The map above shows Illinois and Wales side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Illinois vs Wales Geography
Land area: Illinois has a land area of 55,513 square miles (143,778 km²), while Wales has 8,023 square miles (20,779 km²). Illinois' land area is 6.9 times (592%) larger than Wales'.
Total area: Illinois: 57,913 square miles (149,995 km²) vs Wales: 8,023 square miles (20,779 km²), including inland and coastal water. Illinois' total area is 7.2 times (622%) larger than Wales'.
Length: Illinois is 390 miles (628 km) long from north to south; Wales is 149 miles (239 km). Illinois' north-south length is 2.6 times (162%) longer than Wales'.
Width: Illinois spans 283 miles (456 km) east to west; Wales spans 111 miles (179 km). Illinois' east-west width is 2.5 times (155%) wider than Wales'.
Highest point: Illinois's highest point is Charles Mound at 1,232 feet (376 m); Wales's is Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) at 3,560 feet (1,085 m). Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) is 2,328 feet higher than Charles Mound.
Lowest point: Illinois's lowest point is Mississippi River at 292 feet; Wales's is Irish Sea at 0 feet. Wales's lowest point is 292 feet lower.
Illinois vs Wales Population and History
Population: Illinois has a population of 12,710,158 (2024), while Wales has 3,105,000 (2022). Illinois' population is 4.1 times (309%) larger than Wales'.
Population density: Illinois: 229.0 people per square mile vs Wales: 387.0. Wales' population density is 1.7 times (69%) higher than Illinois'.
Biggest city: Illinois's biggest city is Chicago with 2,721,308 people; Wales's is Cardiff with 372,089. Chicago's population is 7.3 times (631%) larger than Cardiff's.
History: Illinois: Admitted to the Union on December 3, 1818, as the 21st state. Wales: A country within the United Kingdom; formally joined with England by the Laws in Wales Acts of 1536. In its current form, Wales is the older of the two by 282 years.
Illinois vs Wales Economy
GDP: Illinois's GDP is $1,148.1 billion (2024) vs Wales's $89.5 billion. Illinois' economic output is 12.8 times larger than Wales'.
GDP per capita: Illinois: $90,330 per person vs Wales: $28,606. Illinois' GDP per capita is 3.2 times (216%) higher than Wales'.
Official Websites
Illinois official website · Wales official website
More Size Comparisons
All Illinois size comparisons · All Wales 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.