Bordering states
Alabama vs Mississippi
Short answer
- AL
- 5,157,699
- MS
- 2,943,045
The two states, county by county
Both maps share one density scale, so the same shade means the same number of people per square mile on either side of the border. Darker counties are denser. Select a county to open its page.
Alabama
Mississippi
- < 19
- < 34
- < 50
- < 103
- ≥ 103
Residents, 2024
- 01Alabama5,157,699
- 02Mississippi2,943,045
Land, square miles
- 01Alabama50,651
- 02Mississippi46,925
People per square mile
- 01Alabama101.8
- 02Mississippi62.7
Median county household income
- 01Alabama$52,504
- 02Mississippi$48,950
Side by side
| Measure | Alabama | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 5,157,699 | 2,943,045 |
| Rank by population | 24th | 35th |
| Land, sq mi | 50,651 | 46,925 |
| People per sq mi | 101.8 | 62.7 |
| County-equivalents | 67 | 82 |
| Median county residents | 33,813 | 21,443 |
| Median county income | $52,504 | $48,950 |
| Most populous county | Jefferson County | Harrison County |
| Largest county by land | Baldwin County | Yazoo County |
| Capital | Montgomery | Jackson |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 14 h 17 min | 14 h 16 min |
| Census division | East South Central | East South Central |
Population and density
Alabama has 5,157,699 residents, 75% more than Mississippi's 2,943,045. Alabama ranks 24th and Mississippi 35th of the 50 states and DC. Alabama is the more crowded, with 101.8 people per square mile against 62.7, 62% more.
Land area
Alabama has 50,651 square miles of land, 8% more than Mississippi's 46,925. The largest county-equivalent in Alabama is Baldwin County at 1,590 square miles; in Mississippi it is Yazoo County at 922.
Counties
Mississippi is divided into 82 county-equivalents and Alabama into 67, so an average Mississippi county covers 572 square miles against 756. The typical county in Alabama has 33,813 residents, against 21,443 in Mississippi. The most populous are Jefferson County (664,744) and Harrison County (213,730).
23 county names appear on both sides of the border: Calhoun, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Covington, Franklin, Greene, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lee, Lowndes, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pike, Washington, Winston. Use the FIPS code, not the name, when joining data across the two states.
Household income
The median county in Alabama has a household income of $52,504, 7% above Mississippi's $48,950. The highest county incomes are Shelby County ($90,280) in Alabama and Madison County ($82,057) in Mississippi, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Montgomery and Jackson are 227 miles apart in a straight line; from Montgomery the initial bearing is 270°, W. On June 21, 2026, Montgomery gets 14 h 17 min of daylight and Jackson 14 h 16 min; on December 21 the figures are 10 h 01 min and 10 h 02 min. Month by month tables are on the Montgomery and Jackson daylight pages.
Where they sit
Both are in the Census East South Central division of the South region. By county internal points, Alabama spans 1 UTM zone and Mississippi 2.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, Alabama or Mississippi?
Alabama, with 50,651 square miles of land against 46,925, 1.08 times as large.
Which has more people, Alabama or Mississippi?
Alabama has 5,157,699 residents, 75% more than Mississippi's 2,943,045.
How far is Montgomery from Jackson?
227 miles in a straight line, heading W (270°) from Montgomery.
Do Alabama and Mississippi have counties with the same name?
Yes, 23: Calhoun, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Covington, Franklin, Greene, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lee, Lowndes, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pike, Washington, Winston.
Sources and data as of
Data as of: Census Vintage 2024 population estimates, 2024 Gazetteer land area and internal points, SAIPE 2023 median household income.
- 01Census Vintage 2024 county population estimates
- 02Census 2024 Gazetteer, counties
- 03Census SAIPE 2023 state and county estimates
- 04Census Bureau regions and divisions of the United States (last verified 2026-09-30)
How every number is computed: methodology. Spotted a wrong figure? Report an error.