How true-size comparisons use area data

Area is the comparison metric

The map and result cards compare geographic area. Country pages use the stated country area basis, while continent pages use continental area. The label beside every value tells you which basis applies.

A country and a continent are different geographic entity types. Their area can still be compared visually, but their totals are not interchangeable statistical categories.

Population and GDP context

Population and nominal GDP appear only when both sides are countries. For a continent, those figures depend on which territories are included and how an aggregate is calculated, so they are not presented as part of an area comparison.

Sources and dates

Each comparison lists metric-specific source links. Country population and nominal GDP context use World Bank indicators, with the data year shown beside each value. The page update date records when its editorial content was last reviewed.

Map data is used as a reference for the visual comparison. Area values keep their stated basis, and we update their sources and years when the data is reviewed. Continents are treated separately from country values.