A country is considered the largest based on its total land area. The land area includes all of the country’s land surface, including any inland bodies of water such as lakes and rivers. The size of a country’s land area is determined by its physical boundaries, such as coastlines, mountain ranges, and international borders.
The size of a country does not necessarily correspond to its population, economic or political power, or its influence on the world stage. For example, Russia is the largest country in the world by area, but its population is only around 144 million, which is smaller than several other countries with smaller land areas, such as Indonesia or Brazil.
The size of a country can be important for various reasons, such as its potential for natural resources, its ability to provide habitat for wildlife, or its strategic significance in terms of military or political influence. However, it is important to note that the size of a country is just one of many factors that contribute to its overall importance and influence in the world.
The largest country in the world by area is Russia, which spans across two continents, Europe and Asia, covering a total area of 17,098,242 square kilometres.
Largest Countries by Square Kilometres
Russia, the world’s largest country, spans two continents, Europe and Asia, with an area of 17,098,242 square kilometres. It has a population of over 144 million people, making it the world’s ninth most populous country.
Canada, the world’s second-largest country, has a diverse geography that includes everything from mountains and glaciers to forests and lakes. It has a total land area of 9,984,670 square kilometres and a population of approximately 38 million people.
China, the world’s third-largest country, is also the most populous, with over 1.4 billion people. It has a total land area of 9,596,961 square kilometres and a variety of geographical features such as deserts, mountains, and coastlines.
The United States is the world’s fourth-largest country, with 50 states and a land area of 9,526,468 square kilometres. It has a diverse geography and climate, with everything from tropical beaches to frozen tundras.
Brazil is the world’s fifth-largest country, with an area of 8,515,767 square kilometres and a diverse range of ecosystems, including the Amazon rainforest, the Pantanal wetlands, and the Atlantic Forest.
Australia, the sixth-largest country in the world, is the only country that spans an entire continent. It covers 7,692,024 square kilometres and is home to unique wildlife such as kangaroos, koalas, and wallabies.
India is the world’s seventh-largest country, with a land area of 3,287,263 square kilometres and a population of over 1.3 billion people. It has a variety of landscapes, such as the Himalayas, the Thar Desert, and the Sundarbans Delta.
Argentina, the world’s eighth-largest country, has a land area of 2,780,400 square kilometres and is known for its diverse geography, which includes the Andes Mountains, the Pampas grasslands, and the Patagonian Desert.
Kazakhstan, the world’s ninth-largest country, has a land area of 2,724,900 square kilometres and is the world’s largest landlocked country. It has a variety of landscapes, including deserts, forests, and mountains.
Algeria is the largest country in Africa and the tenth-largest country in the world, with a land area of 2,381,741 square kilometres. The Sahara Desert and the Atlas Mountains are found here.
List of the 100 Largest Countries
Rank | Country | Area km² |
1 | Russia | 17,098,246 |
2 | Canada | 9,984,670 |
3 | China | 9,572,900 |
4 | United States of America | 9,525,067 |
5 | Brazil | 8,515,767 |
6 | Australia | 7,692,024 |
7 | India | 3,287,263 |
8 | Argentina | 2,780,400 |
9 | Kazakhstan | 2,724,900 |
10 | Algeria | 2,381,740 |
11 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 2,345,410 |
12 | Kingdom of Denmark | 2,210,583 |
13 | Saudi Arabia | 2,149,690 |
14 | Mexico | 1,964,375 |
15 | Indonesia | 1,904,556 |
16 | Sudan | 1,861,484 |
17 | Libya | 1,759,540 |
18 | Iran | 1,648,000 |
19 | Mongolia | 1,565,000 |
20 | Peru | 1,285,220 |
21 | Chad | 1,284,000 |
22 | Niger | 1,267,000 |
23 | Angola | 1,246,700 |
24 | Mali | 1,240,000 |
25 | South Africa | 1,219,912 |
26 | Colombia | 1,197,411 |
27 | Ethiopia | 1,127,127 |
28 | Bolivia | 1,098,580 |
29 | Mauritania | 1,030,700 |
30 | Egypt | 1,001,450 |
31 | Tanzania | 945,087 |
32 | Nigeria | 923,768 |
33 | Venezuela | 912,050 |
34 | Namibia | 825,418 |
35 | Pakistan | 803,940 |
36 | Mozambique | 801,590 |
37 | Turkey | 780,580 |
38 | Chile | 756,950 |
39 | Zambia | 752,614 |
40 | Myanmar (Burma) | 678,500 |
41 | France | 675,417 |
42 | Afghanistan | 647,500 |
43 | Somalia | 637,657 |
44 | Central African Republic | 622,984 |
45 | South Sudan | 619,745 |
46 | Ukraine | 603,628 |
47 | Botswana | 600,370 |
48 | Madagascar | 587,040 |
49 | Kenya | 580,367 |
50 | Yemen | 527,970 |
51 | Thailand | 514,000 |
52 | Spain | 504,781 |
53 | Turkmenistan | 488,100 |
54 | Cameroon | 475,440 |
55 | Papua New Guinea | 462,840 |
56 | Sweden | 449,964 |
57 | Uzbekistan | 447,400 |
58 | Morocco | 446,550 |
59 | Iraq | 437,072 |
60 | Paraguay | 406,750 |
61 | Zimbabwe | 390,580 |
62 | Japan | 377,835 |
63 | Germany | 357,021 |
64 | Republic of the Congo | 342,000 |
65 | Finland | 337,030 |
66 | Malaysia | 329,750 |
67 | Vietnam | 329,560 |
68 | Norway | 324,220 |
69 | Ivory Coast | 322,460 |
70 | Poland | 312,685 |
71 | Oman | 309,500 |
72 | Italy | 301,230 |
73 | Philippines | 300,000 |
74 | Ecuador | 283,560 |
75 | Burkina Faso | 274,200 |
76 | New Zealand | 269,190 |
77 | Gabon | 267,667 |
78 | Guinea | 245,857 |
79 | United Kingdom | 243,610 |
80 | Uganda | 241,550 |
81 | Ghana | 238,540 |
82 | Romania | 238,391 |
83 | Laos | 236,800 |
84 | Guyana | 214,970 |
85 | Belarus | 207,600 |
86 | Kyrgyzstan | 198,500 |
87 | Senegal | 196,190 |
88 | Syria | 185,180 |
89 | Cambodia | 181,035 |
90 | Uruguay | 176,220 |
91 | Tunisia | 163,610 |
92 | Suriname | 163,270 |
93 | Bangladesh | 147,570 |
94 | Nepal | 147,181 |
95 | Tajikistan | 143,100 |
96 | Greece | 131,940 |
97 | Nicaragua | 129,494 |
98 | Eritrea | 121,320 |
99 | North Korea | 120,540 |
100 | Malawi | 118,480 |