Have you ever wondered which countries are the largest in the world? In this post, we’ll explore the top 15 largest countries by land area, and how they’re calculated.
1. Russia – 17.1 million km²
Russia is the world’s largest country, spanning across northern Asia and Eastern Europe. With a coastline along the Pacific and Arctic seas, Russia shares borders with 14 other countries.
2. Canada – 9.9 million km²
Canada is the second-largest country in the world, covering approximately 9.9 million square kilometers. Located in North America, Canada is known for its vast wilderness, multicultural society, and natural resources.
3. China – 9.6 million km²
With a land size of almost 9.6 million square kilometers, China is the third-biggest country in the world. As the most populous nation, China is home to over 1.4 billion citizens and is situated in East Asia.
4. United States – 9.1 million km²
The United States is the fourth-largest country in the world, with a land area of over 9.1 million square kilometers. Located in North America, the US shares borders with Mexico to the south and Canada to the north.
5. Brazil – 8.5 million km²
Brazil is the largest country in South America and Latin America, covering an area of over 8.5 million square kilometers. With a diverse range of landscapes, including the Amazon rainforest, Brazil is home to a wide variety of plant and animal life.
6. Australia – 7.7 million km²
Australia is the largest country in Oceania and the sixth-largest country in the world, covering an area of over 7.7 million square kilometers. Known for its vast deserts, tropical savannas, and mountain ranges, Australia is a megadiverse nation.
7. India – 3.3 million km²
Located in South Asia, India is the seventh-largest country by area and the most populous country in the world. With a diverse range of landscapes, including the Himalayan mountains and the Indo-Gangetic Plain, India is home to over 1.3 billion citizens.
8. Argentina – 2.8 million km²
Argentina is the eighth-largest country in the world, covering an area of over 2.8 million square kilometers. Located in South America, Argentina is known for its vast grasslands, mountains, and deserts.
9. Kazakhstan – 2.7 million km²
Kazakhstan is the world’s largest landlocked country and the ninth-largest country in the world, covering an area of over 2.7 million square kilometers. Located in Central Asia, Kazakhstan is known for its vast steppes, mountains, and deserts.
10. Algeria – 2.38 million km²
Algeria is the largest country in Africa and the tenth-largest country in the world, covering an area of over 2.38 million square kilometers. Located in Northern Africa, Algeria is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north and several countries to the south.
11. Congo – 2.34 million km²
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the second-largest country in Africa by land area, covering over 2.34 million square kilometers. Located in Central Africa, the DRC is bordered by nine countries.
12. Greenland – 2.16 million km²
Greenland is an independent nation located in the Arctic area of North America, covering an area of over 2.16 million square kilometers. With a coastline along the Greenland Sea, Greenland is the largest island in the world.
13. Saudi Arabia – 2.15 million km²
Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Middle East and the second-largest country in the Arab world, covering an area of over 2.15 million square kilometers. Located in Western Asia, Saudi Arabia is bordered by several countries.
14. Mexico – 1.96 million km²
Mexico is a country located in North America, covering an area of over 1.96 million square kilometers. With a diverse range of landscapes, including deserts, mountains, and coastlines, Mexico is the fifth-largest country in the Americas.
15. Indonesia – 1.9 million km²
Indonesia is a country located in Southeast Asia and Oceania, covering an area of over 1.9 million square kilometers. With more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia is the largest island nation in the world and the fourth most populated country.
FAQ:
How are these countries calculated as the largest?
Ans:
- Total area: the sum of land and water areas within international boundaries and coastlines.
- Land area: the aggregate of all land within international boundaries and coastlines, excluding water area.
- Water area: the sum of the surface areas of all inland water bodies (lakes,and rivers) within international boundaries and coastlines.
