,467 (2024). Illinois' population is 3.9 times (289%) larger than Nevada's.
Population density: Illinois: 229.0 people per square mile vs Nevada: 29.7. Illinois' population density is 7.7 times (671%) higher than Nevada's.
Biggest city: Illinois's biggest city is Chicago with 2,721,308 people; Nevada's is Las Vegas with 678,922. Chicago's population is 4.0 times (301%) larger than Las Vegas'.
Largest metro area: Illinois's largest metropolitan area is Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (9,408,576 people) vs Nevada's Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV metro area (2,398,871). Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area's population is 3.9 times (292%) larger than Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV metro area's.
History: Illinois: Admitted to the Union on December 3, 1818, as the 21st state. Nevada: Admitted to the Union on October 31, 1864, as the 36th state. In its current form, Illinois is the older of the two by 46 years.
Illinois vs Nevada Economy
GDP: Illinois's GDP is $1,148.1 billion (2024) vs Nevada's $269.0 billion. Illinois' economic output is 4.3 times (327%) larger than Nevada's.
GDP per capita: Illinois: $90,330 per person vs Nevada: $82,330. Illinois' GDP per capita is 1.1 times (10%) higher than Nevada's.
Average income: Illinois: $74,522 vs Nevada: $69,805 average income per person (per capita personal income). Illinois' average income is 1.1 times (7%) higher than Nevada's.
Illinois vs Nevada Counties
Number of counties: Illinois has 102 counties, while Nevada has 17. Illinois' county count is 6.0 times (500%) higher than Nevada's.
Biggest county by area: Illinois's largest county is McLean County at 1,183 square miles; Nevada's is Nye County at 18,182 square miles. Nye County's land area is 15.4 times larger than McLean County's.
Smallest county by area: Illinois: Putnam County (160 sq mi) vs Nevada: Carson City (145 sq mi). Putnam County's land area is 1.1 times (11%) larger than Carson City's.
Most populous county: Illinois: Cook County (5,182,617 people) vs Nevada: Clark County (2,398,871 people). Cook County's population is 2.2 times (116%) larger than Clark County's.
Least populous county: Illinois: Hardin County (3,550 people) vs Nevada: Esmeralda County (720 people). Hardin County's population is 4.9 times (393%) larger than Esmeralda County's.
Richest county: Illinois: Cumberland County ($104,890 per capita income) vs Nevada: Douglas County ($109,486). Cumberland County and Douglas County have about the same income.
Poorest county: Illinois: Lawrence County ($43,606 per capita income) vs Nevada: Pershing County ($45,906). Pershing County's income is 1.1 times (5%) richer than Lawrence County's.
Illinois vs Nevada Taxes
State income tax: Illinois has a top income tax rate of 4.95%, while Nevada has no state income tax. Illinois's top rate is 4.95 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Illinois: 1.92% effective rate vs Nevada: 0.47% of home value per year. Illinois's rate is 1.45 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Illinois: 8.98% combined state and average local rate vs Nevada: 8.24%. Illinois's combined rate is 0.74 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Illinois official website · Nevada official website
More Size Comparisons
All Illinois size comparisons · All Nevada 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.