Oregon and Washington are two large states in the Western United States. The following is a comparison between these two states. Let’s read.
Oregon vs Washington – US states comparison
Which state is bigger, Oregon or Washington?
Oregon is a bigger state as compared with Washington. It is nearly 1.4 times bigger than Washington.
- Area of Oregon – about 98,400 square miles (254,800 square kilometers)
- Area of Washington – about 71,300 square miles (184,665 square kilometers)
Which state is more populous, Oregon or Washington?
- Population of Oregon – 4.24 million (2022 estimate)
- Population of Washington – 7.79 million (2022 estimate)
Overview
| Oregon | Washington | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | about 98,400 square miles (254,800 square kilometers) | about 71,300 square miles (184,665 square kilometers) |
| Area rank in the US | 9th | 18th |
| Population | 4.24 million (2022 estimate) | 7.79 million (2022 estimate) |
| Population rank in the US | 27th | 13th |
| Capital City | Salem | Olympia |
| Largest City | Portland | Seattle |
| Became a state of the US | 14 February 1859 | 11 November 1889 |
| Nickname | The Beaver State | The Evergreen State |
Geography
| Oregon | Washington | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Western United States | Western United States |
| Borders | Washington state in the north; Idaho in the east; Nevada and California in the south | Canada in the north; Idaho in the east; and Oregon in the south |
| Highest mountain peak | Mount Hood (11,249 ft/3,429 m) | Mount Rainier (14,411 ft/4,392 m) |
| Forest cover | 48% – 49% | around 52% |
| Major Rivers | Columbia River, Snake River, Owyhee River, John Day River, Deschutes River, Rogue River, Willamette River, Grande Ronde River, etc. | Columbia River, Yakima River, Palouse River, Crab Creek, Skagit River, Snake River, Pend Oreille River, Cowlitz River, etc. |
| Largest lake within the state borders | Upper Klamath Lake | Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake |
| Coastline | Yes with the Pacific Ocean | Yes with the Pacific Ocean |
| International border | No | Yes with Canada |
| National Parks | 1 (Crater Lake National Park) | 3 (North Cascades National Park, Olympic National Park, and Mount Rainier National Park) |
(Also read: Texas and New York – US states comparison | Texas vs New York)
State symbols
| Oregon | Washington | |
|---|---|---|
| State tree | Douglas-fir | Western hemlock |
| State animal | American Beaver | Olympic marmot (State mammal) and Orca (State marine mammal) |
| State bird | Western meadowlark and Osprey | Willow goldfinch |
| State flower | Oregon Grape | Coast rhododendron (Pacific Rhododendron) |
| State fruit | Common pear | Apple |
| State fish | Chinook Salmon (spring salmon) | Steelhead trout |
FAQs
Are there Grizzly bears in Oregon?
No
What is the largest city in Oregon?
Portland
What is the largest city in Washington state?
Seattle
What is the capital of Oregon?
Salem
What is the capital city of Washington state?
Olympia
