The map above shows West Virginia and France side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
West Virginia vs France Geography
Land area: West Virginia has a land area of 24,041 square miles (62,266 km²), while France has 210,016 square miles (543,940 km²). France's land area is 8.7 times (774%) larger than West Virginia's.
Total area: West Virginia: 24,230 square miles (62,755 km²) vs France: 213,011 square miles (551,695 km²), including inland and coastal water. France's total area is 8.8 times (779%) larger than West Virginia's.
Length: West Virginia is 245 miles (394 km) long from north to south; France is 742 miles (1,194 km). France's north-south length is 3.0 times (203%) longer than West Virginia's.
Width: West Virginia spans 276 miles (444 km) east to west; France spans 818 miles (1,316 km). France's east-west width is 3.0 times (196%) wider than West Virginia's.
Highest point: West Virginia's highest point is Spruce Knob at 4,863 feet (1,482 m); France's is Mont Blanc at 15,778 feet (4,809 m). Mont Blanc is 10,915 feet higher than Spruce Knob.
Lowest point: West Virginia's lowest point is Potomac River at 240 feet; France's is Etang de Lavalduc at -33 feet. France's lowest point is 273 feet lower.
West Virginia vs France Population and History
Population: West Virginia has a population of 1,769,979 (2024), while France has 69,081,996 (2026). France's population is 39.0 times larger than West Virginia's.
Population density: West Virginia: 73.6 people per square mile vs France: 328.9. France's population density is 4.5 times (347%) higher than West Virginia's.
Biggest city: West Virginia's biggest city is Charleston with 46,482 people; France's is Paris with 2,148,271. Paris' population is 46.2 times larger than Charleston's.
Largest metro area: West Virginia's largest metropolitan area is Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (6,436,489 people) vs France's Paris (9,381,921). Paris' population is 1.5 times (46%) larger than Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area's.
History: West Virginia: Admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, as the 35th state. France: An independent state since the Treaty of Verdun in 843; the current Fifth Republic dates from 1958. In its current form, France is the older of the two by 1,020 years.
West Virginia vs France Economy
GDP: West Virginia's GDP is $106.5 billion (2024) vs France's $3,366.3 billion. France's economic output is 31.6 times larger than West Virginia's.
GDP per capita: West Virginia: $60,156 per person vs France: $48,986. West Virginia's GDP per capita is 1.2 times (23%) higher than France's.
Average income: West Virginia: $55,351 vs France: $48,630 average income per person (per capita personal income). West Virginia's average income is 1.1 times (14%) higher than France's.
Official Websites
West Virginia official website · France official website
More Size Comparisons
All West Virginia size comparisons · All France 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.