Top 10 biggest countries in the world

There are more than 190 countries in the world. Interestingly, the largest country, Russia, is about 35 million times larger in area than the smallest country, Vatican City. The following list ranks the 10 biggest countries in the world by total area. Let’s read.

Top 10 biggest countries in the world

1. Russia
2. Canada
3. USA
4. China
5. Brazil
6. Australia
7. India
8. Argentina
9. Kazakhstan
10. Algeria

1. Russia (~17.1 million square kilometers)

With an approximate total area of 17.1 million square kilometers, Russia is the biggest country in the world. It is a transcontinental nation, spanning both Europe and Asia. The majority of Russia’s population lives in the European part, while the Asian region is sparsely populated.

The overall population density of Russia is just about 9 people per square kilometer. Russia is so big that the second country on this list is 7 million square kilometers smaller.

2. Canada (~10 million square kilometers)

Canada has an approximate total area of 10 million square kilometers. This North American country is even less densely populated than Russia. The population density of Canada is about 5 people per square kilometer. The majority of Canada’s population lives in the southern region, near the Canada-US border. Major cities in Canada include Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, and Calgary.

3. USA (~9.8 million square kilometers)

Another country from North America on this list, the United States is the third biggest country in the world. The approximate total area of the US is 9.8 million square kilometers. There are a total of 50 states in the US, 48 contiguous and 2 non-contiguous (Alaska and Hawaii).

4. China (~9.6 million square kilometers)

China comes at number 4 on this list. It has an area of about 9.6 million square kilometers and is the largest country located entirely in Asia. China is the second most populous country in the world after India, with a population of around 1.4 billion.

5. Brazil (~8.5 million square kilometers)

Brazil is a South American country with an area of about 8.5 million square kilometers, making it the fifth-largest country in the world. It is also the seventh most populous nation. Most of Brazil’s population is concentrated along the eastern coast, where major cities such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are located.

6. Australia (~7.7 million square kilometers)

With an area of about 7.7 million square kilometers, Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world. It is also one of the least densely populated countries, with a population density of only about 3 people per square kilometer. Interestingly, more than half of Australia’s population lives in five major cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.

7. India (~3.3 million square kilometers)

India is the seventh largest country in the world in terms of area. The total area of India is about 3.3 million square kilometers. Famous for its rich cultural history, India is quickly growing as a travel destination. The largest cities in India are Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai.

8. Argentina (~2.8 million square kilometers)

The second entry on this list from South America, Argentina has an area of about 2.8 million square kilometers. It is a sparsely populated country, with a population density of only around 17 people per square kilometer. The capital city, Buenos Aires, is the largest city in Argentina and is home to a large percentage of the country’s total population.

9. Kazakhstan (~2.7 million square kilometers)

With a total area of about 2.7 million square kilometers, Kazakhstan is the largest country in Central Asia and the ninth-largest country in the world. The capital city is Astana, which was formerly known as Nur-Sultan and, earlier, Akmolinsk.

10. Algeria (~2.4 million square kilometers)

The only African country on this list, Algeria has an area of about 2.4 million square kilometers. A large portion of Algeria lies within the Sahara Desert, which is responsible for the country’s low population density.

Rank	Country	Continent	Approximate total area (million square kilometers)
1	Russia	Asia and Europe (transcontinental)	17.1
2	Canada	North America	10
3	USA	North America	9.8
4	China	Asia	9.6
5	Brazil	South America	8.5
6	Australia	Australia	7.7
7	India	Asia	3.3
8	Argentina	South America	2.8
9	Kazakhstan	Asia	2.7
10	Algeria	Africa	2.4

Note: This list is based on the total area controlled by countries, land plus water.