Bordering states
Minnesota vs North Dakota
Short answer
- MN
- 5,793,151
- ND
- 796,568
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.
Minnesota
North Dakota
- < 4
- < 9
- < 21
- < 56
- ≥ 56
Residents, 2024
- 01Minnesota5,793,151
- 02North Dakota796,568
Land, square miles
- 01Minnesota79,632
- 02North Dakota68,994
People per square mile
- 01Minnesota72.7
- 02North Dakota11.5
Median county household income
- 01Minnesota$71,573
- 02North Dakota$72,643
Side by side
| Measure | Minnesota | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 5,793,151 | 796,568 |
| Rank by population | 22nd | 47th |
| Land, sq mi | 79,632 | 68,994 |
| People per sq mi | 72.7 | 11.5 |
| County-equivalents | 87 | 53 |
| Median county residents | 22,050 | 3,853 |
| Median county income | $71,573 | $72,643 |
| Most populous county | Hennepin County | Cass County |
| Largest county by land | St. Louis County | McKenzie County |
| Capital | Saint Paul | Bismarck |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 15 h 37 min | 15 h 52 min |
| Census division | West North Central | West North Central |
Population and density
Minnesota has 5,793,151 residents, 7.3 times North Dakota's 796,568. Minnesota ranks 22nd and North Dakota 47th of the 50 states and DC. Minnesota is the more crowded, with 72.7 people per square mile against 11.5, 6.3 times.
Land area
Minnesota has 79,632 square miles of land, 15% more than North Dakota's 68,994. The largest county-equivalent in Minnesota is St. Louis County at 6,248 square miles; in North Dakota it is McKenzie County at 2,760.
Counties
Minnesota is divided into 87 county-equivalents and North Dakota into 53, so an average Minnesota county covers 915 square miles against 1,302. The typical county in Minnesota has 22,050 residents, against 3,853 in North Dakota. The most populous are Hennepin County (1,273,334) and Cass County (200,945).
5 county names appear on both sides of the border: Cass, Grant, Ramsey, Renville, Steele. Use the FIPS code, not the name, when joining data across the two states.
Household income
The typical county household income is about the same in both: $71,573 in Minnesota and $72,643 in North Dakota. The highest county incomes are Carver County ($129,437) in Minnesota and McKenzie County ($99,157) in North Dakota, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Saint Paul and Bismarck are 391 miles apart in a straight line; from Saint Paul the initial bearing is 292°, WNW. On June 21, 2026, Saint Paul gets 15 h 37 min of daylight and Bismarck 15 h 52 min; on December 21 the figures are 8 h 46 min and 8 h 32 min. Month by month tables are on the Saint Paul and Bismarck daylight pages.
Where they sit
Both are in the Census West North Central division of the Midwest region. By county internal points, Minnesota spans 2 UTM zones and North Dakota 2.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, Minnesota or North Dakota?
Minnesota, with 79,632 square miles of land against 68,994, 1.15 times as large.
Which has more people, Minnesota or North Dakota?
Minnesota has 5,793,151 residents, 7.3 times North Dakota's 796,568.
How far is Saint Paul from Bismarck?
391 miles in a straight line, heading WNW (292°) from Saint Paul.
Do Minnesota and North Dakota have counties with the same name?
Yes, 5: Cass, Grant, Ramsey, Renville, Steele.
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.