Compare Country Areas and Map Distortion
Move country outlines across the map to see how Mercator projection changes apparent size with latitude.
The map is a visual aid, not an area measurement. Check the stated area basis before using a visual overlay to compare places.
Area comparisons use the stated area basis for each place. Countries and continents are different geographic entity types, so their totals are labelled separately. Read the methodology and sources.
Popular comparisons
Start with a real size benchmark
Pick a ready-made comparison and see how familiar places change when map distortion is removed.
Spain vs Germany
A clean Europe comparison where land area and economic weight point different ways.
United States vs China
A near-peer land-area comparison between two global benchmarks.
Canada vs Europe
A close large-region comparison with a useful northern map-distortion angle.
Russia vs Africa
A high-latitude map myth tested against a continent.
Greenland vs Africa
A classic projection-distortion example with a dramatic result.
Brazil vs Australia
A clean near-peer comparison between two huge landmasses.
True Sizes of Nations (List)
Total 235 nations
| No. | Flag | Country Name | ISO Code | Area/km²(mi²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Andorra | AD | 468 (181) |
| 2 |  | United Arab Emirates | AE | 83,600 (32,300) |
| 3 |  | Afghanistan | AF | 652,230 (251,830) |
| 4 |  | Antigua and Barb. | AG | 442 (171) |
| 5 |  | Anguilla | AI | 91 (35) |
| 6 |  | Albania | AL | 28,748 (11,100) |
| 7 |  | Armenia | AM | 29,843 (11,522) |
| 8 |  | Angola | AO | 1,246,700 (481,400) |
| 9 |  | Antarctica | AQ | 14,000,000 (5,400,000) |
| 10 |  | Argentina | AR | 2,780,400 (1,073,500) |
Data source: Open source datasets
How map projections affect apparent size
Converting a spherical Earth into a flat map requires a projection, and every flat map projection makes tradeoffs. Mercator preserves local angles for navigation, while making areas nearer the poles appear larger than they are on the globe.
Read a visual comparison with area data
A map view alone is not an area measurement. Move country outlines to understand how map placement changes apparent size, then use the stated area basis when you need a numeric comparison.
Use the map and data for different questions
Map view
Shows how projection and latitude affect apparent size.
Area data
Shows the stated area basis used for a numeric comparison.
The visual difference generally grows farther from the equator. Read how the site labels area, country, and continent data in the methodology and sources.
How to Use This Tool
- Drag country outlines to explore how projection changes apparent size
- Use the compass to rotate countries for better comparison angles
- Read the stated area basis before treating a visual overlay as a numeric comparison
- Use a comparison page to review its sources and related examples
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