The map above shows Illinois and North Dakota side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Illinois vs North Dakota Geography
Land area: Illinois has a land area of 55,513 square miles (143,778 km²), while North Dakota has 68,994 square miles (178,694 km²). North Dakota's land area is 1.2 times (24%) larger than Illinois'.
Total area: Illinois: 57,913 square miles (149,995 km²) vs North Dakota: 70,699 square miles (183,109 km²), including inland and coastal water. North Dakota's total area is 1.2 times (22%) larger than Illinois'.
Length: Illinois is 390 miles (628 km) long from north to south; North Dakota is 338 miles (544 km). Illinois' north-south length is 1.2 times (15%) longer than North Dakota's.
Width: Illinois spans 283 miles (456 km) east to west; North Dakota spans 408 miles (657 km). North Dakota's east-west width is 1.4 times (44%) wider than Illinois'.
Highest point: Illinois's highest point is Charles Mound at 1,232 feet (376 m); North Dakota's is White Butte at 3,500 feet (1,067 m). White Butte is 2,268 feet higher than Charles Mound.
Lowest point: Illinois's lowest point is Mississippi River at 292 feet; North Dakota's is Red River of the North at 754 feet. Illinois's lowest point is 462 feet lower.
Illinois vs North Dakota Population and History
Population: Illinois has a population of 12,710,158 (2024), while North Dakota has 796,568 (2024). Illinois' population is 16.0 times larger than North Dakota's.
Population density: Illinois: 229.0 people per square mile vs North Dakota: 11.5. Illinois' population density is 19.9 times higher than North Dakota's.
Biggest city: Illinois's biggest city is Chicago with 2,721,308 people; North Dakota's is Fargo with 136,285. Chicago's population is 20.0 times larger than Fargo's.
Largest metro area: Illinois's largest metropolitan area is Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (9,408,576 people) vs North Dakota's Fargo, ND-MN metro area (267,793). Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area's population is 35.1 times larger than Fargo, ND-MN metro area's.
History: Illinois: Admitted to the Union on December 3, 1818, as the 21st state. North Dakota: Admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889, as the 39th state. In its current form, Illinois is the older of the two by 71 years.
Illinois vs North Dakota Economy
GDP: Illinois's GDP is $1,148.1 billion (2024) vs North Dakota's $80.1 billion. Illinois' economic output is 14.3 times larger than North Dakota's.
GDP per capita: Illinois: $90,330 per person vs North Dakota: $100,504. North Dakota's GDP per capita is 1.1 times (11%) higher than Illinois'.
Average income: Illinois: $74,522 vs North Dakota: $71,749 average income per person (per capita personal income). Illinois and North Dakota have about the same average income.
Illinois vs North Dakota Counties
Number of counties: Illinois has 102 counties, while North Dakota has 53. Illinois' county count is 1.9 times (92%) higher than North Dakota's.
Biggest county by area: Illinois's largest county is McLean County at 1,183 square miles; North Dakota's is McKenzie County at 2,760 square miles. McKenzie County's land area is 2.3 times (133%) larger than McLean County's.
Smallest county by area: Illinois: Putnam County (160 sq mi) vs North Dakota: Eddy County (630 sq mi). Eddy County's land area is 3.9 times (294%) larger than Putnam County's.
Most populous county: Illinois: Cook County (5,182,617 people) vs North Dakota: Cass County (200,945 people). Cook County's population is 25.8 times larger than Cass County's.
Least populous county: Illinois: Hardin County (3,550 people) vs North Dakota: Slope County (660 people). Hardin County's population is 5.4 times (438%) larger than Slope County's.
Richest county: Illinois: Cumberland County ($104,890 per capita income) vs North Dakota: Dunn County ($99,793). Cumberland County's income is 1.1 times (5%) richer than Dunn County's.
Poorest county: Illinois: Lawrence County ($43,606 per capita income) vs North Dakota: Sioux County ($33,782). Lawrence County's income is 1.3 times (29%) richer than Sioux County's.
Illinois vs North Dakota Taxes
State income tax: Illinois has a top income tax rate of 4.95%, while North Dakota has a top income tax rate of 2.5%. Illinois's top rate is 2.45 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Illinois: 1.92% effective rate vs North Dakota: 0.96% of home value per year. Illinois's rate is 0.96 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Illinois: 8.98% combined state and average local rate vs North Dakota: 7.09%. Illinois's combined rate is 1.89 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Illinois official website · North Dakota official website
More Size Comparisons
All Illinois size comparisons · All North Dakota 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.