The map above shows Mississippi and West Virginia side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Mississippi vs West Virginia Geography
Land area: Mississippi has a land area of 46,925 square miles (121,534 km²), while West Virginia has 24,041 square miles (62,266 km²). Mississippi's land area is 2.0 times (95%) larger than West Virginia's.
Total area: Mississippi: 48,436 square miles (125,448 km²) vs West Virginia: 24,230 square miles (62,755 km²), including inland and coastal water. Mississippi's total area is 2.0 times (100%) larger than West Virginia's.
Length: Mississippi is 337 miles (542 km) long from north to south; West Virginia is 245 miles (394 km). Mississippi's north-south length is 1.4 times (38%) longer than West Virginia's.
Width: Mississippi spans 340 miles (547 km) east to west; West Virginia spans 276 miles (444 km). Mississippi's east-west width is 1.2 times (23%) wider than West Virginia's.
Highest point: Mississippi's highest point is Woodall Mountain at 805 feet (245 m); West Virginia's is Spruce Knob at 4,863 feet (1,482 m). Spruce Knob is 4,058 feet higher than Woodall Mountain.
Lowest point: Mississippi's lowest point is Gulf of Mexico at 0 feet; West Virginia's is Potomac River at 240 feet. Mississippi's lowest point is 240 feet lower.
Mississippi vs West Virginia Population and History
Population: Mississippi has a population of 2,943,045 (2024), while West Virginia has 1,769,979 (2024). Mississippi's population is 1.7 times (66%) larger than West Virginia's.
Population density: Mississippi: 62.7 people per square mile vs West Virginia: 73.6. West Virginia's population density is 1.2 times (17%) higher than Mississippi's.
Biggest city: Mississippi's biggest city is Jackson with 141,449 people; West Virginia's is Charleston with 46,482. Jackson's population is 3.0 times (204%) larger than Charleston's.
Largest metro area: Mississippi's largest metropolitan area is Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area (1,339,345 people) vs West Virginia's Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (6,436,489). Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area's population is 4.8 times (381%) larger than Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area's.
History: Mississippi: Admitted to the Union on December 10, 1817, as the 20th state. West Virginia: Admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, as the 35th state. In its current form, Mississippi is the older of the two by 46 years.
Mississippi vs West Virginia Economy
GDP: Mississippi's GDP is $158.2 billion (2024) vs West Virginia's $106.5 billion. Mississippi's economic output is 1.5 times (49%) larger than West Virginia's.
GDP per capita: Mississippi: $53,751 per person vs West Virginia: $60,156. West Virginia's GDP per capita is 1.1 times (12%) higher than Mississippi's.
Average income: Mississippi: $52,074 vs West Virginia: $55,351 average income per person (per capita personal income). West Virginia's average income is 1.1 times (6%) higher than Mississippi's.
Mississippi vs West Virginia Counties
Number of counties: Mississippi has 82 counties, while West Virginia has 55. Mississippi's county count is 1.5 times (49%) higher than West Virginia's.
Biggest county by area: Mississippi's largest county is Yazoo County at 922 square miles; West Virginia's is Randolph County at 1,040 square miles. Randolph County's land area is 1.1 times (13%) larger than Yazoo County's.
Smallest county by area: Mississippi: Alcorn County (400 sq mi) vs West Virginia: Hancock County (83 sq mi). Alcorn County's land area is 4.8 times (384%) larger than Hancock County's.
Most populous county: Mississippi: Harrison County (213,730 people) vs West Virginia: Kanawha County (173,906 people). Harrison County's population is 1.2 times (23%) larger than Kanawha County's.
Least populous county: Mississippi: Issaquena County (1,295 people) vs West Virginia: Wirt County (4,924 people). Wirt County's population is 3.8 times (280%) larger than Issaquena County's.
Richest county: Mississippi: Madison County ($90,668 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Jefferson County ($70,542). Madison County's income is 1.3 times (29%) richer than Jefferson County's.
Poorest county: Mississippi: Issaquena County ($27,264 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Webster County ($35,039). Webster County's income is 1.3 times (29%) richer than Issaquena County's.
Mississippi vs West Virginia Taxes
State income tax: Mississippi has a top income tax rate of 4%, while West Virginia has a top income tax rate of 4.82%. West Virginia's top rate is 0.82 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Mississippi: 0.65% effective rate vs West Virginia: 0.52% of home value per year. Mississippi's rate is 0.13 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Mississippi: 7.06% combined state and average local rate vs West Virginia: 6.6%. Mississippi's combined rate is 0.46 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Mississippi official website · West Virginia official website
More Size Comparisons
All Mississippi size comparisons · All West Virginia 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.