Largest Countries of the World by Area

The most populated countries on the planet aren’t always the most populous countries. Despite their larger landmasses, nations like Russia and Canada have climatic and topographical extremes that prevent humans from occupying large portions of their respective regions. The world’s three most populous countries, China, the US, and India, were ranked 4th, 3rd, and 7th. Land and water bodies are included in the general area (reservoirs, lakes and rivers). 

Countries in Order of Decreasing Area

1. Russia

Russia — 17,098,250 km² is the world’s largest by land area. It is a large region that encircles the northern hemisphere midway and encompasses most of eastern & north-eastern Europe and all of North Asia. Russia — 17,098,250 km² is so large that it spans nine time zones.

Russia — 17,098,250 km² is the biggest country on the planet, encompassing 11-time differences and borders sixteen independent states. It is the tenth most populated nation in the world and perhaps the most inhabited European country, with a population of 145 million people.

Moscow, the country’s capital and greatest metropolitan, is Europe’s most populous city. The nation’s second-largest city is Saint Petersburg, Russia’s biggest city and 2nd largest metropolitan. Other important cities include Siberia, Yekaterinburg, Gorky Novgorod, and Kazan.

2. Canada

Canada — 9,879,750 km² is the second-largest country on the planet. Canada— 9,879,750 km² would be shorter than the United States if it didn’t have its lakes. From Atlantic to Pacific coastlines, Canada— 9,879,750 km² is nearly 8,850 kilometres (5,500 miles) broad. Canada— 9,879,750 km² was barely 3 to 3.5 kilometres (5,500 miles) wide from the Atlantic to Pacific shores.

With a total length of 8,891 kilometres, the country’s southern and western borders with the United States are the ‘s biggest binational land borders (5,525 miles). The country’s capital is Ottawa, and its three biggest cities are Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.

Indigenous people have lived in what is now Canada— 9,879,750 km² for thousands of years. In the 16th century, British and French missions began exploring and colonising the Atlantic coast. Following many violent confrontations, France relinquished virtually all of its North American colonies in 1763.

 3. The United States

The United States is the world’s third-largest country, and the United States is the third in the world in land area. A few of the world’s greatest lakes, deepest valleys, tremendous rivers, and most densely inhabited towns are found here. 

 New York is the headquarter of the US in a complex made by a bunch of architects directed by Wallace Harrison and built by the architectural firm Harrison & Abramovitz, with Oscar Niemeyer and Mr Le Corbusier’s final assignment.

Since its completion in 1951, the facility has served as the United Nations’ official headquarters. It sits on 17 -18 acres (6.9 to 7.3 hectares) of land facing the East River in Manhattan’s Turtle Bay neighbourhood. It is bordered on the west by First Avenue, on the south by East 42nd Street, on the north by East 48th Street, and on the east by the East River.

4. China

China — 9,600,013 km is the world’s 4th largest country in this area. It has the world’s greatest population, including over 1.357 billion people as of February 2016. Despite its size, China — 9,600,013 km is in the same time zone as the rest of the world. 

It is the country in terms of population, with roughly 2 billion people. China — 9,600,013 km shares borders with 14 countries and covers five time zones, the second most of any country in the world after Russia. It is the world’s third-biggest country, with a total area of 9.6 million square metres (3,700,000 square miles). 

It is divided into 23 provinces, five sovereign countries, four municipalities, and two Special Administrative Regions (SARs) (Hong Kong & Macau). The country’s capital is Beijing, while Shanghai is its biggest city.

5. India 

With Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, China, Bhutan, and Pakistan as neighbours, India is the world’s 7th largest nation by land area. 

India is 3,214 kms (1,997 miles) long in the north & 2,933 kms (1,822 miles) lengthy in the south. It does have a land boundary of 15,200 kilometres (9,445 miles) and a coastline of 7,516.6 kilometres (4,671 mi).

India is flanked on the south by the Indian Ocean, which includes the Arabian Sea on the west, the Lakshadweep Sea on the southwest, the Bay of Bengal on the eastern side, & the Indian Ocean itself.

Conclusion

• Russia, Canada, and the US are the three largest sovereign countries in surface area. They cover nearly a quarter of the Earth’s landmass. China, Brazil, Australia, India, Argentina, and Kazakhstan are the other giants in size. 
• Nations are defined by their borders. A country’s physical area and size are determined by its political & possibly natural boundaries. 
• Political boundaries are artificial lines that divide one political entity from another, such as a state or nation. Seas, oceans, rivers, and mountainous regions serve as natural boundaries.