World
Fact Checked
What are the World's Biggest Countries?
L. S. Wynn
L. S. Wynn
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 |  |
| Canada | 9,984,670 | 3,855,102 | |
| United States | 9,826,675 | 3,794,100 | |
| China | 9,596,961 | 3,705,407 | |
| Brazil | 8,514,877 | 3,287,612 | |
| Australia | 7,741,220 | 2,988,901 | |
| India | 3,287,263 | 1,269,219 | |
| Argentina | 2,780,400 | 1,073,518 | |
| Kazakhstan | 2,724,900 | 1,052,089 | |
| Algeria | 2,381,741 | 919,595 | |
| D.R. Congo | 2,344,858 | 905,355 | |
| Greenland | 2,166,086 | 836,330 | |
| Saudi Arabia | 2,149,690 | 830,000 | |
| Mexico | 1,964,375 | 758,449 | |
| Indonesia | 1,904,569 | 735,358 | |
| Sudan | 1,861,484 | 718,723 | |
| Libya | 1,759,540 | 679,362 | |
| Iran | 1,648,195 | 636,371 | |
| Mongolia | 1,564,116 | 603,908 | |
| Peru | 1,285,216 | 496,224 | |
| Chad | 1,284,000 | 495,755 | |
| Niger | 1,267,000 | 489,191 | |
| Angola | 1,246,700 | 481,353 | |
| Mali | 1,240,192 | 478,840 | |
| South Africa | 1,219,090 | 470,693 | |
| country | sq. km | sq. miles | size |
AS FEATURED ON:
AS FEATURED ON:
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![A map including Russia, the world's largest country.]()
By: MoustykA map including Russia, the world's largest country. -
![Mexico has a land area of 758,449 square miles making it the 14th largest country in the world.]()
By: StocksnapperMexico has a land area of 758,449 square miles making it the 14th largest country in the world. -
![Canada is the second largest country in the world with nearly 10 million square kilometers.]()
By: AnnaCanada is the second largest country in the world with nearly 10 million square kilometers. -
![With a land area of more than 8.5 million square kilometers, Brazil is the fifth biggest country in the globe.]()
By: BastosWith a land area of more than 8.5 million square kilometers, Brazil is the fifth biggest country in the globe. -
![India's is the seventh largest country in the world.]()
By: TupungatoIndia's is the seventh largest country in the world. -
![Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world.]()
By: byheavenKazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world. -
![Greenland covers more than 836,000 square miles.]()
By: mady70Greenland covers more than 836,000 square miles.
Discussion Comments
This is accurate.
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.
The size of Antarctica, is that including the ice on the ocean or not?
Why can't I see Nepal?
Has anyone heard of Greenland effect? It might help with the Greenland references.
what are the top three biggest countries in the world?
where is france, spain? this is so wrong get your facts right!
they are right. I've seen in the map. greenland is really big.
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!
that list can't be right. greenland a massive country? just look at a map!
how is greenland not bigger than D.R Congo?
that makes no sense.
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!
Why is nigeria not listed in this article, among the biggest nations?
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...
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.
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...
what are the three biggest countries in europe?
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