For the sake of some travel trivia, what are the top five largest countries in the world? Russia is the largest by a wide margin, but you might be surprised by the other nine countries on this list.
In this article, I will first explain, after which I will list the countries with the most significant population in the world based on land area, followed by the most prominent countries regarding inhabitants. I’ll also include some fun trivia about each nation.
Considering I travel with plans to visit many of these locations, and since I hail from one of the world’s most populous nations (the United States), this topic interests me.
Let’s jump right into discussing the world’s biggest nations.
International Ranking of the Largest Nations in Terms of Size
Geographical powerhouses have shown that human beings are responsible for creating countries and demarcating their borders. A country’s boundaries are not permanently established based on the physical characteristics of its territory, including rivers, mountain ranges, and oceans.
Compared to Vatican City, which is around 0.27 square miles (or even better, 0.43 square kilometres), Russia is approximately six point six million square miles (17 098 242 square kilometres). The Vatican City is about 0.27 square miles (or, even better, 0.43 square kilometres) in length. This range covers a comprehensive spectrum.
In 1946, analysts projected that there were seventy-six sovereign countries in the world; by 2023, they expect that there will be one hundred twenty-three countries. In addition, international boundaries frequently fluctuate throughout history; many countries have shrunk in size due to nations breaking apart.
According to the most recent statistics, the ocean covers around 196,900,000,000 square miles (510,072,000 square kilometres), equivalent to approximately 71% of the Earth’s entire land surface. It indicates that little more than one-third of the earth’s surface contains no trace of water whatsoever.
Although countries typically include the outlying continental shelf when calculating their sizes, the landmass visible above the water’s surface is usually the basis for which countries measure themselves. Putting these countries in order according to their total land area is difficult, as you will see.
The following are the seven nations with the highest total populations:
1. Russia — 6,601,668 Square Miles (17,098,242 Square Kilometers)
Russia has an area of 6,601,668 square miles, which puts it at the top of the list. The total land area of Russia is 17,098,242 square kilometres. Russia dominates the global rankings as the largest country. Brazil holds the fifth spot on the list of major countries worldwide.
Russia shares borders with fourteen countries in two different time zones and spans the European and Asian continents. Its land area accounts for ten percent of the entire surface area of the Earth.
Some of the countries that border Russia are Finland, Norway, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China, Ukraine, Lithuania, North Korea, Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Belarus, Georgia, and North Korea.
Lake Baikal is the deepest and oldest lake in the world and is located in Russia, which has these three oceans encompassing it; the Arctic Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean. In addition, Russia is home to more than a hundred thousand rivers.
Most of Russia has treeless grasslands known as steppes and taiga, or coniferous boreal forests. Although Russia has many ecosystems, such as deserts, mountain ranges, and enormous deciduous woods, most of the country comprises treeless grasslands.
Russia is home to fascinating animal species, including snow leopards, polar bears, arctic foxes, and the Siberian tiger. The country recognises the Eurasian brown bear and bighorn sheep as national animals.
2. Approximately 3,855,103 Square Miles (9,984,670 Square Kilometers) Make up Canada.
As the world’s second-largest country, Canada takes up more than half of the landmass in the Northern Hemisphere and is the third-largest country overall. Canada covers 4,700 miles (7,560 kilometres) from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean and encompasses six different time zones.
The United States of America is its southernmost neighbour, while the Arctic Ocean is its northernmost boundary. The population of Canada is less than 0.5 percent of the world’s total population, making it a massive country with an extremely low population density.
Many species remain in the area, including moose, caribou, arctic beavers, grizzly bears, bison, and orcas. Both the coastline and the exclusive economic zone of Canada are well-known on a worldwide scale. It is home to twenty percent of the world’s clean water source and has its longest coastline.
Its river and lake systems make up the rest of the world’s clean water supply. The Canadian Shield is a hilly, marshy region where geologists have discovered some of the world’s oldest geological formations; in the country’s interior.
In addition to the vast Rocky Mountains, tundras surround immense boreal forests and the remainder of Canada. Geologists have discovered some of the oldest geological formations in the world in this region.
3. America Covers 9,826,675 Square Miles, Equivalent to 3,794,100 Square Kilometers.
The United States is the third largest country in terms of overall area, even though its landmass is just a fragment. Only forty-eight of the fifty states that make up North America have borders it shares with the other states. The distance between Canada and Mexico creates a divide between the different countries.
In addition to being geographically distinct from the other states of the United States, Alaska is also located west of Canada. It accounts for one-fifth of the overall land area.
Another non-contiguous state in the United States is Hawaii, located in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometres) away from the U.S. mainland. Hawaii is also the smallest of the non-contiguous states.
The United States of America is sufficiently broad and geographically diverse to contain every imaginable climate zone. There is the frigid tundra of Alaska’s Arctic region; to the west of the Rocky Mountains, we have the Arctic enclaves, just a few examples.
The characteristics of the nations that make up the Southwest are arid deserts, while the states of Florida and Hawaii have tropical islands.
On the other hand, the classification of the bulk states in the lower 48 is temperate, with pleasant winters and abundant rainfall, or continental, with warm summers and brutally cold winters and sweltering summers.
4. China Is 9,706,961 Square Kilometers in Size or 3,747,879 Square Miles.
Because China’s claimed territory and the United States and Canada’s actual landmasses are so comparable to one another in terms of size, many experts in geography are sceptical about China’s claims.
The People’s Republic of China is so large that it may be considered the fourth largest nation. It is because it has a shorter coastline than the three largest countries, and countries count a portion of the land mass widening into the sea as part of its borders.
Additionally, countries count a portion of the land mass spreading into the sea as part of their borders. On the other hand, if we were to examine the landmass of a particular nation solely, China would come in second, followed by Canada and then the United States of America.
China adheres to a single national time standard known as Beijing Time. On the land, it has about fourteen countries bordering it.
This country is home to many rivers, the most significant being the Yangtze.
Approximately one-third of China is full of mountains, and Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, is located on the international boundary separating Nepal and China.
5. Brazil Is 8,514,877 Square Kilometers in Size or 3,287,612 Square Miles
Brazil is the fifth-largest country in the world and the largest in South America. It is also the fifth-largest country by land area. The continent is a massive wedge, and it borders ten of the twelve countries located there.
The Amazon River in Brazil is the largest in the world in terms of volume, and its watershed covers thousands of square kilometres in the country’s northern areas.
The Amazon and its surrounding rainforest are the primary attractions for visitors to Brazil; nevertheless, the country also has plateaus, pine forests, marsh areas, and pampas. Pampas are a type of desert grassland. The Atlantic coastline of Brazil measures a total of four thousand miles or seven thousand kilometres in length.
6. The Total Land Area of Australia Is 2,988,902 Square Miles (7,741,220 Square Kilometers).
Australia is the sixth largest country in the world despite taking up a whole continent. Even though Australia has a verdant coastline and rainforests that reach more than thirty-four thousand kilometres, it has more excellent coverage in the desert. It is equivalent to twenty-one thousand a hundred and twenty-six miles more than a third of the continent.
Some of the most dangerous animals on the planet found in this area include the saltwater crocodile, Crocodylus porosus, the box jellyfish Chironex fleckeri, and the eastern brown snake with a scientific name known as Pseudonaja textilis.
7. Geographic Area: 1,269,210 Square Miles, Equivalent to 3,287,263 Square Kilometers
India is the second largest nation in Asia and ranks among the world’s countries in population size. This peninsula is completely encircled on three sides by the Indian Ocean.
Although it is the second-largest country in land area, it has the second-largest human population globally, right behind China. There is anticipation that 2023 will have more people than in China.
Along the Ganges River, northern India is a lush floodplain surrounded by desert in the west and rainforest in the northeast. The Indian monsoon is a wind pattern that, during the winter, sweeps cool, dry air from the Tibetan Plateau out to sea, resulting in a dry season in India, and, during the summer, pushes moist air onto the Indian subcontinent.
8. Argentina, with a 2,780,400 km² of Size
By land area, Argentina ranks eighth among countries worldwide and is more significant than the state of Texas, the United States, and Mexico. Argentina is unusual for having more livestock than people.
Argentina is famous for its soccer players, beef farmers, tango dancers, and wineries. You’ll also find the Iguazu Falls, a shared attraction with Brazil. Iguazu is the world’s largest fractured waterfall, with two hundred and seventy-five cascades.
Aconcagua, a famous mountain in Argentina along the Andes range, is considered the highest mountain in North and South America. It is also the highest mountain outside of Asia, rated at six thousand nine hundred and sixty-one meters.
Patagonia is a region in Argentina known for its spectacular landscapes, which range from glaciers to excellent hiking trails and mountains. It is from Patagonia that the eponymous outdoor clothing line came about.
9. Kazakhstan With 2,724,900 km² of Area
Regarding landmass, Kazakhstan ranks ninth globally. It is the largest nation in all of Central Asia. In terms of size, it’s roughly comparable to all of Western Europe.
Kazakhstan may not be a widespread name you will hear often, but the country has eye-catching mountains and lakes, making for some stunning scenery. A considerable element of Kazakh culture is horse riding. It has an excellent reputation due to its large production of apples, oil, and recreational activities such as skiing.
In Kazakhstan, you will find over thirty-one tribes and ethnic groups. These tribes include Uyghurs, Germans, Tatars, Kazaks, and Russians.
10. Algeria Has an Area of 2,381,741 km²
In the African continent, Algeria is the largest country, and it now maintains the tenth position globally when considering the total mass of land in the world.
Algeria is well-known for the famed Sahara desert, the largest and the hottest, and the oil it sells in significant amounts. Because the desert makes up almost 90 percent of the total land area of the country, the majority of the country’s population lives along the Mediterranean coast.
The ruins of the Roman town of Timgad are one of the seven sites in Algeria that UNESCO has designated as World Heritage Sites. These sites are all located in Algeria.
Largest Countries in the World by Population
1. 1,444,000,000 People are Living in China
Compared to other countries’ populations, China’s 1.44 billion inhabitants put it in a class by itself. On the other hand, projections show that the number will fall to 1.4 billion by the year 2050, putting China in second place, with India leading at the top.
2. India, With a population of 1.38 billion
With a population of 1.38 billion people, India is the world’s second-largest populated country. There has been anticipation that by the year 2050, the government will have a population of 1.64 billion, making it the most populous nation on the planet.
3. 331 Million People Are Living in the US.
The United States of America, which has an aggregate population of 331 million individuals, is currently the third most populous country in the world. There has been anticipation that 380 million will be by the year 2050. The major cities with high populations in the United States include Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York.
4. Indonesia Has a Population of 273 Million.
Indonesia is the fourth most populated nation on Earth, with more than 273 million people calling the country home. There has been anticipation that there will be 330 million people living in the world by the year 2050. Jakarta and Surabaya are two of Indonesia’s largest urban areas.
The islands of Java, Indonesia, and Asia are some of the most populous and expansive countries in the world.
Regarding the total population, Indonesia is the fourth largest country in the world. It also boasts a beautiful mountain in Java known as Mount Bromo.
5. There are 5 – 220 million people in Pakistan
Pakistan is the fifth most populated nation on Earth, with more than 220 million people calling it their home. There has been anticipation that there will be 338 million of them by 2050. Karachi and Lahore are two of Pakistan’s most important and populous cities.
6. Brazil, with a population of 212 million
Brazil is the sixth most populated nation, with 212,000,000 people, making it the sixth most populous nation. According to analysts, the population might reach 228 million by 2050. Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Sao Paulo are the most important cities in this country.
7. Nigeria ranks seventh with 206 million people.
Nigeria is the sixth most populous country in the world, with over 206 million people. There has been anticipation that by the year 2050, it will have 400 million citizens, making it the third most populated nation in the world, surpassing the United States. Lagos, Kano, and Ibadan are some of Nigeria’s most significant urban hubs.
8. Bangladesh is home to 164 million people.
Bangladesh is the ninth most populated nation in the world, with a total population of 164,000,000. There has been anticipation that by 2050, the number of people will have increased to 192 million. The most important commercial and cultural hubs of Bangladesh are Dhaka and Chittagong.
9. Russia ranks ninth with 145 million people.
In terms of the total population of the world, Russia comes in tenth place with its 145 million inhabitants. The current population is expected to shrink to about a hundred and thirty-five million people by 2050. Some of the cities considered the most prominent urban hubs in Russia are Saint Petersburg and the capital city, Moscow
10.10–128 million people live in Mexico
Mexico is the 10th most populated nation on the planet, with a total population of 128,000,000. There has been anticipation that by 2050, the number of people will have increased to 155 million. Mexico’s metropolis is the nation’s capital and most populous metropolis, making it the most populous city in North America.
Most Massive Continent
Judging this region is tough because Russia, the world’s largest country, borders two continents. However, depending on the model of your continents, this information might need to be more consistent. As a result, “Asian” Russia would still be Asia’s largest nation.
The legitimacy of Iceland’s nominal sovereignty over Greenland is likewise open to discussion. Using the Seven Continents paradigm of the mighty United States, here are the most significant countries that reside wholly within their respective continents:
Countries like Ethiopia, Mali, Algeria, the DRC, Niger, Angola, Kenya, Chad, South Africa, Libya, Tanzania and Sudan, Nigeria, Zambia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Somalia, Benin, Eritrea, Tunisia, Rwanda, Burundi, Madagascar, Djibouti, Namibia, Ghana, Western Sahara, South Sudan Egypt, Congo, Malawi, Cameroon amongst others can all be found on the African continent.
In the same spirit, several Asian nations include Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Indonesia, China, Kazakhstan, India, Saudi Arabia, Mongolia, and Iran.
Europe includes Turkey, Italy, Ukraine, Spain, Sweden, Germany, Poland, Norway, Finland, and France.
North America comprises Honduras, the United States, Mexico, Panama, Greenland*, Nicaragua, Cuba, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Canada.
New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Australia comprise Oceania and are among the largest countries on their respective continents.
South American nations include Paraguay, Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile, Guyana, Uruguay, Argentina, Ecuador, Venezuela, Suriname, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, French Guiana, Curacao, and many others.
In comparison, Antarctica does not contain any autonomous nations. However, it would be the second largest behind Russia if it were a country.
The Question Is, How Do We Stack Up?
A country’s entire land and sea area includes the territory up to and including the country’s continental shelf. This is the country’s “total land and sea area.” There could be differences in rankings because countries employ different methodologies to calculate the oceanic area they have.
Because some believe we should only measure a country’s land extent, we have decided to use the official areas published by the CIA World Factbook. There would be a sprinkling of rank shuffling here and there. The United States of America, followed by Canada, and lastly, China, would have the most population.
What Kind of Representation Is Appropriate for Dimensions?
The evaluation of map projection in The West Wing episode is vividly remembered by many. The Mercator projection does enlarge the size of countries close to the poles. Nevertheless, this is done so that a three-dimensional globe can have a representation on a two-dimensional plane.
The United States of America, Canada, and Russia are all vast countries. Since the United States formally acquired Alaska in the early 1900s, these three have consistently occupied the top three positions.
In a notable exception from the norm, Russia has performed through the development area, even while national borders have been virtually intact for decades (if one counts Crimea).In addition, incorporating Crimea would increase the size of Russia’s already large territory by an additional 27,000 square kilometres.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Largest Countries in the World and How Big Are They?
The most populous nation on Earth is China, which has a population of 1.44 billion people. On the other hand, India is already home to 1.38 billion people and will likely overtake China as the nation with the most people globally in the not-too-distant future.
Can You Name the Island That Is the Largest in the World?
Even though it has been under the administration of Denmark, Greenland is the largest island in the world. Note that it has yet to be officially recognised as a sovereign nation.
Papua New Guinea and Indonesia both have a portion of New Guinea, the second-largest island in the world. Borneo is the world’s third most oversized island; four countries share it: Brunei, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
Brunei has the largest population and land area of any country globally. The third most oversized island in the world, known as Borneo, is split between the governments of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei, making it the world’s third most populous island.
Can You Name the Largest Country on Earth?
Russia is by far the largest country, as measured by its entire area, approximately 17 million square kilometres.
Russia, which is currently the largest country in the world, has a relatively small total population despite the immense expanse of the land itself.
In comparison to the populations of other nations, its inhabitants nevertheless constitute a sizeable proportion of the total.
In the World Today, Which Are the Ten Biggest Countries?
These are the top ten largest countries in the world today;
- India has a total land area of 3,287,260 square kilometres.
- Comparatively, Russia is 17,098,250 square kilometres, while Canada is approximately the size of Florida.
- Size of Brazil: 8,515,770 square kilometres.
- The total land area of China is 9,600,013 square kilometres.
- United States of America: 9,525,067 square kilometres to 9,831,510 kilometres in total land area.
- The total land area of Australia is 7,741,220 square kilometres.
- Area of Kazakhstan: 2,724,90 square kilometres.
- The landmass that constitutes Argentina is exactly 2,780,400 square kilometres in size.
- Area in Algeria: 2,381,741 square kilometres.
Exactly Which Nation Is the World’s Seventh Largest?
When measured in terms of its total land area, India is the seventh largest country in the world. In addition, the country’s land mass has an area that is a total of 3,166,391 square kilometres. New Delhi serves as the seat of the government and is the nation’s capital.
Is the United States of America or China Larger?
The United States of America and China are almost the same size.
China’s land area is roughly 9,596,960 square kilometres, while the land area of the United States is approximately 9,833,517 square kilometres. This gives the United States a 2% advantage over China regarding land area.
In the meantime, China has a population of approximately 1.4 billion people, whereas the United States has 1.1 billion fewer people living there.
Find the Smallest Country in the World!
Vatican City is the smallest country in the world regarding its landmass, covering only 0.2 square miles. This makes it about 120 times smaller than the island of Manhattan.
Vatican City’s border with Italy is only two miles long, but it is wholly landlocked due to its location on the western bank of the Tiber River.
China or Russia: Which Country Has Greater Influence?
China is now regarded as the world’s second-most powerful nation, surpassing Russia in this ranking. In addition, both countries are consistently ranked among the top spenders on their respective militaries worldwide.
What Is the Total Number of Countries in the World?
Today, there are a hundred and ninety-five countries in existence across the globe. The Holy See and the State of Palestine are the only two countries, not United Nations members but are considered observer states. It brings the total number of countries represented at the United Nations to 193.
When Compared to the United States, How Massive Is China?
The overall land area of the United States is around 3.8 million square miles, while China’s land area is approximately 3.7 million square miles.
China, on the other hand, covers a significantly more extensive territory than the United States does. Additionally, China’s land area is approximately 2.2% larger than that of the United States, which is 3.5 million square miles.
What Makes a Country Huge or Small?
Borders bound states. A nation’s territory size is established by its legislative boundaries, which may also be set by natural features.
Boundaries between nations, states, and other political entities are arbitrary constructs. Oceans, seas, rivers, and mountain ranges serve as natural borders.