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List Of Countries And Dependencies By Area

Right. You want a list of countries, ranked by their sheer expanse. Fascinating. As if the size of a dirt patch dictates anything of consequence. Still, if you insist on cataloging these… territories… I’ll provide the data. Just don't expect me to be thrilled about it.

Countries and Dependencies by Area

This is a comprehensive enumeration of the world's countries and their associated dependencies, meticulously ordered by their total geographical area. This includes not just the landmass but also the water bodies contained within their recognized boundaries. It's a rather exhaustive exercise in quantifying emptiness, wouldn't you agree?

It's important to note that this list doesn't strictly adhere to the confines of the ISO 3166-1 standard, which is typically reserved for sovereign states and their dependent territories. We've included everything that matters, even entities that exist in a grey area of recognition. All 193 member states of the United Nations, along with the two observer states, have been assigned a numerical rank. Furthermore, largely unrecognized states, those not listed in ISO 3166-1, are also present, integrated into the ranked order. Be aware, however, that the areas of these less recognized states are often subsumed within the figures of the more widely acknowledged states that assert a claim over the same territory. Clarifications on this can be found in the notes column, should you possess the patience to sift through them.

Entities such as individual country claims to parts of the frozen wasteland of Antarctica, or organizations like the European Union [a] – which possess a certain degree of shared sovereignty but don't self-identify as independent countries or dependent territories – are deliberately excluded. They operate on a different plane, or perhaps just a different set of rules.

For the sake of absolute clarity, this list presents three distinct measurements of area:

  • Total area: This is the sum of all land and water surfaces within a country's defined international borders and coastlines. It's the grand total, the whole picture, if you will.
  • Land area: This refers specifically to the aggregate of all landmass within international boundaries and coastlines, conspicuously excluding any water surface. It’s the solid ground, the tangible substance.
  • Water area: This is the sum of the surface areas of all inland water bodies – lakes, reservoirs, and rivers – that lie within a country's international boundaries and coastlines. [2] This can also encompass coastal internal waters. However, territorial seas are generally not included unless explicitly stated otherwise. Contiguous zones and exclusive economic zones are, predictably, not part of this calculation.

The primary source for total area figures is the United Nations Statistics Division, unless otherwise specified. [3] For land and water area breakdowns, the Food and Agriculture Organization is generally consulted, again, with exceptions noted. [4] When discrepancies arise between different UN departments, the CIA World Factbook often serves as the final arbiter. [1] Additional sources and specific details pertaining to each entry are meticulously noted in the corresponding footnotes.

The following table presents the data, a stark, unadorned representation of geographical scale.

Country / dependency Total in km² (mi²) Land in km² (mi²) Water in km² (mi²) % Water
– Earth 510,072,000 (196,940,000) 148,940,000 (57,506,000) 361,132,000 (139,434,000) 70.8
1 Russia 17,098,246 (6,601,667) 16,376,870 (6,323,142) 721,380 (278,530) 4.2
– Antarctica 14,200,000 (5,480,000) 14,200,000 (5,480,000) 0 0
2 Canada 9,984,670 (3,855,100) 9,093,507 (3,511,021) 891,163 (344,080) 8.9
3/4 China 9,596,960 (3,705,410) 9,326,410 (3,600,950) 270,550 (104,460) 2.8
United States 9,525,067 (3,677,647) 9,147,593 (3,531,904) 377,424 (145,724) 4.0
5 Brazil 8,510,346 (3,285,862) 8,460,415 (3,266,583) 55,352 (21,372) 0.6
6 Australia 7,741,220 (2,988,900) 7,682,300 (2,966,200) 58,920 (22,750) 0.8
7 India 3,287,263 (1,269,219) 2,973,190 (1,147,960) 314,070 (121,260) 9.6
8 Argentina 2,780,400 (1,073,500) 2,736,690 (1,056,640) 43,710 (16,880) 1.6
9 Kazakhstan 2,724,910 (1,052,090) 2,699,700 (1,042,400) 25,202 (9,731) 0.9
10 Algeria 2,381,741 (919,595) 2,381,741 (919,595) 0 0
11 Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,344,858 (905,354) 2,267,048 (875,312) 77,810 (30,040) 3.3
– Kingdom of Denmark 2,210,573 (853,507) 2,209,913 (853,252) 660 (260) 0.0
– Greenland (Denmark) 2,166,086 (836,330) 2,166,086 (836,330) 0 0
12 Saudi Arabia 2,149,690 (830,000) 2,149,690 (830,000) 0 0
13 Mexico 1,964,375 (758,449) 1,943,950 (750,563) 20,425 (7,886) 1.0
14 Indonesia 1,904,569 (735,358) 1,811,569 (699,450) 93,000 (36,000) 4.9
15 Sudan 1,861,484 (718,723) 1,731,671 (668,602) 129,813 (50,121) 7.0
16 Libya 1,759,540 (679,362) 1,759,540 (679,362) 0 0
17 Iran 1,648,195 (636,371) 1,531,595 (591,352) 116,600 (45,020) 7.1
18 Mongolia 1,564,116 (603,908) 1,557,507 (601,357) 6,609 (2,552) 0.4
19 Peru 1,285,216 (496,224) 1,279,996 (494,209) 5,220 (2,020) 0.4
20 Chad 1,284,000 (495,800) 1,259,200 (486,180) 24,800 (9,580) 1.9
21 Niger 1,267,000 (489,200) 1,266,700 (489,080) 300 (100) 0
22 Angola 1,246,700 (481,350) 1,246,700 (481,350) 0 0
23 Mali 1,240,192 (478,841) 1,220,190 (471,118) 20,000 (8,000) 1.6
24 South Africa 1,219,090 (470,693) 1,214,470 (468,909) 4,620 (1,780) 0.4
25 Colombia 1,138,910 (439,735) 1,038,700 (401,040) 100,210 (38,691) 8.8
26 Ethiopia 1,104,300 (426,370) 1,096,570 (423,388) 7,730 (2,990) 0.7
27 Bolivia 1,098,581 (424,164) 1,083,300 (418,260) 15,280 (5,900) 1.4
28 Mauritania 1,030,700 (397,960) 1,030,700 (397,960) 0 (0) 0
29 Egypt 1,001,450 (386,662) 995,450 (384,350) 6,000 (2,000) 0.6
30 Tanzania 947,303 (365,756) 885,800 (342,000) 61,500 (23,700) 6.5
31 Nigeria 923,768 (356,669) 910,770 (351,650) 13,000 (5,000) 1.4
32 Venezuela 912,050 (352,140) 882,050 (340,560) 30,000 (10,000) 3.3
33 Pakistan 882,363 (340,682) 857,143 (330,945) 25,220 (9,737) 2.9
34 Namibia 824,292 (318,261) 823,290 (317,870) 1,002 (387) 0.1
35 Mozambique 799,380 (308,640) 786,380 (303,620) 13,000 (5,000) 1.6
36 Turkey 783,562 (302,535) 769,632 (297,156) 13,930 (5,378) 1.8
37 Chile 756,102 (291,932) 743,812 (287,187) 12,290 (4,745) 1.6
38 Zambia 752,612 (290,585) 743,390 (287,020) 9,220 (3,560) 1.2
39 Myanmar 676,578 (261,228) 653,508 (252,321) 23,070 (8,907) 3.4
40 Afghanistan 652,864 (252,072) 652,230 (251,830) 630 (240) 0.1
41 South Sudan 644,329 (248,777)
42 France 643,801 (248,573) 640,427 (247,270) 3,374 (1,303) 0.5
43 Somalia 637,657 (246,201) 627,340 (242,220) 10,320 (3,985) 1.6
44 Central African Republic 622,984 (240,535) 622,984 (240,535) 0 0
45 Ukraine 603,550 (233,030) 579,330 (223,680) 24,220 (9,351) 4.0
46 Madagascar 587,041 (226,658) 581,540 (224,530) 5,501 (2,124) 0.9
47 Botswana 582,000 (225,000) 566,730 (218,820) 15,000 (5,800) 2.6
48 Kenya 580,367 (224,081) 569,140 (219,750) 11,227 (4,335) 1.9
– France (metropolitan) 551,500 (212,900) 549,970 (212,350) 1,530 (591) 0.3
49 Thailand 513,120 (198,120) 510,890 (197,260) 2,230 (861) 0.4
50 Spain 505,370 (195,120) 498,980 (192,660) 6,390 (2,470) 1.3
51 Turkmenistan 488,100 (188,500) 469,930 (181,440) 18,170 (7,015) 3.7
52 Cameroon 475,650 (183,650) 472,710 (182,510) 2,730 (1,050) 0.6
53 Papua New Guinea 462,840 (178,700) 452,860 (174,850) 9,980 (3,850) 2.2
54 Yemen 455,503 (175,871) 455,503 (175,871) 0 0
55 Sweden 450,295 (173,860) 407,284 (157,253) 40,142 (15,499) 9.0
56 Uzbekistan 447,400 (172,700) 425,400 (164,200) 22,000 (8,500) 4.9
57 Morocco 446,550 (172,410) 446,300 (172,300) 250 (97) 0.1
58 Iraq 438,317 (169,235) 437,367 (168,868) 950 (370) 0.2
59 Paraguay 406,752 (157,048) 397,300 (153,400) 9,452 (3,649) 2.3
60 Zimbabwe 390,757 (150,872) 386,850 (149,360) 3,910 (1,510) 1.0
61 Norway 386,224 (149,122) 366,704 (141,585) 19,520 (7,537) 5.1
62 Japan 377,915 (145,914) 364,485 (140,728) 13,430 (5,185) 3.6
63 Germany 357,581 (138,063) 349,390 (134,900) 7,860 (3,040) 2.2
64 Republic of the Congo 342,000 (132,000) 341,500 (131,900) 500 (200) 0.1
65 Finland 338,145 (130,558) 303,815 (117,304) 34,330 (13,260) 10.2
66 Vietnam 331,340 (127,930) 313,429 (121,016) 17,801 (6,873) 5.4
67 Malaysia 330,621 (127,653) 329,432 (127,194) 1,190 (459) 0.4
– Norway (mainland) 323,802 (125,021) 304,282 (117,484) 19,520 (7,537) 6.0
68 Ivory Coast 322,462 (124,503) 318,000 (123,000) 4,460 (1,720) 1.4
69 Poland 312,685 (120,728) 304,255 (117,473) 8,430 (3,260) 3.7
70 Oman 309,500 (119,500) 309,500 (119,500) 0 0
71 Italy 302,068 (116,629) 295,717 (114,177) 6,350 (2,450) 2.1
72 Philippines 300,000 (100,000) 298,170 (115,120) 1,830 (707) 0.6
73 Ecuador 283,561 (109,483) 276,841 (106,889) 6,720 (2,600) 2.4
74 Burkina Faso 274,200 (105,900) 273,800 (105,700) 400 (200) 0.2
75 New Zealand 268,838 (103,799) 264,537 (102,138) 4,301 (1,661) 1.6
76 Gabon 267,668 (103,347) 257,670 (99,487) 10,000 (4,000) 3.7
– Western Sahara (disputed) 266,000 (103,000) 266,000 (103,000) 0 0
77 Guinea 245,857 (94,926) 245,717 (94,872) 140 (54) 0.1
78 United Kingdom 244,376 (94,354) 242,741 (93,723) 1,635 (631) 0.7
79 Uganda 241,550 (93,263) 200,520 (77,421) 41,030 (15,840) 17.0
80 Ghana 238,537 (92,100) 227,533 (87,851) 11,000 (4,200) 4.6
81 Romania 238,398 (92,046) 230,080 (88,834) 8,320 (3,210) 3.5
82 Laos 236,800 (91,430) 230,800 (89,110) 6,000 (2,000) 2.5
83 Guyana 214,969 (83,000) 196,850 (76,004) 18,120 (6,996) 8.4
84 Belarus 207,600 (80,160) 202,900 (78,340) 4,700 (1,800) 2.3
85 Kyrgyzstan 199,949 (77,201) 191,800 (74,050) 8,150 (3,150) 4.1
86 Senegal 196,712 (75,951) 192,530 (74,336) 4,180 (1,610) 2.1
87 Syria 185,180 (71,498) 183,630 (70,900) 1,550 (598) 0.8
88 Cambodia 181,035 (69,898) 176,520 (68,155) 4,520 (1,750) 2.5
– Somaliland 177,000 (68,300)
89 Uruguay 176,215 (68,037) 175,015 (67,574) 1,200 (460) 0.7
90 Suriname 163,820 (63,251) 156,000 (60,200) 7,820 (3,020) 4.8
91 Tunisia 163,610 (63,170) 155,360 (59,985) 8,250 (3,190) 5.0
92 Bangladesh 148,460 (57,321) 130,170 (50,259) 18,290 (7,062) 12.3
93 Nepal 147,181 (56,827) 143,350 (55,348) 3,830 (1,480) 2.6
94 Tajikistan 144,100 (55,640) 141,510 (54,637) 2,590 (1,000) 1.8
95 Greece 131,957 (50,949) 128,900 (49,770) 1,310 (506) 2.3
96 Nicaragua 130,373 (50,337) 120,340 (46,464) 10,030 (3,873) 7.7
97 North Korea 120,538 (46,540) 120,410 (46,491) 130 (50) 0.1
98 Malawi 118,484 (45,747) 94,080 (36,320) 24,404 (9,422) 20.6
99 Eritrea 117,600 (45,410) 101,000 (39,000) 16,600 (6,410) 14.1
100 Benin 114,763 (44,310) 112,760 (43,537) 2,000 (800) 1.7
101 Honduras 112,492 (43,433) 111,890 (43,201) 600 (200) 0.5
102 Liberia 111,369 (43,000) 96,320 (37,190) 15,049 (5,810) 13.5
103 Bulgaria 110,879 (42,811) 108,489 (41,888) 2,390 (923) 2.2
104 Cuba 109,884 (42,426) 109,884 (42,426) 0 0
105 Guatemala 108,889 (42,042) 107,160 (41,375) 1,730 (668) 1.6
106 Iceland 103,000 (39,800) 100,830 (38,931) 2,170 (838) 2.1
107 South Korea 100,432 (38,777) 97,600 (37,700) 2,800 (1,100) 2.8
108 Hungary 93,025 (35,917) 91,260 (35,240) 1,770 (683) 1.9
109 Portugal 92,225 (35,608) 91,606 (35,369) 620 (240) 0.7
110 Jordan 89,318 (34,486) 88,794 (34,284) 524 (202) 0.6
111 Serbia 88,499 (34,170) 88,499 (34,170) 0 0
112 Azerbaijan 86,600 (33,400) 82,650 (31,910) 3,950 (1,530) 4.6
113 Austria 83,878 (32,385) 82,520 (31,860) 1,359 (525) 1.6
114 United Arab Emirates 83,600 (32,300) 82,880 (32,000) 720 (280) 0.9
115 Czech Republic 78,871 (30,452) 77,187 (29,802) 1,684 (650) 2.1
116 Panama 75,320 (29,080) 74,180 (28,640) 1,143 (441) 1.5
117 Sierra Leone 72,300 (27,900) 72,180 (27,870) 120 (46) 0.2
118 Republic of Ireland 70,273 (27,133) 68,883 (26,596) 1,390 (537) 2.0
119 Georgia (country) 69,700 (26,900) 69,490 (26,830) 210 (81) 0.3
120 Sri Lanka 65,610 (25,330) 61,860 (23,880) 3,750 (1,450) 5.7
121 Lithuania 65,286 (25,207) 62,610 (24,170) 2,680 (1,040) 4.1
122 Latvia 64,594 (24,940) 62,230 (24,030) 2,370 (915) 3.7
– Svalbard (Norway) 62,045 (23,956) 62,045 (23,956) 0 0
123 Togo 56,785 (21,925) 54,390 (21,000) 2,400 (930) 4.2
124 Croatia 56,594 (21,851) 55,974 (21,612) 620 (240) 1.1
125 Bosnia and Herzegovina 51,209 (19,772) 51,200 (19,800) 10 (4) 0.0
126 Costa Rica 51,180 (19,760) 51,140 (19,750) 40 (20) 0.1
127 Slovakia 49,035 (18,933) 48,080 (18,560) 950 (370) 1.9
128 Dominican Republic 48,670 (18,790) 48,320 (18,660) 350 (140) 0.7
129 Estonia 45,339 (17,505) 42,388 (16,366) 2,840 (1,100) 6.3
130 Denmark 42,947 (16,582) 42,434 (16,384) 660 (260) 1.5
131 Netherlands 41,865 (16,164) 33,893 (13,086) 7,650 (2,950) 19.0
132 Switzerland 41,291 (15,943) 39,510 (15,260) 1,781 (688) 4.3
133 Bhutan 38,394 (14,824) 38,140 (14,730) 250 (97) 0.7
134 Guinea-Bissau 36,125 (13,948) 28,120 (10,860) 8,010 (3,090) 22.2
– Taiwan 35,980 (13,890) 32,260 (12,460) 3,720 (1,440) 10.3
135 Moldova 33,847 (13,068) 32,970 (12,730) 880 (340) 2.6
136 Belgium 30,528 (11,787) 30,280 (11,690) 250 (97) 0.8
137 Lesotho 30,355 (11,720) 30,355 (11,720) 0 0
138 Armenia 29,743 (11,484) 28,470 (10,990) 1,270 (490) 4.3
139 Solomon Islands 28,896 (11,157) 27,990 (10,810) 910 (350) 3.1
140 Albania 28,748 (11,100) 27,400 (10,600) 330 (130) 1.1
141 Equatorial Guinea 28,051 (10,831) 28,051 (10,831) 0 0
142 Burundi 27,834 (10,747) 25,680 (9,915) 2,150 (830) 7.7
143 Haiti 27,750 (10,710) 27,560 (10,640) 190 (73) 0.7
144 Rwanda 26,338 (10,169) 24,670 (9,525) 1,670 (645) 6.3
145 North Macedonia 25,713 (9,928) 25,220 (9,737) 490 (190) 1.9
146 Djibouti 23,200 (8,960) 23,180 (8,950) 20 (8) 0.1
147 Belize 22,965 (8,867) 22,810 (8,807) 160 (62) 0.7
148 Israel 21,937 (8,470) 21,497 (8,300) 440 (170) 2.1
149 El Salvador 21,041 (8,124) 20,720 (8,000) 320 (120) 1.5
150 Slovenia 20,273 (7,827) 20,151 (7,780) 122 (47) 0.6
– New Caledonia (France) 18,575 (7,172) 18,275 (7,056) 300 (100) 1.6
151 Fiji 18,272 (7,055) 18,272 (7,055) 0 0
152 Kuwait 17,818 (6,880) 17,818 (6,880) 0 0
153 Eswatini 17,363 (6,704) 17,200 (6,640) 160 (62) 0.9
154 East Timor 14,874 (5,743) 14,874 (5,743) 0 0
155 Bahamas 13,880 (5,359) 10,010 (3,865) 3,870 (1,490) 27.8
156 Montenegro 13,812 (5,333) 13,452 (5,194) 360 (140) 2.6
157 Vanuatu 12,189 (4,706) 12,189 (4,706) 0 0
– Falkland Islands (UK) 12,173 (4,700) 12,173 (4,700) 0 0
158 Qatar 11,586 (4,473) 11,586 (4,473) 0 0
159 Gambia 11,295 (4,361) 10,120 (3,907) 1,180 (456) 10.4
160 Jamaica 10,991 (4,244) 10,830 (4,181) 160 (62) 1.5
– Kosovo 10,887 (4,203) 10,887 (4,203) 0 0
161 Lebanon 10,452 (4,036) 10,230 (3,950) 220 (85) 2.1
162 Cyprus 9,251 (3,572) 9,241 (3,568) 10 (4) 0.1
– Puerto Rico (US) 9,100 (3,500) 8,868 (3,424) 232 (89) 2.5
– Abkhazia 8,665 (3,346)
– French Southern Territories (France) 7,747 (2,991) 7,668 (2,961) 80 (30) 1.0
163 Palestine 6,020 (2,320) 6,025 (2,326) 0 0
164 Brunei 5,765 (2,226) 5,270 (2,040) 500 (200) 8.7
165 Trinidad and Tobago 5,127 (1,980) 5,127 (1,980) 0 0
– French Polynesia (France) 4,167 (1,609) 3,827 (1,478) 340 (130) 8.2
– Transnistria 4,163 (1,607)
166 Cape Verde 4,033 (1,557) 4,033 (1,557) 0 0
– South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (UK) 3,903 (1,507) 3,903 (1,507) 0 0
– South Ossetia 3,900 (1,500)
– Northern Cyprus 3,355 (1,295)
167 Samoa 2,842 (1,097) 2,780 (1,070) 10 (4) 0.4
168 Luxembourg 2,586 (998) 2,574 (994) 16 (6) 0.6
169 Mauritius 2,096 (809) 2,086 (805) 10 (4) 0.5
170 Comoros 1,861 (719) 1,861 (719) 0 0
– Åland (Finland) 1,581 (610) 1,553 (600) 28 (11) 1.8
– Faroe Islands (Denmark) 1,393 (538) 1,393 (538) 0 0
– Hong Kong (China) 1,114 (430) 1,050 (405) 60 (20) 5.4
171 São Tomé and Príncipe 964 (372) 964 (372) 0 0
– Turks and Caicos Islands (UK) 948 (366) 948 (366) 0 0
172 Kiribati 811 (313) 811 (313) 0 0
173 Bahrain 778 (300) 778 (300) 0 0
174 Dominica 750 (290) 750 (290) 0 0
175 Tonga 747 (288) 720 (280) 30 (10) 4.0
176 Singapore 740 (290) 730 (280) 10 (4) 1.4
177 Federated States of Micronesia 702 (271) 700 (270) 0 0
178 Saint Lucia 616 (238) 610 (240) 10 (4) 1.6
– Isle of Man (UK) 572 (221) 570 (220) 0 0
– Guam (US) 541 (209) 540 (210) 0 0
179 Andorra 468 (181) 468 (181) 0 0
180 Palau 459 (177) 459 (177) 0 0
– Northern Mariana Islands (US) 457 (176) 457 (176) 0 0
181 Seychelles 457 (176) 457 (176) 0 0
– Curaçao (Netherlands) 444 (171) 444 (171) 0 0
182 Antigua and Barbuda 442 (171) 442 (171) 0 0
183 Barbados 431 (166) 431 (166) 0 0
– Heard Island and McDonald Islands (Australia) 412 (159) 412 (159) 0 0
– Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha (UK) 394 (152) 394 (152) 0 0
184 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 389 (150) 389 (150) 0 0
– Jan Mayen (Norway) 377 (146) 377 (146) 0 0
– U.S. Virgin Islands (US) 347 (134) 347 (134) 0 0
185 Grenada 345 (133) 340 (130) 0 0
186 Malta 315 (122) 315 (122) 0 0
187 Maldives 300 (116) 300 (116) 0 0
– Bonaire (Netherlands) 288 (111) 288 (111) 0 0
– Cayman Islands (UK) 264 (102) 264 (102) 0 0
188 Saint Kitts and Nevis 261 (101) 261 (101) 0 0
– Niue 260 (100) 260 (100) 0 0
– Akrotiri and Dhekelia (UK) 254 (98)
– Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France) 242 (93) 230 (89) 10 (4) 4.2
– Cook Islands 236 (91) 236 (91) 0 0
– American Samoa (US) 199 (77) 199 (77) 0 0
189 Marshall Islands 181 (70) 180 (69) 0 0
– Aruba (Netherlands) 180 (69) 180 (69) 0 0
– Easter Island (Chile) 163 (63) 163 (63) 0 0
190 Liechtenstein 160 (62) 160 (62) 0 0
– British Virgin Islands (UK) 151 (58) 151 (58) 0 0
– Wallis and Futuna (France) 142 (55) 142 (55) 0 0
– Christmas Island (Australia) 135 (52) 135 (52) 0 0
– Jersey (UK) 116 (45) 116 (45) 0 0
– Montserrat (UK) 103 (40) 100 (40) 0 0
– Anguilla (UK) 91 (35) 91 (35) 0 0
– Guernsey (UK) 78 (30) 78 (30) 0 0
191 San Marino 61 (24) 61 (24) 0 0
– Bermuda (UK) 54 (21) 54 (21) 0 0
– Saint Martin (France) 53 (20) 53 (20) 0 0
– Bouvet Island (Norway) 49 (19) 49 (19) 0 0
– Pitcairn Islands (UK) 47 (18) 47 (18) 0 0
– Norfolk Island (Australia) 36 (14) 36 (14) 0 0
– Sint Maarten (Netherlands) 34 (13) 34 (13) 0 0
– U.S. Minor Outlying Islands (US) 34 (13) 34 (13) 0 0
– Macau (China) 33 (13) 33 (13) 0 0
192 Tuvalu 25 (10) 25 (10) 0 0
– Saint Barthélemy (France) 22 (8) 20 (8) 0 0
193 Nauru 21 (8) 20 (8) 0 0
– Sint Eustatius (Netherlands) 21 (8)
– Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Australia) 14 (5) 14 (5) 0 0
– Saba (Netherlands) 13 (5)
– Tokelau (New Zealand) 12 (5) 12 (5) 0 0
– Gibraltar (UK) 6.8 (2.6) 6.8 (2.6) 0 0
– Clipperton Island (France) 6.0 (2.3) 2.0 (0.77) 4.0 (1.5) 66.7
– Ashmore and Cartier Islands (Australia) 5.0 (1.9) 5.0 (1.9) 0 0
– Coral Sea Islands (Australia) 3.0 (1.2) 3.0 (1.2) 0 0
– Spratly Islands (disputed) 2.0 (0.77) 2.0 (0.77) 0 0
194 Monaco 2.0 (0.77) 2.0 (0.77) 0 0
195 Vatican City 0.49 (0.19) 0.49 (0.19) 0 0

See Also

Should you find yourself in need of further, perhaps equally mundane, statistical compilations, consider these:

And for those with a regional fixation:

Notes

A few points of clarification, for those who care about such details:

  • ^ The European Union, a peculiar supranational union, commands a total area of 4,236,351 km² (1,635,664 sq mi). If it were to be ranked, it would sit at 7th place, representing a significant 3.0% of the world's total land area. A collective of states, rather than a single entity.
  • ^ Russia, the undisputed behemoth, straddles two continents and dominates much of northern Eurasia. It accounts for roughly one-ninth of the planet's total landmass. Its European portion alone is a substantial 4,000,000 km², making it the largest country in Europe by a considerable margin. The Asian portion, encompassing all of Northern Asia, spans an immense 13,100,000 km², solidifying its status as the largest country in Asia.
  • ^ A chilling 98% of Antarctica's land area is perpetually covered by ice and snow. Various nations have staked claims on this frozen continent: Argentina (969,000 km²), Australia (5,896,500 km²), Chile (1,250,000 km²), France (432,000 km²), New Zealand (450,000 km²), Norway (including Peter I Island) (2,500,000 km²), and the United Kingdom (1,395,000 km²). These claims, as one might expect, overlap to varying degrees. The vast expanse between 90°W and 150°W (2,100,000 km²) remains unclaimed. These regions are typically devoid of permanent human inhabitants, save for the stoic scientists.
  • ^ Canada holds the distinction of being the largest country entirely within the Western Hemisphere by total area, and second-largest by land area after the United States. It boasts the largest surface area of water among all nations and is the largest contiguous country in North America. The figures for total and water area specifically include freshwater coverage, excluding internal non-freshwater bodies (approximately 1,600,000 km²) and territorial waters (200,000 km²). [5] [6]
  • ^ This is where things get… complicated. The United Nations Statistics Division, the CIA World Factbook, and Encyclopædia Britannica all place the United States ahead of China in terms of total area. However, the figures they use are inconsistent: the US figures include coastal and territorial waters, while China's figures exclude them due to a lack of official data. Encyclopædia Britannica does offer a US area figure excluding coastal and territorial waters that is smaller than China's figures. So, while China is definitively larger without its waters, the question of which is larger with its waters remains… ambiguous. A matter of definition, really.
  • ^ China is the largest country wholly contained within Asia and the second-largest globally by land area. This figure deliberately excludes Taiwan, territories disputed with India, and islands in the South China Sea. All coastal and territorial waters are also omitted from these calculations. [1]
  • ^ The data cited here originates from the U.S. Census. It encompasses both inland water and the waters of the Great Lakes, but pointedly excludes coastal and territorial waters. [8] While NOAA might classify the Great Lakes as internal waters, [9] the federal government has, on occasion, treated them as "high seas." [10]
  • ^ The data presented here is sourced from the CIA. Brazil stands as the largest country in South America and, significantly, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, even when considering its territory north of the equator.
  • ^ Data from the CIA. Geoscience Australia provides an official total of 7,668,287 km². [11] Australia reigns as the largest country in Oceania. This figure excludes its external territories and the Australian Antarctic Territory (5,896,500 km²).
  • ^ This figure incorporates disputed territories claimed by India but not currently under its administration. A complex geopolitical footnote.
  • ^ Data from the CIA. Argentina is the largest Spanish-speaking country and the second-largest in South America. It notably excludes claims to Argentine Antarctica (969,000 km²), the Malvinas/Falkland Islands (12,173 km²), and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (3,903 km²).
  • ^ Kazakhstan holds the title of the largest landlocked country. It's a transcontinental nation, spanning both Asia and Europe.
  • ^ Algeria is the largest country in Africa, and also holds the distinction of being the largest in the Arab world and the Mediterranean Basin. Officially, its area of internal waters is reported as 0 [13], despite the presence of several seasonal lakes and permanent reservoirs. A curious official stance.
  • ^ The Democratic Republic of the Congo ranks as the second-largest French-speaking country and the largest in both Central and Sub-Saharan Africa. It is also the second-largest country in Africa overall and boasts the largest French-speaking city, Kinshasa. The data is sourced from the CIA.
  • ^ This figure represents the combined total areas of Greenland, the Faroes, and mainland Denmark. Data are from the CIA.
  • ^ Greenland, the world's largest island, is also the largest territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and the largest inhabited non-sovereign territory globally. A staggering 1,755,636 km² (81%) of its land area is entombed in ice; only 410,450 km² is ice-free. Data are from the CIA.
  • ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s These figures are all sourced from the CIA.
  • ^ Indonesia, a transcontinental nation, spans Asia and Oceania. It is the largest country in Southeast Asia, and holds the title of the world's largest island country and archipelagic state by both area and population. Data are from the CIA.
  • ^ Data from the CIA [1]. The UN, however, lists a figure of 1,628,750 km², which refers solely to land area.
  • ^ Sudan is the largest landlocked country in Africa.
  • ^ This figure excludes the Ilemi Triangle, which measures 14,000 km². Data are from the CIA.
  • ^ Iran is a transcontinental country, situated in both Asia and Africa. Data are from the CIA.
  • ^ Venezuela's figure excludes its claims in the Guyana–Venezuela territorial dispute, which amounts to 160,000 km². Data are from the CIA.
  • ^ Data from the CIA [1] has been augmented with commonly reported figures for disputed areas administered by Pakistan: Azad Kashmir (13,297 km²) [14] and Gilgit-Baltistan (72,971 km²), [15] assumed to be land.
  • ^ Turkey, a transcontinental country, lies in both Asia and Europe. Data are from the CIA.
  • ^ Chile's figure excludes its claims in Antarctica. Data are from the CIA.
  • ^ The figure provided is from the CIA [1] and South Sudan's official sources. [16] The UN Statistics division offers a figure of 658,841 km², while the UN FAO reports a water area of 1,980 km² and a land area of only 631,930 km². Academic research presents varying totals, ranging from 619,000 km² [17] to 658,842 km².
  • ^ This figure encompasses metropolitan France (located in Europe) along with its five overseas regions. It does not, however, include New Caledonia, the five autonomous overseas collectivities, or the two uninhabited territories (French Southern Territories and Clipperton Island). The Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (INSEE), the National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies, provides an area of 632,702 km². [19] France holds the distinction of being the largest country within the European Union.
  • ^ This figure includes Somaliland.
  • ^ Data from the CIA. This includes territories of Ukraine that are currently under Russian occupation.
  • ^ Data from the CIA. The UN Statistics department reports 591,958 km², which may account for a portion of Lake Victoria.
  • ^ This refers to Metropolitan France, the part of France situated in Europe. Data are from the CIA.
  • ^ The figure provided by Yemen's Ministry of Water and Environment [20] may not include territory ceded by Saudi Arabia in the Jeddah Treaty due to the Saudi–Yemen barrier. The CIA reports a significantly larger figure of 527,968 km².
  • ^ Data is from the CIA World Factbook. [21]
  • ^ This figure does not include the disputed territory of Western Sahara, which is presented separately. If the entirety of Western Sahara were included (of which Morocco controls approximately two-thirds), the area would be 710,800 km², placing it at rank #39.
  • ^ Data from the CIA. The UN figure of 435,052 km² omits the three autonomous provinces of Iraqi Kurdistan.
  • ^ Data from the CIA. This encompasses the Kingdom of Norway, including Jan Mayen and Svalbard, but excludes Bouvet Island and Norway's Antarctic territorial claims on Peter I Island and Queen Maud Land.
  • ^ Data from the CIA. The Geospatial Information Authority of Japan reports a total area of 377,975 km². [22]
  • ^ Prior to the German reunification in 1990, West Germany had an area of 248,577 km² and East Germany measured 108,333 km².
  • ^ This figure includes Åland (1,552 km²). Data are from the CIA.
  • ^ Data from the CIA. Excluding Bouvet Island (49 km²), Jan Mayen (377 km²), and Svalbard (62,045 km²), which are listed separately, as well as the Antarctic territorial claims on Peter I Island (154 km²) and Queen Maud Land (2,700,000 km²).
  • ^ The UN and CIA concur on the figure of exactly 300,000 km², though some academic sources cite a considerably larger total of 343,448 km². [23] [24]
  • ^ Data are from the CIA, which includes the Galápagos Islands (7,880 km²). [1] UN figures report a total of 257,215 km².
  • ^ Data from the CIA. This excludes the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau, which are listed separately, as well as the Antarctic claim of the Ross Dependency.
  • ^ Data sourced from the UK Office for National Statistics and provided to the UN. [25] This figure excludes the three Crown Dependencies (768 km²) and the 14 British Overseas Territories (1,742,857 km²), each of which is presented individually.
  • ^ Laos is the sole landlocked country in Southeast Asia.
  • ^ Data from the CIA. This is the largest landlocked country in Europe.
  • ^ This figure includes the portions of the Golan Heights (1,295 km²) occupied by Israel.
  • ^ Somaliland is claimed in its entirety by Somalia. [26]
  • ^ Suriname is the smallest country in South America.
  • ^ The area according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics is 147,570 km². [27]
  • ^ The Government of Nepal reports its area as 147,516 km², which includes an additional 335 square kilometers of disputed territory currently administered by India. [28]
  • ^ Guatemala is the largest country in Central America.
  • ^ This figure excludes the claim on North Korea.
  • ^ Data are from the CIA. The UN Statistics division provides an area of 94,552 km², which might not include parts of Lake Malawi considered integral by some definitions.
  • ^ Data are from the CIA. The UN FAO reports land and water figures of 121,041 km² and 589 km², respectively.
  • ^ Data are from the CIA. Serbia's figure is the largest by continental area within the Balkans.
  • ^ Cuba is the largest country in the West Indies. This is the official area figure.
  • ^ The figures presented are official and include Serbia's claim to Kosovo. The 2023 Statistical Yearbook describes its figure as "provisional" and "land area." [29] The UN FAO estimates approximately 900 km² of water area. The CIA provides separate figures for Serbia (77,474 km²) and Kosovo (10,877 km²). [1]
  • ^ Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region. It is a transcontinental country, located in both Asia and Europe.
  • ^ The total figure is the official sum of its provinces; the land area is official [30], and the water area is implied, excluding some of the reported 27,625 km² of "territorial water." The UN replicates the land-only figure, while the CIA reports 83,600 km² of land and no water. [1]
  • ^ The figure shown pertains to the Republic of Ireland; the entire island of Ireland measures 84,421 km². [31]
  • ^ Georgia is a transcontinental country located in both Asia and Europe. The figure shown includes Abkhazia (8,665 km²) [32] and South Ossetia (3,900 km²), [33] both of which are de facto independent from Georgia.
  • ^ The UN provides a combined area for Svalbard and Jan Mayen as 62,422 km². The separate figures presented here are from the CIA World Factbook. [1]
  • ^ This figure includes Denmark proper only, excluding the autonomous territories within the Kingdom of Denmark, which are listed separately.
  • ^ Data are from the CIA [1] and represent the Netherlands proper, which includes the Caribbean Netherlands. Coastal water may be included. This figure excludes Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten. The total area for the Kingdom of the Netherlands is 42,201 km².
  • ^ Data are from the CIA. This excludes claims on mainland China. Taiwan's official land area figure is 36,197 km². [34]
  • ^ This figure includes the area of Transnistria (4,163 km²), which is de facto independent from Moldova.
  • ^ Data are from the CIA. The UN/Israel Central Bureau of Statistics figure of 22,072 km² includes the Golan Heights (1,200 km²) and East Jerusalem (70 km²), which are not internationally recognized as part of Israel.
  • ^ El Salvador is the smallest country on the American continent.
  • ^ Benin is the smallest country in continental Africa.
  • ^ This includes the largely unrecognized but de facto independent Northern Cyprus (3,355 km²), the UN buffer zone (346 km²), and Akrotiri and Dhekelia (254 km²). [1]
  • ^ Abkhazia is claimed in its entirety by Georgia and possesses limited international recognition. [36]
  • ^ This excludes claims on Adélie Land in Antarctica. Data are from the CIA.
  • ^ The CIA provides the areas of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip separately as 5,860 km² and 360 km², respectively. The West Bank figure includes East Jerusalem and Jerusalem No Man's Land but excludes Mount Scopus. [1] The UN source differs by 200 km² and may exclude the portion of the Dead Sea belonging to the West Bank.
  • ^ Transnistria is claimed in its entirety by Moldova and has limited international recognition.
  • ^ South Ossetia is claimed in its entirety by Georgia. [37]
  • ^ Academic articles most frequently cite the figure presented here, [38] while an official brochure states 3,248 km². [39] The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is a self-declared state, recognized solely by Turkey.
  • ^ Data are from the CIA. The UN figure of 1,969 km² excludes the Agaléga Islands and Saint Brandon (Cargados Carajos).
  • ^ All figures are from the UN FAO. The CIA [1] and the UN Statistics department report an area of 2,235 km², which includes Mayotte (374 km²), an overseas department and region of France.
  • ^ Åland is an autonomous region of Finland and therefore a part of the European Union. [40]
  • ^ UN figures are provided, encompassing only land and internal water. Official figures include a "sea area" of 1,640 km². [41]
  • ^ Data are from the CIA. The UN figure of 726 km² excludes 84 km² of uninhabited islands.
  • ^ Due to continuous and extensive land reclamation, Bahrain's total land area is subject to variation, typically ranging from 740 km² to 780 km² during the 2010s and 2020s, depending on the source and publication date. The CIA World Factbook reports 760 km² excluding territorial waters, [1] the United Nations Statistics Division lists 778 km², the UN FAO gives 790 km² (also excluding territorial waters), and Bahrain's official figure stands at 786.5 km² (again, excluding territorial waters). [42]
  • ^ Due to ongoing extensive land reclamation, Singapore's total land area is variable, typically ranging from 730 km² to 760 km² in recent years. The most current figures are provided by the Singapore Department of Statistics, which operates under the Ministry of Trade and Industry of the Government of Singapore. [43]
  • ^ Andorra is an European microstate.
  • ^ Seychelles is the smallest country in Africa.
  • ^ a b c d e f These figures are derived from official statistics. [44]
  • ^ This comprises Saint Helena (122 km²), Ascension Island (88 km²), and Tristan da Cunha (184 km²). Data are from the CIA.
  • ^ Liechtenstein is an European microstate and the smallest member state of the European Union.
  • ^ Bhutan is the smallest country in Asia.
  • ^ This is the smallest country in the Americas and the Western Hemisphere.
  • ^ Niue, in free association with New Zealand, has limited international recognition.
  • ^ This comprises Akrotiri (123 km²) and Dhekelia (131 km²), [1] together constituting 3% of the island of Cyprus.
  • ^ The Cook Islands, in free association with New Zealand, possess limited international recognition.
  • ^ Various sources cite figures ranging from 161 km² [45] to 166 km². [46]
  • ^ Saint Kitts and Nevis is an European microstate.
  • ^ Comoros is an European microstate.
  • ^ The figure presented is from the CIA Factbook and includes Henderson Island, Ducie Island, and Oeno Island. [1] The UN figure is 5 km² and only accounts for Pitcairn Island itself, the sole inhabited island in the group.
  • ^ This figure includes CIA data for Wake Island, [47] Navassa Island [48], and all of the United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges. [49] It may exclude certain lagoon waters or classify them as land.
  • ^ Tuvalu is the smallest island country and the smallest country that is not a city-state.
  • ^ The land figure is official [51], while the CIA reports zero water area. [1]
  • ^ The CIA provides a total area of 6 km² with no water, whereas Britannica lists a land area of 2 km² [52] and Coral Reefs has reported a water area of 4 km². [53]
  • ^ The CIA estimates the area to be less than 3 km². [1] The territory is composed of numerous low atolls and reefs, spanning approximately 780,000 km² of territorial water.
  • ^ Monaco is an European microstate and the smallest United Nations member state. [55]
  • ^ Vatican City is an European microstate and the smallest country in the world. The De Agostini Atlas Calendar listed its area as 0.44 km² in its 1930 edition [56] but revised it to 0.49 km² in its 1945–46 edition. [57] The 0.44 km² figure is still widely cited despite being inaccurate.