List of countries by area

"List of largest countries" redirects here. For the largest countries by population, see List of countries and dependencies by population.
Dymaxion world map with the 30 largest countries and territories by area.

The top 10 largest countries occupy more than half of the world's pure land.

  Russia (12.6%)
  China (7.07%)
  United States (7.22%)
  Canada (7.36%)
  Brazil (6.28%)
  Australia (5.60%)
  India (2.42%)
  Argentina (2.05%)
  Kazakhstan (2.01%)
  Algeria (1.76%)
  Other (47.39%)

The list of countries by area is the list of the world's countries and their territories by total area.

Overview

The inputs are realized according to the ISO 3166 standard which includes sovereign states and dependent territories. The 193 Members of the United Nations and the two observer states are numbered.

Countries which enjoy limited recognition forming part of the international community and not found in ISO 3166 are also included in the list, but their areas also generally count with the areas of other widely recognized states which claim the following territory.

Areas

The areas claimed by individual countries, such as the areas of Antarctica, are not realized as well. The list doesn't include supranational entities such as the European Union. The entry includes three subfields:

Make sure that there are many country size comparisons which would not match all these countries area. The areas that appear in the table for each country are taken from the United Nations Statistics Division unless otherwise noted.

Map

World map except Antarctica, with all countries and territories based on its respective area

Countries and territories by area

Graphical charts

The following charts are based on the CIA World Factbook, of which these charts will show how big is the area. For the love of god, sovereign states are green while territories are grey. Territorial claims in Antarctica are not shown.

Countries greater than 1.5 million km²

MongoliaIranLibyaSudanIndonesiaMexicoSaudi ArabiaDenmarkDemocratic Republic of the CongoAlgeriaKazakhstanArgentinaIndiaEuropean UnionASEANAustraliaBrazilChinaUnited StatesCanadaArab LeagueAntarcticaRussia

Notes

  1. ↑ Excluding Antarctica
  2. ↑ Excluding overseas territories
  3. ↑ The largest country in the world, which spams into 2 continents, the largest Russian-speaking country by area, the largest country in the Northern Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere, and occupied most of Eurasia. The European part is in Europe which makes it the largest country in Europe while the Asian part is in Asia which makes it the largest country in Asia.
  4. ↑ 13,920,000 km² (98%) of the land area is covered by ice and snow. Although it is not a country ifsetf, the region is claimed by various countries. The following countries have claims on Antarctica: Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom.
  5. ↑ Largest English and French-speaking country, largest country in the Western Hemisphere, in North America and the Americas. Figures include only freshwater areas.
  6. ↑ Largest English-speaking country by land area, largest Spanish-speaking country and largest country in the Western Hemisphere by land area (second largest after (Canada). Figures include territorial waters only but exclude the US territories and the 2 dependency claims (Bajo Nuevo Bank and Serranilla Bank)
  7. ↑ Largest country fully on Asia and second largest country in Asia. Excludes Taiwan, the two dependency claims (the Paracel Islands and the Spratly Islands)and the 2 special administrative regions.
  8. ↑ The largest Portuguese-speaking country and largest country in South America, in Latin America.
  9. ↑ Third-largest English-speaking country and largest country in Oceania and the Australian continent, largest island country in the world and the largest country fully in the Southern Hemisphere. Excluding external territories and the Australian Antarctic Territory.
  10. ↑ Includes Argentine Antarctica, but excludes the disputed territories of the Falkland Islands and the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The second-largest Spanish-speaking country by area and the largest country in the Southern Cone.
  11. ↑ Includes the India-administered Kashmir. Largest country in South Asia.
  12. ↑ Largest landlocked country, second-largest Russian-speaking country after Russia and the largest country in Central Asia.
  13. ↑ Largest Arabic- and Berber-speaking country and largest country in Africa, the Arab world and the Arab League.
  14. ↑ Second-largest French-speaking country, largest country in Sub-Saharan Africa and Central Africa. Second-largest country in Africa, has the largest French speaking city (Kinshasa).
  15. ↑ Largest Nordic-speaking country. Figures include Metropolitan Denmark, as well as the 2 self-governing territories. Second-largest generally European country, has the largest non-continental island (Greenland).
  16. ↑ Largest non-continental island in the world, largest administrative division in Denmark and the largest inhabited overseas territory in the world. A total of 1,755,086 km² (81%) of the land area is covered by ice. The ice-free areas totals to 410,000 km². 81% of people requested a referendum for independence.
  17. ↑ Largest country in the Middle East and Western Asia and second-largest Arabic-speaking country after Algeria.
  18. ↑ Includes the Chilean Antarctic Territory. The third-largest Spanish-speaking in the world by area.
  19. ↑ It has the largest Spanish-speaking city in the world, Mexico City.
  20. ↑ Largest country in Southeast Asia and the largest island country in the world that is not a continent. Made up only of islands.
  21. ↑ Third-largest Arabic-speaking country.
  22. ↑ Largest unclaimed territory in the world. 1,600,000 (99%) of the land area is covered by ice.
  23. ↑ Second-largest landlocked country.
  24. ↑ Largest landlocked country in Africa.
  25. ↑ Second-largest Portuguese-speaking country.
  26. ↑ Largest country in Southern Africa
  27. ↑ Figures include Metropolitan France, as well as the 5 overseas regions, New Caledonia, the 5 autonomous collectivities and the 2 other overseas territories (the French Southern and Antarctic Lands and Clipperton Island.)
  28. ↑ Including Tigray.
  29. ↑ The third-largest Portuguese-speaking country in the world by area.
  30. ↑ Largest country fully on Europe. Includes Crimea and the Russian-controlled areas.
  31. ↑ Largest island country in Africa.
  32. ↑ Including borders though Lake Victoria.
  33. ↑ Excluding the 5 overseas regions, New Caledonia, the 5 overseas collectivities and the 2 overseas territories.
  34. ↑ Second-largest country in Oceania and the Australian continent.
  35. ↑ Largest country fully on the Nordic region and Scandinavia.
  36. ↑ Includes Adelié Land.
  37. ↑ The Kingdom of Norway includes Svalbard and Jan Mayen, but excludes Bouvet Island and the 2 dependency claims (Peter I Island and Queen Maud Land).
  38. ↑ Excluding Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Bouvet Island and the 2 dependency claims (Peter I Island and Queen Maud Land).
  39. ↑ Smallest country located entirely in South America
  40. ↑ Smallest island country in the world.
  41. ↑ Smallest country in the world with a coastline.
  42. ↑ A part of New Zealand
  43. ↑ Smallest country in the world and smallest country in Europe.

References

Other websites

CIA World Factbook