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What are the World's Biggest Countries?

L. S. Wynn
By L. S. Wynn
Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 110,583
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According to the CIA World Factbook, the total surface area of the earth is 510,072,000 square kilometers (196,939,900 square miles). Of this, 70.8% is water and 29.2% is land. The chart below organizes the top 25 countries in terms of size, starting with the biggest, Russia. Though it's not a self-governing country, as a reference point, Antarctica is about 14,000,000 square km (5,405,430 square miles).

Note that the sizes depict total area, which includes the land and water within each country's borders. Greenland, although an overseas administrative division of Denmark, is included here because it is self-governing.

country sq. km sq. miles size
Russia 17,098,242 6,601,668 Size of Russia
Canada 9,984,670 3,855,102 Size of Canada
United States 9,826,675 3,794,100 Size of United States
China 9,596,961 3,705,407 Size of China
Brazil 8,514,877 3,287,612 Size of Brazil
Australia 7,741,220 2,988,901 Size of Australia
India 3,287,263 1,269,219 Size of India
Argentina 2,780,400 1,073,518 Size of Argentina
Kazakhstan 2,724,900 1,052,089 Size of Kazakhstan
Algeria 2,381,741 919,595 Size of Algeria
D.R. Congo 2,344,858 905,355 Size of Democratic Republic of Congo
Greenland 2,166,086 836,330 Size of Greenland
Saudi Arabia 2,149,690 830,000 Size of Saudi Arabia
Mexico 1,964,375 758,449 Size of Mexico
Indonesia 1,904,569 735,358 Size of Indonesia
Sudan 1,861,484 718,723 Size of Sudan
Libya 1,759,540 679,362 Size of Libya
Iran 1,648,195 636,371 Size of Iran
Mongolia 1,564,116 603,908 Size of Mongolia
Peru 1,285,216 496,224 Size of Peru
Chad 1,284,000 495,755 Size of Chad
Niger 1,267,000 489,191 Size of Niger
Angola 1,246,700 481,353 Size of Angola
Mali 1,240,192 478,840 Size of Mali
South Africa 1,219,090 470,693 Size of South Africa
country sq. km sq. miles size
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Discussion Comments
By anon140027 — On Jan 06, 2011

This is accurate.

By anon111075 — On Sep 14, 2010

Nepal is in south central Asia. this is the country having a highest peak in the whole world. Mt Everest and beside that this is the country where buddha was born. one of the historical place where we can find all naturally gifted things. there is no other country like nepal.

By anon101021 — On Aug 01, 2010

The size of Antarctica, is that including the ice on the ocean or not?

By anon78896 — On Apr 20, 2010

Why can't I see Nepal?

By anon73999 — On Mar 30, 2010

Has anyone heard of Greenland effect? It might help with the Greenland references.

By anon72451 — On Mar 23, 2010

what are the top three biggest countries in the world?

By anon66935 — On Feb 22, 2010

where is france, spain? this is so wrong get your facts right!

By anon66864 — On Feb 22, 2010

they are right. I've seen in the map. greenland is really big.

By anon62964 — On Jan 29, 2010

How the heck is antarctica the second biggest country when its not even a country?

this is wrong. antarctica is a continent with no countries in it!

By anon60869 — On Jan 16, 2010

that list can't be right. greenland a massive country? just look at a map!

By anon44279 — On Sep 06, 2009

how is greenland not bigger than D.R Congo?

that makes no sense.

By anon40006 — On Aug 05, 2009

Well let's settle this argument Gentlemen! If Russia is in Europe and it has it's own borders then it is the biggest country!

By anon38446 — On Jul 26, 2009

Why is nigeria not listed in this article, among the biggest nations?

By anon9431 — On Mar 06, 2008

evchef -- That is not accurate, since Russia is the largest one in Europe. Despite the fact that the biggest part of it's territory is situated in Asia, its capital - Moscow is in Europe and therefore it's counted as european Country. If you compare only pure european territory, again Denmark is not the biggest, because Greenland (physiographically) is associated with North America, and again Ukraine is the biggest. I am writing this because I had a similar dispute with a colleague of mine...

By evchef — On Feb 19, 2008

Actually, since Greenland (Grøndland) is part of Denmark, it is therefore a part of Europe (Europa) and Scandinavia (Scandinavien). That should make Denmark the biggest country in Europe.

By Dayton — On May 02, 2007

According to my cursory research, the three largest countries in Europe (since the split up of the USSR) are the Ukraine, followed by France and Spain. I was surprised...

By anon577 — On Apr 29, 2007

what are the three biggest countries in europe?

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