The Earth’s surface is split into several nations, some of which are true behemoths, such as Russia, Canada, the United States of America, China, Brazil, and Australia. They cover vast swaths of land and span continents.
The top ten are more or less well-known to the general public. However, looking through the top 100 list in the table below might be more fascinating and useful.
Here you’ll find accurate data on each country’s total area (the sum of land and water surfaces) in square kilometers and square miles. Furthermore, you can observe that the surrounding nations share geographical boundaries.
Please note that the following list only contains officially recognized independent nations. It excludes dependent territories, such as Greenland (which is part of Denmark), as well as unrecognized or partly recognized nations, such as Western Sahara (which is vast but does not control two-thirds of the region contested by Morocco).
| Rank | Country | Area (km2) | Area (mi2) | Continent | Bordering countries by land |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russia | 17,098,242 | 6,601,668 | Asia / Europe | Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, North Korea, Norway, Poland, Ukraine |
| 2 | Canada | 9,984,670 | 3,855,100 | North America | United States |
| 3 | United States(incl. overseas territories) | 9,857,348 | 3,805,943 | North America | Canada, Mexico |
| 4 | China | 9,596,961 | 3,705,407 | Asia | Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Vietnam |
| 5 | Brazil | 8,515,770 | 3,287,957 | South America | Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, France (French Guiana), Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela |
| 6 | Australia(incl. overseas territories) | 7,741,220 | 2,988,902 | Australia and Oceania | – |
| 7 | India | 3,287,263 | 1,269,219 | Asia | Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan |
| 8 | Argentina | 2,780,400 | 1,073,518 | South America | Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay |
| 9 | Kazakhstan | 2,724,900 | 1,052,090 | Asia / Europe | China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan |
| 10 | Algeria | 2,381,741 | 919,595 | Africa | Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Tunisia, Western Sahara (unrecognized state) |
| 11 | The Democratic Republic of the Congo | 2,344,858 | 905,355 | Africa | Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia |
| 12 | Denmark(incl. Greenland, Faroe Islands) | 2,210,573 | 853,507 | Europe / North America | Germany |
| 13 | Saudi Arabia | 2,149,690 | 830,000 | Asia | Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Yemen |
| 14 | Mexico | 1,964,375 | 758,449 | North America | Belize, Guatemala, United States |
| 15 | Indonesia | 1,904,569 | 735,358 | Asia | Timor-Leste, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea |
| 16 | Sudan | 1,861,484 | 718,723 | Africa | Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, South Sudan |
| 17 | Libya | 1,759,540 | 679,362 | Africa | Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Niger, Sudan, Tunisia |
| 18 | Iran | 1,648,195 | 636,372 | Asia | Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan |
| 19 | Mongolia | 1,564,116 | 603,909 | Asia | China, Russia |
| 20 | Peru | 1,285,216 | 496,225 | South America | Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador |
| 21 | Chad | 1,284,000 | 495,755 | Africa | Cameroon, Central African Republic, Libya, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan |
| 22 | Niger | 1,267,000 | 489,191 | Africa | Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Libya, Mali, Nigeria |
| 23 | Angola | 1,246,700 | 481,354 | Africa | The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Zambia |
| 24 | Mali | 1,240,192 | 478,841 | Africa | Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal |
| 25 | South Africa | 1,219,090 | 470,693 | Africa | Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini, Zimbabwe |
| 26 | Colombia | 1,141,748 | 440,831 | South America | Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Venezuela |
| 27 | Ethiopia | 1,104,300 | 426,373 | Africa | Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan |
| 28 | Bolivia | 1,098,581 | 424,164 | South America | Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru |
| 29 | Mauritania | 1,030,700 | 397,955 | Africa | Algeria, Mali, Senegal, Western Sahara (unrecognized state) |
| 30 | Egypt | 1,001,450 | 386,662 | Africa | Palestine (Gaza Strip), Israel, Libya, Sudan |
| 31 | Tanzania | 947,300 | 365,755 | Africa | Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia |
| 32 | Nigeria | 923,768 | 356,669 | Africa | Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger |
| 33 | Venezuela | 912,050 | 352,144 | South America | Brazil, Colombia, Guyana |
| 34 | Namibia | 824,292 | 318,261 | Africa | Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia |
| 35 | Mozambique | 799,380 | 308,642 | Africa | Malawi, South Africa, Eswatini, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
| 36 | Pakistan | 796,095 | 307,374 | Asia | Afghanistan, China, India, Iran |
| 37 | Turkey | 783,562 | 302,535 | Asia / Europe | Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Syria |
| 38 | Chile | 756,096 | 291,930 | South America | Argentina, Bolivia, Peru |
| 39 | Zambia | 752,612 | 290,585 | Africa | Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe |
| 40 | Myanmar | 676,578 | 261,228 | Asia | Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, Thailand |
| 41 | Afghanistan | 652,230 | 251,827 | Asia | China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan |
| 42 | South Sudan | 644,329 | 248,777 | Africa | The central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Uganda |
| 43 | France(incl. overseas territories) | 643,801 | 248,573 | Europe | Andorra, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Spain, Switzerland. Brazil and Suriname border the overseas territory of France in South America (French Guiana). The Netherlands borders the overseas territory of France in North America (Saint Martin). |
| 44 | Somalia | 637,657 | 246,201 | Africa | Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya |
| 45 | The central African Republic | 622,984 | 240,535 | Africa | Cameroon, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Sudan |
| 46 | Ukraine | 603,500 | 233,012 | Europe | Belarus, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia |
| 47 | Madagascar | 587,041 | 226,658 | Africa | – |
| 48 | Botswana | 581,730 | 224,607 | Africa | Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
| 49 | Kenya | 580,367 | 224,081 | Africa | Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda |
| 50 | Yemen | 527,968 | 203,850 | Asia | Oman, Saudi Arabia |
| 51 | Thailand | 513,120 | 198,117 | Asia | Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar |
| 52 | Spain | 505,600 | 195,213 | Europe | Andorra, France, Gibraltar, Morocco, Portugal, United Kingdom (Gibraltar) |
| 53 | Turkmenistan | 488,100 | 188,456 | Asia | Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan |
| 54 | Cameroon | 475,440 | 183,568 | Africa | Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria |
| 55 | Papua New Guinea | 462,840 | 178,703 | Australia and Oceania | Indonesia |
| 56 | Sweden | 450,295 | 173,860 | Europe | Finland, Norway |
| 57 | Uzbekistan | 447,400 | 172,742 | Asia | Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan |
| 58 | Morocco | 446,550 | 172,410 | Africa | Algeria, Spain (Ceuta and Melilla – two autonomous cities in Africa), Mauritania, Western Sahara (unrecognized state) |
| 59 | Iraq | 438,317 | 169,235 | Asia | Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey |
| 60 | Paraguay | 406,752 | 157,048 | South America | Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil |
| 61 | Zimbabwe | 390,757 | 150,872 | Africa | Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia |
| 62 | Norway(incl. overseas territories) | 385,203 | 148,727 | Europe | Finland, Sweden, Russia |
| 63 | Japan | 377,915 | 145,914 | Asia | – |
| 64 | Germany | 357,022 | 137,847 | Europe | Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland |
| 65 | Republic of the Congo | 342,000 | 132,047 | Africa | Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon |
| 66 | Finland(incl. Aland Islands) | 338,435 | 130,670 | Europe | Norway, Sweden, Russia |
| 67 | Vietnam | 331,210 | 127,881 | Asia | Cambodia, China, Laos |
| 68 | Malaysia | 330,800 | 127,722 | Asia | Brunei, Indonesia, Thailand |
| 69 | Cote d’Ivoire | 322,463 | 124,504 | Africa | Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali |
| 70 | Poland | 312,679 | 120,726 | Europe | Belarus, Czechia, Germany, Lithuania, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast), Slovakia, Ukraine |
| 71 | Oman | 309,500 | 119,499 | Asia | Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen |
| 72 | Italy | 301,340 | 116,348 | Europe | Austria, France, San Marino, Slovenia, Switzerland, Vatican City |
| 73 | Philippines | 300,000 | 115,831 | Asia | – |
| 74 | Ecuador | 283,561 | 109,483 | South America | Colombia, Peru |
| 75 | Burkina Faso | 274,220 | 105,877 | Africa | Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Togo |
| 76 | New Zealand(incl. overseas territories) | 268,527 | 103,679 | Australia and Oceania | – |
| 77 | Gabon | 267,667 | 103,347 | Africa | Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea |
| 78 | United Kingdom(incl. overseas territories) | 261,780 | 101,074 | Europe | Ireland |
| 79 | Guinea | 245,860 | 94,927 | Africa | Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone |
| 80 | Uganda | 241,550 | 93,263 | Africa | The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania |
| 81 | Ghana | 238,540 | 92,101 | Africa | Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo |
| 82 | Romania | 238,391 | 92,043 | Europe | Bulgaria, Hungary, Moldova, Serbia, Ukraine |
| 83 | Laos | 236,800 | 91,429 | Asia | Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam |
| 84 | Guyana | 214,970 | 83,000 | South America | Brazil, Suriname, Venezuela |
| 85 | Belarus | 207,600 | 80,155 | Europe | Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine |
| 86 | Kyrgyzstan | 199,951 | 77,201 | Asia | China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan |
| 87 | Senegal | 196,722 | 75,955 | Africa | Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania |
| 88 | Syria | 185,180 | 71,498 | Asia | Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey |
| 89 | Cambodia | 181,035 | 69,898 | Asia | Laos, Thailand, Vietnam |
| 90 | Uruguay | 176,220 | 68,039 | South America | Argentina, Brazil |
| 91 | Suriname | 163,820 | 63,251 | South America | Brazil, France (French Guiana), Guyana |
| 92 | Tunisia | 163,610 | 63,170 | Africa | Algeria, Libya |
| 93 | Nepal | 147,181 | 56,827 | Asia | China, India |
| 94 | Bangladesh | 143,998 | 55,598 | Asia | Myanmar, India |
| 95 | Tajikistan | 143,100 | 55,251 | Asia | Afghanistan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan |
| 96 | Greece | 131,990 | 50,962 | Europe | Albania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Turkey |
| 97 | Nicaragua | 130,370 | 50,336 | North America | Costa Rica, Honduras |
| 98 | North Korea | 120,540 | 46,541 | Asia | China, South Korea, Russia |
| 99 | Malawi | 118,484 | 45,747 | Africa | Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia |
| 100 | Eritrea | 117,600 | 45,406 | Africa | Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan |
Note: Please keep in mind that the above-mentioned data on total areas is based on internationally recognized international boundaries. In the perspective of the vast majority of the international community, all contested areas are regarded to be portions of the nations to which they are assigned (United Nations members).