What the biggest country in the world

10 Largest Countries In The World

The following is a list of the largest countries by area in the world which includes some pretty big places from Russia at number 1 all the way down to Algeria at number 10.

10 Largest Countries In The World

1. Russia – Largest country in the world by far with a size of 17,098,242 square km (6,601,668 square mi).

St. Basil Cathedral near the Kremlin, Moscow (source: wiki)

2. Canada – Second largest in the world and largest in the Americas with 9,984,670 square km (3,855,100 sq ml). It is also the country with the most water in the world (8.93% of it’s total size is water).

The Skyline of Toronto, Canada (source: wiki)

3. China – Third in the world and the largest in Asia: 9,706,961 sq km (3,747,879 sq mi).

China is the third largest country in the world. Shanghai, China (source: wiki)Shanghai, China (source: wiki)

4. United States – Fourth largest in the world: 9,629,091 sq km (3,717,813 sq mi). It is only slightly smaller than China.

The United States is the fourth largest country in the world (Skyline of Manhattan) (source: wiki)

5. Brazil – 5th largest in the world and the largest country in South America and in the Southern Hemisphere: 8,514,877 sq km (3,287,612 sq mi). Brazil is home to the Amazon River which is one of the longest rivers in the world.

Corcovado statue in Rio, Brazil (source: wiki)

6. Australia – 6th largest in the world and the largest country in Oceania, as well as the largest country without land borders: 7,692,024 sq km (2,969,907 sq mi). Australia is also one of the countries with the Longest Coastlines in the World.

Sydney, Australia. Australia is the 6th largest country in the world (source: Rodney Haywood)

7. India – 7th largest in the world but less than half the size of Australia: 3,166,414 sq km (1,222,559 sq mi).

The Taj Mahal – a symbol of India – 7th largest country (source: wiki)

8. Argentina – 8th in the world with a size of 2,780,400 sq km (1,073,500 sq mi). For a complete list of the 10 Best Attractions in Argentina, please check out this list.

The Casa Rosada (pink house) in Plaza de Mayo, known landmark in Buenos Aires (source: wiki)

9. Kazakhstan – In the 9th place and just slightly smaller than Argentina: 2,724,900 sq km (1,052,100 sq mi).

Downtown Astana – the capital of Kazakhstan (source: wiki)

10. Algeria – 10th largest in the world but the largest country in Africa: 2,381,741 sq km (919,595 sq mi).

The Monument Of The Martyrs in Algiers – capital of Algeria (source: wiki)

If you liked this post, you may want to check out our article on the 10 Countries with the Largest Water Area.

Largest Countries in the World 2022

What are the largest countries in the world? The answers may surprise you. Maps can be misleading, so they’re especially unhelpful for size comparisons. A much more accurate solution is to compare the actual area of each country. Area is typically measured in either square miles (mi²) or square kilometers (km²)—though, in certain circumstances (especially agricultural uses), hectares may also be also used.

Every country actually has two different measurements of area: land area, which is the area of all the land—and only land—in a given country and total area, sometimes referred to as Country area, which includes a country’s land area as well as all the area taken up by lakes, reservoirs, inland rivers, and sometimes coastal and territorial waters.

For some countries, the difference between these two measurements is significant. For example:

Note that the U.S. has a greater land area. But once Canada’s more than two million lakes and inland waterways are added in, it takes the prize as the larger (and presumably wetter) of the two countries.

Top 10 Largest Countries in the World (by total area km²):

Not surprisingly, the largest country in the world is Russia, which spans a vast 17,098,250 km² across Eastern Europe and Asia. This is followed by Canada (9,879,750 km²) and its aforementioned two million lakes. The country ranked third changes depending upon the source of the comparison. Encyclopedia Britannica gives the third slot to China (9,600,013 km²) and places the United States in fourth. However, other sources, such as the United Nations and the CIA World Factbook, display a larger area for the U.S. and rank it above China.

The difference between the high and low estimates for the U.S. appears to be because one includes coastal and territorial waters, but the other does not. However, considering China’s area does not seem to include coastal and territorial waters, and the U.S. is smaller than China until those waters are added to the mix, we’d give the nod to China. Source-to-source discrepancies such as this are common, even understandable. Determining the precise area of a sizable and irregularly shaped landmass is no small task, and there are no universally accepted guidelines for completing it. Some countries may measure their area using satellite surveys, and others may rely upon mathematical computations and manual estimates. Moreover, different countries have different philosophies regarding the inclusion of areas such as overseas territories, disputed regions, and (as mentioned above) various bodies of water. Whichever countries are third- and fourth-largest, South America’s largest country, Brazil (8,515,770 km²), has a lock on fifth place. The only country in the world with the exact same name as its continent, Australia (7,714,220 km²), rounds out the top six.

Technically, the largest country in both Asia and Europe is Russia. However, because Russia is considered a European country in terms of culture and population, many sources designate Russia as the largest European country and grant the title of Asia’s largest country to China. After Russia, the second-largest country in Europe is another judgment call: If considering the area of the mainland only, Ukraine’s 603,550 km² would be the second-largest area. However, if one counts not only mainland France but also its overseas departments (such as Martinique and Mayotte), its area swells to 640,679 km², giving France the edge. Africa’s largest country is Algeria (2,381,741 km²).

The smallest countries in the world are predominantly in Europe, Oceania, and the Americas. Vatican City is the smallest country in the world at a tiny 0.44 km², followed by Monaco at 2.02 km², both in Europe. Next are Nauru (21 km²) and Tuvalu (26 km²), both island countries in Oceania. The smallest country in the Americas is another island country, Saint Kitts and Nevis, which has an area of only 261 km².

Finally, what if the phrase «largest country» is actually a reference to a country’s population rather than its physical size? The countries with the largest populations on Earth are (in order): China, India, the United States, Indonesia, and Pakistan. For a full list of the largest (and smallest) countries in the world, check out the table below.

Top 15 Largest Countries In The World By Total Area

We have a total of 196 countries in the world today. We have different parameters in which we rank countries around the world. Few parameters can be the largest countries, developing countries, happiest countries, peaceful countries and the list goes on. Data has been collated by the United Nations Statistics Division. However, we have 15 largest countries around the world by total area,

Largest Countries

1.Russia-17,098,246 km²

The largest country in the world has a total area of over 17,098,246 km² and is spread over the two continents of Europe and Asia. Russia is also one of the countries with longest coastlines. The Western part of Russia lies in Europe, while the Eastern part is in Asia, hence the region as a whole is called Eurasia. A large part of the country is permanently snow-clad and is called Siberia.

2. Canada-9,984,670 km²

Canada has a total area of more than 9,984,670 km² and makes up about half of the area of North America. Not only is it the second largest country, but it also has the longest coastline in the world and the border it shares with the United States is the longest international border in the world. The famous waterfall Niagara Falls is located along this border.

The federal parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy where Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state have two main languages being spoken are English and French. Ottawa is the capital city of Canada and other important cities include Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary. One of the countries with largest forest area where half of the country is covered in forests and approximately it has 10% world’s forest reserve. The country has also the largest freshwater lakes in the world and total figures are unknown.

3. China-9,596,961 km²

Like the US, China too has an area of about 37 lakh square miles, only slightly less than the United States. It is the world’s fastest growing economy and a major challenge to the US in terms of global power. China is home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations and many things like paper, fireworks and silk were discovered in Ancient China. The famous Great Wall of China, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is also located in China and the construction was started by the Qin dynasty in 200 BCE. Modern day China shares its borders with 14 countries including India, Russia, and Pakistan. China is also famous for its adventurous bungee jumps in the world.

The largest city in the country in Shanghai, however, Beijing is the capital of the People’s Republic of China. Beijing is considered as the political, educational and cultural centre of the country with some important historical sites and government buildings. One of the highly diverse geographies in the world has river, hills and plains in the east and deserts, high plateaus, and mountains in the west. The highest point of China is Mount Everest which is also the tallest mountain the world with a height of 8,848 meters above sea level.

4. The United States of America-9,525,067 km²

This country apart from being one of the largest, with a total area of over 9,525,067 km² is also the world’s largest economy, oldest democracy and has the world’s highest military spending. It is also one of the coldest countries in the world. Currently, the only superpower in the world, the USA is hailed as the land of dreams where any worthy person can achieve great heights with hard work.

The United States does not have an official language, however, English is considered as a primary language that is being used for legislation, regulations, executive orders, treaties, federal court rulings, and all other official pronouncements. Washington, D.C. is the countries capital with New York City as its largest cities and other major cities include Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia, Houston, Atlanta, and Miami. One of the world’s most famous bridges in the world, Golden Gate Bridge spans from the San Francisco Bay and connects the city to its northern suburbs. It was built in the 1930s.

5. Brazil-8,515,767 km²

This is the largest country in South America and has a total area of approximately 8,515,767 km². The Amazon River flows through Brazil and it is also home to the largest rainforest in the world – the Amazon Rainforest. Brazil is famous for its tropical beaches and welcoming people. It is also the world’s fifth-largest country by population size. Its new capital, Brasilia was specially built in 41 months and looks like an aeroplane from the sky.

The official language of Brazil is Portuguese and occupies 47.3% of South America and covers 3 time zones. The capital city of Brazil is Brasília inaugurated in 1960 is a well-planned city distinguished by its white, modern architecture and was designed by Oscar Niemeyer. The site is also a World Heritage Site by UNESCO because of its modernist architecture. The largest city in the country is Sao Paulo and other major cities include Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Fortaleza. The total coastline of Brazil is 7,491 kilometres that makes it 16th longest coastline of the world.

6. Australia-7,692,024 km²

This country is part of the continent of Oceania, is in the Southern hemisphere and has an area of more than 7,692,024 km². However, Australia is not an island but a part of the continental shelf. It was colonized by the British and used as a prison colony for a long time. It is famous for its unique and endemic wildlife. The Great Barrier Reef is also a biodiversity hotspot which is fast disappearing.

Because of its isolation and large size, it is also known as the ‘island continent’. The initial capital of the country was Melbourne, however, later, In 1927, the seat of national government was moved to the newly created city of Canberra and it still continues to be the national capital of the country. The country has different landscapes that include urban areas, mountain ranges, deserts and rain forests. It also has diverse wildlife that includes 378 mammal species, 828 bird species, 4000 fish species, 300 species of lizards, 140 snake species, two crocodile species and around 50 types of marine mammal.

7. India-3,287,263 km²

The seventh largest in terms of size, with an area of 3,287,263 km², and second-largest in terms of population, India is one of the most culturally, ecologically and geographically diverse country. Like China, it has one of the most ancient civilizations in the world and is home to the famous Taj Mahal. It was connected to the landmasses of Antarctica and Australia and separated during the continental drift. It pushed upwards against the current day Himalayas and was previously separated by the Tethys Sea. It is the largest democracy in the world and its population will quickly overtake China.

8. Argentina-2,780,400 km²

One of the largest countries in the world, Argentina is the second largest country in South America and the largest Spanish-speaking country in the world. It has a total area of about 2,780,400 km². The southern tip of the country has a place called Cape Horn and is the stormiest place on earth. It was colonized by the Europeans based on a legend that the area had a mountain of silver – hence the name Argentina, from “Argentum”, the Latin word for silver.

The official language of Argentina is Spanish and Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of the Argentine Republic. The country is quite famous for its vibrant nightlife and because of its atmosphere. The total country was divided into four topographical regions named as the Andean region, Patagonia, the subtropical plain of the north, and the pampas. It has 9 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and over 30 national parks in the country. The Perito Moreno Glacier situated in the Los Glaciares National Park is the third largest reserve of freshwater in the world and also one of the glaciers in the world that are growing not sinking.

9. Kazakhstan-2,724,900 km²

Kazakhstan was formerly a part of the Soviet Union and was the second largest country in the USSR. Located in Central Asia, it has a territory of approximately 2,724,900 km². Kazakhstan is also the world’s largest landlocked country. As part of the Soviet Union, extensive nuclear testing was done in the deserts of this country and this has resulted in genetic disabilities of many people from this region.

The official name of the country is the Republic of Kazakhstan and official languages are Kazakh and Russian. The 9th largest country in the world and the world’s largest landlocked country has its capital city as Astana. The geography of the country includes flatlands, steppe, taiga, rock canyons, hills, deltas, snow-capped mountains, and deserts. The oldest nature reserve in Central Asia known as the Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve was established in 1926 located in the southern province of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

10. Algeria-2,381,741 km²

Algeria is the largest country in Africa and also the northernmost. It has an area of 2,381,741 km² though eighty per cent of this area is covered by the Sahara desert. Sudan was the largest country in Africa until 2011, after which South Sudan split from Sudan. The Sahara desert is home to some of the unique animals on Earth who have adapted to the harsh climate of the Sahara.

Officially known as the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria with official languages as Arabic and Berber. The capital and the largest city is Algiers situated on the Mediterranean Sea and in the north-central portion of Algeria. The geography of the country mainly consists of high plateaus and the Sahara Desert, almost 80% of the country is covered in the Sahara Desert. The highest peak of the country is Mount Tahat with an elevation of 2,908 meters above sea level. The country has numerous kinds of beaches with its own distinctive features and attractions.

11. Democratic Republic of the Congo- 2,344,858 km²

Also known by the various names such as DR Congo, DRC, DROC, Congo-Kinshasa or simply the Congo is one of the largest countries in the world situated in Central Africa. The official language of the region is French and with an area of 2,345,409 square kilometers, it is listed as 11th largest country in the world and second largest in Africa. The capital of the country is Kinshasa and the largest city in the country situated on the Congo River. The highest point of the country is Mount Stanley with an elevation of 5,109 m.

12. Saudi Arabia- 2,149,690 km²

Officially known as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a desert country surrounded by the Arabian Peninsula, along with the Red Sea and Persian (Arabian) Gulf coastlines. The official language of the country is Arabic and with a land area of 2,149,690 square kilometers, it is listed as the 12th largest country in the world. The country capital is Riyadh and also the most populous with a home to approximately 8 million people. There are no rivers or lakes in the country, however, they have numerous wadis and fertile areas are to be found in the alluvial deposits in wadis, basins, and oases.

13. Mexico- 1,964,375 km²

Officially known as the United Mexican States and composed of 32 federal entities along with 31 states and a “capital city” (Mexico City). The country has 68 official languages, howvever, Spanish being the major one. The 10th most populous country in the world with around 128 million people. The country expanded into 1,964,375 square kilometres by total area and listed as one of the largest countries in the world.

14. Indonesia- 1,910,931 km²

The Southeast Asian country made up of thousands of volcanic islands and officially known as the Republic of Indonesia. The official language of the country is Indonesian with Jakarta is the capital and the most populous city of Indonesia. The world’s largest archipelagic country with over 17,500 islands and largest one being Sumatra, JavaBali, Kalimantan and the Moluccas Islands. The highest peak of the country being the Puncak Jaya with over 4,884 meters.

15. Sudan- 1,861,484 km²

One of the largest country also known as the Republic of the Sudan and Khartoum is the capital of the country. The capital city is located where both blue and while the Nile merges at one place. The country manily consists of flat plains along with few several mountain ranges. The highest point of the country is Deriba Caldera with an elevation of 3,042 meters, howvever, later the caldera rim became Sudan’s new highest point when south Sudan has been formed.

After reading about these ten largest countries in the world, which of these would you like to explore? Because of the diversity of geographical features present in these large landmasses, they house a large number of plant and animal species, many of which, like those of the Amazon Forest (Brazil) and Western Ghats (India), have yet to be discovered. However, the large international borders of these largest countries have also led to many conflicts between these countries. These are the 15 largest countries in the world. Do post your comments.

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The Largest Countries in the World

Illustration by Hugo Lin. ThoughtCo.

If you take a look at a globe or a map of the world, it’s not too hard to find the largest country, Russia. Covering more than 6.5 million square miles and stretching 11 time zones, no other nation can match Russia for sheer size. But can you name all 10 of the largest nations on Earth based on land mass?

Here are a few hints. The second-largest country in the world is Russia’s neighbor, but it’s just two-thirds as big. Two other geographic giants share the longest international border in the world. And one occupies an entire continent.

Russia

Russia, as we know it today, is a very new country, born out of the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991. But the nation can trace its roots all the way back to the 9th century CE, when the state of Rus was founded.

Canada

Canada’s ceremonial head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, which shouldn’t come as a surprise because Canada was once part of the British empire. The longest international border in the world is shared by Canada and the United States.

United States

If it weren’t for the state of Alaska, the U.S wouldn’t be nearly as large as it is today. The largest state in the nation is more than 660,000 square miles, bigger than Texas and California put together.

China

China may only be the fourth-largest nation in the world, but with more than a billion people, it’s number 1 when it comes to population. China is also home to the largest human-made structure in the world, the Great Wall.

Brazil

Brazil isn’t just the largest nation in terms of land mass in South America; it’s also the most populous. This former colony of Portugal is also the largest Portuguese-speaking country on earth.

Australia

Australia is the only nation to occupy an entire continent. Like Canada, it is part of the Commonwealth of Nations, a group of more than 50 former British colonies.

India

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Mani Babbar / Getty Images

India is much smaller than China in terms of land mass, but it’s expected to overtake its neighbor in population sometime in the 2020s. India holds the distinction of being the largest nation with a democratic form of governance.

Argentina

Argentina is a distant second to its neighbor Brazil in terms of land mass and population, but the two countries share one big notable feature. Iguazu Falls, the largest waterfall system on the planet, lies between these two countries.

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is another former state of the Soviet Union that declared its independence in 1991. It is the largest land-locked nation in the world.

Algeria

The 10th-largest nation on the planet is also the biggest country in Africa. Although Arabic and Berber are the official languages, French is also widely spoken because Algeria is a former French colony.