Largest Countries in the World

The area of the world

According to modern estimates, the Earth’s surface area is 510,072,000 square kilometers, with 71 percent covered by ocean and only 29 percent as dry land.

The measurements of area in a country

Every country has two different measurements of the area. One is the land area, which includes all the land and only the land. The other is the total area, also known as the country area, which consists of the land area and all areas occupied by lakes, reservoirs, inland rivers, and sometimes coastal and territorial waters.

That means  Total Area = Land area + Water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, and rivers)

Some countries show a significant difference between these two measurements.

For example, Canada has a land area of 8,965,590 km² whereas its total area is 9984670 km².                                      

The United States has a land area of 9,147,420 km², whereas its total area is 9833517 km².

Canada’s more than two million lakes and inland waterways make it the largest country by total area, even though the United States has a greater land area.

The following are the top 5 largest countries in the world by total area:

1. Russia (17,098,242 sq km)

The world’s largest country is Russia, with a total area of 17,098,242 square kilometers. It is nearly 75% larger than Canada, the second-largest country, which comprises almost 12% of the world’s landmass. Russia extends across two continents, spans 11 time zones, and has borders with 14 countries. It has coastlines on three oceans—the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic. Russia is also known for being home to around 100,000 rivers and Lake Baikal, the oldest and deepest lake in the world.

2. Canada (9,984,670 sq km)

Canada, the second-largest country globally, covers more than half of the Northern Hemisphere. It spans 7,560 kilometers across North America from the Atlantic to the Pacific, covering six time zones. Its southern border neighbors the United States, and the Arctic Ocean marks its northern boundary. Canada covers about 6.7% of the Earth’s land area.

3. United States (9,833,517 sq km)

The United States is the world’s third-largest country by total area, covering approximately 9,833,517 square kilometers, including both land and water. The 48 states and the District of Columbia together cover an area of 8,080,470 square kilometers. The country spans from the Pacific to the Atlantic, representing around 6.57% of the Earth’s land area.

4. China (9,596,960 sq km)

China is the world’s fourth-largest country, with a total area of 9,596,960 square kilometers. It spans the equivalent of five time zones, and shares land borders with fourteen countries. China covers approximately one-fourteenth of the Earth’s land area. It features diverse terrain, from the Himalayan mountains in the southwest to the fertile plains of the east.

5. Brazil (8,515,770 sq km)

Brazil holds the distinction of being the world’s fifth-largest country by total area.

Total Area: Brazil covers approximately 8,515,770 square kilometers, including land and water.

Land Area: The landmass of Brazil spans approximately 8,358,140 square kilometers.

Water Area: Brazil’s water bodies, including rivers, lakes, and coastal areas, account for approximately 157,630 square kilometers.

Brazil is next to the Atlantic Ocean on the east. Its varied landscape includes the large Amazon basin, which has unique wildlife and many natural resources. Brazil’s diverse cultural heritage and mix of ethnicities make it an interesting country in South America.

What is the smallest country in the world?

The smallest country in the world is Vatican City, which is just 0.44 km² in size. It is followed by Monaco, at 2.02 km², both located in Europe. Nauru (21 km²) and Tuvalu (26 km²) are the next smallest countries, both island nations in Oceania. Saint Kitts and Nevis are the smallest countries in the Americas, measuring only 261 km².