The map above shows Kentucky and North Dakota side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Kentucky vs North Dakota Geography
Land area: Kentucky has a land area of 39,485 square miles (102,267 km²), while North Dakota has 68,994 square miles (178,694 km²). North Dakota's land area is 1.7 times (75%) larger than Kentucky's.
Total area: Kentucky: 40,406 square miles (104,651 km²) vs North Dakota: 70,699 square miles (183,109 km²), including inland and coastal water. North Dakota's total area is 1.7 times (75%) larger than Kentucky's.
Length: Kentucky is 257 miles (414 km) long from north to south; North Dakota is 338 miles (544 km). North Dakota's north-south length is 1.3 times (32%) longer than Kentucky's.
Width: Kentucky spans 418 miles (672 km) east to west; North Dakota spans 408 miles (657 km). Kentucky and North Dakota have about the same east-west width.
Highest point: Kentucky's highest point is Black Mountain at 4,134 feet (1,260 m); North Dakota's is White Butte at 3,500 feet (1,067 m). Black Mountain is 634 feet higher than White Butte.
Lowest point: Kentucky's lowest point is Mississippi River at 270 feet; North Dakota's is Red River of the North at 754 feet. Kentucky's lowest point is 484 feet lower.
Kentucky vs North Dakota Population and History
Population: Kentucky has a population of 4,588,372 (2024), while North Dakota has 796,568 (2024). Kentucky's population is 5.8 times (476%) larger than North Dakota's.
Population density: Kentucky: 116.2 people per square mile vs North Dakota: 11.5. Kentucky's population density is 10.1 times higher than North Dakota's.
Biggest city: Kentucky's biggest city is Louisville with 640,796 people; North Dakota's is Fargo with 136,285. Louisville's population is 4.7 times (370%) larger than Fargo's.
Largest metro area: Kentucky's largest metropolitan area is Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area (2,302,815 people) vs North Dakota's Fargo, ND-MN metro area (267,793). Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area's population is 8.6 times (760%) larger than Fargo, ND-MN metro area's.
History: Kentucky: Admitted to the Union on June 1, 1792, as the 15th state. North Dakota: Admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889, as the 39th state. In its current form, Kentucky is the older of the two by 97 years.
Kentucky vs North Dakota Economy
GDP: Kentucky's GDP is $295.4 billion (2024) vs North Dakota's $80.1 billion. Kentucky's economic output is 3.7 times (269%) larger than North Dakota's.
GDP per capita: Kentucky: $64,375 per person vs North Dakota: $100,504. North Dakota's GDP per capita is 1.6 times (56%) higher than Kentucky's.
Average income: Kentucky: $58,256 vs North Dakota: $71,749 average income per person (per capita personal income). North Dakota's average income is 1.2 times (23%) higher than Kentucky's.
Kentucky vs North Dakota Counties
Number of counties: Kentucky has 120 counties, while North Dakota has 53. Kentucky's county count is 2.3 times (126%) higher than North Dakota's.
Biggest county by area: Kentucky's largest county is Pike County at 786 square miles; North Dakota's is McKenzie County at 2,760 square miles. McKenzie County's land area is 3.5 times (251%) larger than Pike County's.
Smallest county by area: Kentucky: Gallatin County (98 sq mi) vs North Dakota: Eddy County (630 sq mi). Eddy County's land area is 6.4 times (541%) larger than Gallatin County's.
Most populous county: Kentucky: Jefferson County (793,881 people) vs North Dakota: Cass County (200,945 people). Jefferson County's population is 4.0 times (295%) larger than Cass County's.
Least populous county: Kentucky: Robertson County (2,382 people) vs North Dakota: Slope County (660 people). Robertson County's population is 3.6 times (261%) larger than Slope County's.
Richest county: Kentucky: Oldham County ($87,137 per capita income) vs North Dakota: Dunn County ($99,793). Dunn County's income is 1.1 times (15%) richer than Oldham County's.
Poorest county: Kentucky: Elliott County ($31,817 per capita income) vs North Dakota: Sioux County ($33,782). Sioux County's income is 1.1 times (6%) richer than Elliott County's.
Kentucky vs North Dakota Taxes
State income tax: Kentucky has a top income tax rate of 3.5%, while North Dakota has a top income tax rate of 2.5%. Kentucky's top rate is 1 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Kentucky: 0.71% effective rate vs North Dakota: 0.96% of home value per year. North Dakota's rate is 0.25 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Kentucky: 6% combined state and average local rate vs North Dakota: 7.09%. North Dakota's combined rate is 1.09 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Kentucky official website · North Dakota official website
More Size Comparisons
All Kentucky 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.