Largest Country in the World: Russia, Canada & Top 10 by Area
Which country is the largest in the world? The answer depends on whether you measure by land area, total area, or population — Russia claims the territory title at 17,098,242 km², while India leads in population with over 1.44 billion.
Largest country by area: Russia (17,098,242 km²) · Second largest by area: Canada (9,984,670 km²) · Third largest by area: China (9,596,960 km²) · Largest country by population: India (approx. 1.44 billion) · Smallest country by area: Vatican City (0.49 km²)
Quick snapshot
- Russia is the largest country by total area (Worldometer).
- Canada is the second largest by area (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
- India has the largest population as of 2024 (World Population Review).
- Exact population figures for India and China may vary slightly by source and update frequency (U.S. Census Bureau).
- The ranking of smallest countries can change if new territories are recognized (e.g., disputed borders). (U.S. Census Bureau)
- Russia has been the largest country by area since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 (Wikipedia).
- India surpassed China in population around 2023 (World Population Review).
- Population growth rates suggest India will widen its lead over China, while Africa’s largest nations will climb the population rankings (U.S. Census Bureau).
Key data at a glance.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Largest country by area | Russia (17,098,242 km²) | Worldometer |
| Largest country by land area only | Russia (16,376,870 km²) | Encyclopaedia Britannica |
| Largest country by population | India (1.44 billion) | World Population Review |
| Number of countries with area > 10 million km² | 1 (Russia) | Calculated from Worldometer |
| Number of countries with population > 1 billion | 2 (India, China) | World Population Review |
Which country is the largest in the world?
What is the total area of Russia?
- Russia’s total area is 17,098,242 km², according to Worldometer. Its land area alone is 16,376,870 km², as reported by Encyclopaedia Britannica.
How much larger is Russia than Canada?
- Russia’s area is roughly 1.71 times that of Canada, which measures 9,984,670 km² (Worldometer). That’s a gap of more than 7 million km² — enough to fit nearly three of Canada’s Great Bear Lake.
Russia’s size gives it a strategic advantage that no other country matches.
“Russia is the largest country in the world, covering more than one-ninth of the Earth’s land area.”
— Encyclopaedia Britannica, Geography Editors
Russia’s vast territory gives it unmatched natural resources and strategic depth.
Which is the 10 largest countries in the world?
Which are the 20 biggest countries in the world?
- The top 10 largest countries by total area, per Worldometer, are: Russia, Canada, China, United States, Brazil, Australia, India, Argentina, Kazakhstan, Algeria.
- The top 20 extends to: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Greenland (Denmark), Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Indonesia, Sudan, Libya, Iran, Mongolia, Peru.
- All figures are based on total area including inland water bodies (Britannica).
Five of these countries account for nearly half the planet’s land surface. The pattern: geography is still defined by a few giants.
Britannica ranks the United States third and China fourth when using total area including coastal waters, while Worldometer places China third — a difference driven by how each source counts inland versus territorial waters.
The table below lists the top five by total area.
| Rank | Country | Total Area (km²) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russia | 17,098,242 | Worldometer |
| 2 | Canada | 9,984,670 | Worldometer |
| 3 | China | 9,596,960 | Worldometer |
| 4 | United States | 9,525,067 | Worldometer |
| 5 | Brazil | 8,514,877 | Britannica |
A country’s land area shapes its strategic reach, resource base, and border complexity. For investors and policymakers, Russia’s sheer size means logistical challenges — but also unmatched mineral and energy reserves.
The pattern is clear: a few nations dominate the global landmass, shaping geopolitics.
What is the 3nd largest country in the world?
What is the 2nd largest country?
- Canada is the second largest by total area, with 9,984,670 km² (Worldometer). Britannica gives a slightly different figure of 9,968,242 km².
What is the 4th largest country?
- The United States ranks fourth by Worldometer’s measure at 9,525,067 km², but third under Britannica’s methodology (Britannica).
What is the 7th largest country?
- India ranks seventh in total area at 3,287,263 km² (Worldometer). That’s less than one-fifth the size of Russia.
“The United States occupies a total area of about 3.8 million square miles — making it the fourth largest country by area according to Worldometer.”
— Worldometer, Country Area Data
Rankings vary by methodology, but the top contenders remain consistent.
Who has 1 billion people?
What is the largest country in the world by population?
- India has over 1.44 billion people in 2024, according to World Population Review, recently surpassing China.
- China has over 1.41 billion people (World Population Review).
- Only two countries exceed 1 billion population: India and China (U.S. Census Bureau).
The implication: India’s demographic weight is reshaping global labor markets, consumer demand, and geopolitical alliances.
India’s population is 7.7 times larger than Russia’s, yet Russia is 5.2 times larger in area. That imbalance means India’s land scarcity per capita is among the world’s highest.
India’s demographic advantage positions it as a key player in the global economy.
What is the 25 smallest country?
- The 25th smallest country by area is Grenada, at 344 km² (Wikipedia).
- The smallest country is Vatican City at 0.49 km² (Wikipedia).
- Other smallest countries include Monaco (2.02 km²), Nauru (21 km²), Tuvalu (26 km²), San Marino (61 km²), Liechtenstein (160 km²).
The trade-off: small countries often enjoy outsized diplomatic influence per square kilometer — think Singapore or Monaco.
Clarity check: what we know and what’s ambiguous
Confirmed facts
- Russia is the largest country by total area (Worldometer, Britannica).
- Canada is the second largest by area (Worldometer).
- China is the third largest by area (Worldometer) or fourth (Britannica) depending on methodology.
- India has the largest population as of 2024 (World Population Review).
- Vatican City is the smallest country by area (Wikipedia).
What’s unclear
- Exact population figures for India and China vary slightly by source and update frequency (U.S. Census Bureau vs World Population Review).
- The ranking of smallest countries can change if disputed territories are recognized.
“World Population Review estimates India’s 2026 population at 1,476,625,576, making it the world’s most populous country.”
— World Population Review, Country Population Data
“The U.S. Census Bureau’s ‘Top 10 Most Populous Countries’ for July 1, 2026 confirms India in the lead.”
— U.S. Census Bureau, Population Clock
For travelers, businesses, and policymakers, the choice of metric — area or population — defines opportunity. A massive territory like Russia offers resources but sparse customers. A densely populated country like India demands infrastructure investment but rewards with a vast workforce. The data shows that size alone tells only half the story.
While Russia is widely recognized as the Worlds largest country ranking, the full top-10 list reveals that only Canada comes close in sheer landmass.
Frequently asked questions
How is the size of a country measured?
Total area includes land area plus inland water bodies (lakes, rivers, reservoirs). Some sources also count coastal waters. Land area excludes water. Britannica uses total area including coastal waters; Worldometer uses land area plus inland waters.
Which country has the most land area?
Russia has the largest land area: 16,376,870 km² (Britannica).
What is the smallest country in the world?
Vatican City at 0.49 km² (Wikipedia).
How many countries are there in the world?
193 United Nations member states plus 2 observer states (Vatican City, Palestine), totaling 195. United Nations.
Does the ranking of largest countries change over time?
Area rankings rarely change, but population rankings shift due to births, deaths, and migration. India overtook China around 2023 (World Population Review).
Which country has the largest population?
India, with about 1.44 billion people as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau).
What is the difference between population and area rankings?
Russia is #1 by area but #9 by population. India is #1 by population but #7 by area. The two lists have little overlap — geography and demography tell different stories.
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