Bordering states
Georgia vs North Carolina
Short answer
- GA
- 11,180,878
- NC
- 11,046,024
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.
Georgia
North Carolina
- < 34
- < 64
- < 116
- < 256
- ≥ 256
Residents, 2024
- 01Georgia11,180,878
- 02North Carolina11,046,024
Land, square miles
- 01Georgia57,717
- 02North Carolina48,624
People per square mile
- 01Georgia193.7
- 02North Carolina227.2
Median county household income
- 01Georgia$54,862
- 02North Carolina$60,263
Side by side
| Measure | Georgia | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 11,180,878 | 11,046,024 |
| Rank by population | 8th | 9th |
| Land, sq mi | 57,717 | 48,624 |
| People per sq mi | 193.7 | 227.2 |
| County-equivalents | 159 | 100 |
| Median county residents | 24,275 | 52,768 |
| Median county income | $54,862 | $60,263 |
| Most populous county | Fulton County | Wake County |
| Largest county by land | Ware County | Robeson County |
| Capital | Atlanta | Raleigh |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 14 h 24 min | 14 h 35 min |
| Census division | South Atlantic | South Atlantic |
Population and density
Georgia has 11,180,878 residents, about the same as North Carolina's 11,046,024. Georgia ranks 8th and North Carolina 9th of the 50 states and DC. North Carolina is the more crowded, with 227.2 people per square mile against 193.7, 17% more.
Land area
Georgia has 57,717 square miles of land, 19% more than North Carolina's 48,624. The largest county-equivalent in Georgia is Ware County at 899 square miles; in North Carolina it is Robeson County at 947.
Counties
Georgia is divided into 159 county-equivalents and North Carolina into 100, so an average Georgia county covers 363 square miles against 486. The typical county in Georgia has 24,275 residents, against 52,768 in North Carolina. The most populous are Fulton County (1,090,354) and Wake County (1,232,444).
24 county names appear on both sides of the border: Burke, Camden, Chatham, Cherokee, Clay, Forsyth, Franklin, Greene, Jackson, Jones, Lee, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Montgomery, Polk, Randolph, Richmond, Union, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wilkes. Use the FIPS code, not the name, when joining data across the two states.
Household income
The median county in North Carolina has a household income of $60,263, 10% above Georgia's $54,862. The highest county incomes are Forsyth County ($136,347) in Georgia and Wake County ($103,084) in North Carolina, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Atlanta and Raleigh are 355 miles apart in a straight line; from Atlanta the initial bearing is 65°, ENE. On June 21, 2026, Atlanta gets 14 h 24 min of daylight and Raleigh 14 h 35 min; on December 21 the figures are 9 h 55 min and 9 h 44 min. Month by month tables are on the Atlanta and Raleigh daylight pages.
Where they sit
Both are in the Census South Atlantic division of the South region. By county internal points, Georgia spans 2 UTM zones and North Carolina 3.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, Georgia or North Carolina?
Georgia, with 57,717 square miles of land against 48,624, 1.19 times as large.
Which has more people, Georgia or North Carolina?
Georgia has 11,180,878 residents, about the same as North Carolina's 11,046,024.
How far is Atlanta from Raleigh?
355 miles in a straight line, heading ENE (65°) from Atlanta.
Do Georgia and North Carolina have counties with the same name?
Yes, 24: Burke, Camden, Chatham, Cherokee, Clay, Forsyth, Franklin, Greene, Jackson, Jones, Lee, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Montgomery, Polk, Randolph, Richmond, Union, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wilkes.
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.