Land area and population don’t always line up. Several of the largest countries in the world by area have relatively modest populations, while some of the most crowded nations on Earth are geographically tiny.
Top 10 Largest Countries by Area
- Russia — by far the largest country in the world, spanning 11 time zones across Europe and Asia
- Canada — the second-largest country, though most of its population lives within 150 km of the US border
- United States — the third-largest by total area including all 50 states
- China — the fourth-largest, and also the second most populous country in the world
- Brazil — the largest country in South America by a wide margin
- Australia — the largest country in Oceania, and the only nation that is also a full continent
- India — the seventh-largest by area and the largest by population
- Argentina — the second-largest country in South America
- Kazakhstan — the largest landlocked country in the world
- Algeria — the largest country in Africa by area
See exact area figures for every country we track on our Rankings page.
Big Countries, Small Populations
Several of the largest countries by area rank far lower by population. Kazakhstan, the ninth-largest country in the world, has a population smaller than many single cities. Canada and Australia both combine enormous territory with population densities among the lowest anywhere — see our piece on the countries with the lowest population density for more.
Why Russia Is So Far Ahead
Russia’s land area is roughly 1.8 times larger than Canada, the second-largest country, and larger than the next two countries on this list combined. Its territory stretches from Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea to the Bering Strait facing Alaska, spanning eleven time zones — more than any other country in the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the largest country in the world by area?
Russia is the largest country in the world by land area, at roughly 17 million square kilometers.
What is the largest country entirely in one continent?
China is the largest country located entirely within a single continent (Asia); Russia’s territory spans both Europe and Asia.
Is Australia a country or a continent?
Australia is both — it is the only nation on Earth that is also its own full continent.
Compare land area against population or GDP for any country with our Compare tool.
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