Bordering states
New Mexico vs Oklahoma
Short answer
- NM
- 2,130,256
- OK
- 4,095,393
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.
New Mexico
Oklahoma
- < 6
- < 13
- < 29
- < 60
- ≥ 60
Residents, 2024
- 01New Mexico2,130,256
- 02Oklahoma4,095,393
Land, square miles
- 01New Mexico121,313
- 02Oklahoma68,597
People per square mile
- 01New Mexico17.6
- 02Oklahoma59.7
Median county household income
- 01New Mexico$51,111
- 02Oklahoma$56,166
Side by side
| Measure | New Mexico | Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 2,130,256 | 4,095,393 |
| Rank by population | 36th | 28th |
| Land, sq mi | 121,313 | 68,597 |
| People per sq mi | 17.6 | 59.7 |
| County-equivalents | 33 | 77 |
| Median county residents | 26,428 | 20,577 |
| Median county income | $51,111 | $56,166 |
| Most populous county | Bernalillo County | Oklahoma County |
| Largest county by land | Catron County | Osage County |
| Capital | Santa Fe | Oklahoma City |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 14 h 35 min | 14 h 34 min |
| Census division | Mountain | West South Central |
Population and density
Oklahoma has 4,095,393 residents, 92% more than New Mexico's 2,130,256. New Mexico ranks 36th and Oklahoma 28th of the 50 states and DC. Oklahoma is the more crowded, with 59.7 people per square mile against 17.6, 3.4 times.
Land area
New Mexico has 121,313 square miles of land, 77% more than Oklahoma's 68,597. The largest county-equivalent in New Mexico is Catron County at 6,924 square miles; in Oklahoma it is Osage County at 2,247.
Counties
Oklahoma is divided into 77 county-equivalents and New Mexico into 33, so an average Oklahoma county covers 891 square miles against 3,676. The typical county in New Mexico has 26,428 residents, against 20,577 in Oklahoma. The most populous are Bernalillo County (671,747) and Oklahoma County (816,490).
2 county names appear on both sides of the border: Grant, Lincoln. Use the FIPS code, not the name, when joining data across the two states.
Household income
The median county in Oklahoma has a household income of $56,166, 10% above New Mexico's $51,111. The highest county incomes are Los Alamos County ($146,208) in New Mexico and Canadian County ($86,539) in Oklahoma, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Santa Fe and Oklahoma City are 474 miles apart in a straight line; from Santa Fe the initial bearing is 89°, E. On June 21, 2026, Santa Fe gets 14 h 35 min of daylight and Oklahoma City 14 h 34 min; on December 21 the figures are 9 h 44 min and 9 h 45 min. Month by month tables are on the Santa Fe and Oklahoma City daylight pages.
Where they sit
The border between them is also a Census region boundary: New Mexico is in the West and Oklahoma in the South. By county internal points, New Mexico spans 2 UTM zones and Oklahoma 3.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, New Mexico or Oklahoma?
New Mexico, with 121,313 square miles of land against 68,597, 1.77 times as large.
Which has more people, New Mexico or Oklahoma?
Oklahoma has 4,095,393 residents, 92% more than New Mexico's 2,130,256.
How far is Santa Fe from Oklahoma City?
474 miles in a straight line, heading E (89°) from Santa Fe.
Do New Mexico and Oklahoma have counties with the same name?
Yes, 2: Grant, Lincoln.
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.