The largest country in the world is Russia, at about 17.1 million km², nearly double the size of second-placed Canada. On its own it covers more than a tenth of the planet’s land and spans 11 time zones. Here is the ranking of the ten largest countries, with a disputed third place.
1. Russia (17,098,242 km²)
Thirty-one times the size of France. Russia stretches from the Kaliningrad exclave on the Baltic to the Bering Strait, facing Alaska. Most of its territory is sparsely populated: Siberia holds three quarters of the area but less than a quarter of the inhabitants.
2. Canada (9,984,670 km²)
The largest country in the Americas owes part of its rank to fresh water: lakes and rivers cover close to 9% of its territory, a world record. Its border with the United States, 8,891 km long, is the longest land border in the world.
3. United States (9,833,517 km²)
Third place is the disputed spot of this ranking. By total area, waters included, the United States edges out China thanks to the Great Lakes and its coastal waters. By land area alone, China wins. Both readings are defensible, and atlases split between the two.
4. China (9,596,960 km²)
Third by land area, fourth by total area. China shares borders with 14 countries, a record it holds jointly with Russia. Its territory runs from the Himalayan peaks to the Pacific coastal plains.
5. Brazil (8,515,767 km²)
The giant of the southern hemisphere occupies nearly half of South America and touches every country on the continent except Chile and Ecuador. The Brazilian Amazon alone accounts for about 60% of the world’s largest rainforest.
6. Australia (7,741,220 km²)
The only country that is also a continent. Most of the population lives on the east and south coasts; the interior, the outback, remains one of the least densely populated areas on Earth.
7. India (3,287,263 km²)
Less than half the size of Australia, India has nonetheless been the world’s most populous country since 2023. No other territory in this ranking packs so many inhabitants into so little space.
8. Argentina (2,780,400 km²)
South America’s second country stretches 3,700 km from the subtropical north to Tierra del Fuego. That span in latitude gives it nearly every climate on Earth.
9. Kazakhstan (2,724,900 km²)
The largest landlocked country in the world, if you set aside the Caspian, which is a lake. It logically tops our article on landlocked countries.
10. Algeria (2,381,741 km²)
The largest country in Africa since 2011: the partition of Sudan, previously first, moved it to the top of the continent. More than 80% of its territory is covered by the Sahara.
The largest countries at a glance
| Rank | Country | Area (km²) | Continent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russia | 17,098,242 | Europe/Asia |
| 2 | Canada | 9,984,670 | North America |
| 3 | United States | 9,833,517 | North America |
| 4 | China | 9,596,960 | Asia |
| 5 | Brazil | 8,515,767 | South America |
| 6 | Australia | 7,741,220 | Oceania |
| 7 | India | 3,287,263 | Asia |
| 8 | Argentina | 2,780,400 | South America |
| 9 | Kazakhstan | 2,724,900 | Asia |
| 10 | Algeria | 2,381,741 | Africa |
These ten countries together cover about half of the planet’s land, out of 195 states in total: the details of that count are in our article on how many countries there are in the world. At the other end of the ranking, the ten smallest countries in the world would fit together inside half of Corsica. And if empires are your thing, the largest empires in history outgrew everything on today’s map: the British Empire covered twice the area of modern Russia.
Frequently asked questions
What is the largest country in the world?
Russia, at about 17.1 million km². That is nearly double Canada, the runner-up, and more than a tenth of the planet’s land area.
Which is third: the United States or China?
Both answers exist. By total area, territorial waters and Great Lakes included, the United States is third. By land area alone, China moves ahead. The result depends on which method each atlas uses.
What is the largest country in Africa?
Algeria, at about 2.4 million km², more than 80% of it Sahara. It took the continent’s top spot in 2011, when the partition of Sudan cut the former leader in half.
What is the largest landlocked country?
Kazakhstan, at about 2.7 million km². It borders the Caspian Sea, but the Caspian is a lake: none of its waters lead to the ocean.
How much of the world do these ten countries cover?
About half of the planet’s land, for ten states out of 195. The other 185 countries share the rest.
