The world is a vast and diverse place, filled with many different nations and cultures. However, a select few countries rise above the rest in terms of their sheer size and influence. From the sprawling steppes of Russia to the vast deserts of China, these are the largest countries in the world, each with its own unique history, geography, and identity. Whether you’re a history buff, a geography nerd, or simply fascinated by the world around us, these countries are sure to captivate and inspire. So come along and discover the beauty, wonder, and majesty of the largest countries in the world by covering the area.

Largest Countries in The World by Covering Area

1. Russia (17,098,242 square kilometers)
2. Canada (9,984,670 square kilometers)
3. China (9,706,961 square kilometers)
4. United States (9,372,610 square kilometers)
5. Brazil (8,515,767 square kilometers)
6. Australia (7,692,024 square kilometers)
7. India (3,287,590 square kilometers)
8. Argentina (2,780,400 square kilometers)
9. Kazakhstan (2,724,900 square kilometers)
10. Algeria (2,381,741 square kilometers)
11. Democratic Republic of the Congo (2,344,858 square kilometers)
12. Greenland (2,166,086 square kilometers)
13. Saudi Arabia (2,149,690 square kilometers)
14. Mexico (1,964,375 square kilometers)
15. Indonesia (1,904,569 square kilometers)

1. Russia (17,098,242 square kilometers)

Russia is the largest country in the world, located in northern Eurasia. It spans two continents, Europe and Asia, and covers an area of 17,098,242 Square Kilometers. Russia is bordered by Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China, and North Korea. The country has a diverse landscape, including the Arctic tundra in the north, forests, plains, and mountain ranges in the central regions, and deserts in the south. Russia is also home to several major rivers, including the Volga, Europe’s longest river, and Lake Baikal, the deepest freshwater lake in the world.

2. Canada (9,984,670 square kilometers)

Canada is the second-largest country in the world by area, covering 9,984,670 square kilometers. It is located in the northern part of North America, bordered by the United States to the south and the Arctic Ocean to the north. Canada has a diverse geography, including the Rocky Mountains, the Canadian Shield, the Great Lakes, and the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The country is known for its abundant natural resources, including forests, freshwater, minerals, and oil. The majority of Canada’s population is concentrated along the southern border with the US, with the largest cities being Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.

3. China (9,706,961 square kilometers)

China is the third largest country in the world by area, covering 9,706,961 square kilometers. It is located in East Asia and is bordered by 14 countries: Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and North Korea. China has a diverse geography, including the Himalayas in the southwest, the Plateau of Tibet, the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts in the north, and the East China Sea and the South China Sea along its southern coast. The country is also home to major rivers, including the Yangtze, the longest river in Asia, and the Yellow River, known as the birthplace of Chinese civilization. The majority of China’s population is concentrated in the east and southeast of the country, where its largest cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, are located.

4. United States (9,372,610 square kilometers)

The United States is a country located in North America and covers an area of 9,372,610 square kilometers. It is bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south and has coastlines along the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The country has a diverse geography, including the Rocky Mountains in the west, the Great Plains in the center, and the Appalachian Mountains in the east. The United States also includes a number of islands, including Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The country is home to several major rivers, including the Mississippi, Missouri, and Colorado, and is known for its diverse climate and natural resources, including forests, minerals, and abundant water. The majority of the US population is concentrated in metropolitan areas along the East and West coasts, including New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

5. Brazil (8,515,767 square kilometers)

Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest country in the world by area, covering 8,515,767 square kilometers. It is located in the eastern part of South America and is bordered by several countries, including Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay. Brazil has a diverse geography, including the Amazon rainforest in the north, the Brazilian Highlands in the southeast, and the Pantanal wetland in the center-west. The country is also home to several major rivers, including the Amazon, the largest river in the world by volume, and the Paraná, which forms part of the border with Paraguay and Argentina. The majority of Brazil’s population is concentrated in the southeast of the country, where its largest cities, including Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Belo Horizonte, are located.

6. Australia (7,692,024 square kilometers)

Australia is the sixth largest country in the world by area, covering 7,692,024 square kilometers. It is located in the southern hemisphere and is an island continent surrounded by the Indian and Pacific oceans. Australia has a diverse geography, including the Great Dividing Range, the world’s largest coral reef system, the Outback, and several major islands, including Tasmania. The country is known for its unique flora and fauna, including kangaroos, koalas, and eucalyptus trees. The majority of Australia’s population is concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts, where its largest cities, including Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, are located.

7. India (3,287,590 square kilometers)

India is the seventh largest country in the world by area, covering 3,287,263 square kilometers. It is located in South Asia and is bordered by Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. India has a diverse geography, including the Himalayas in the north, the Indo-Gangetic Plains in the north and center, the Thar Desert in the northwest, and the Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats mountain ranges. The country is also home to several major rivers, including the Ganges, the Brahmaputra, and the Yamuna. India has a tropical monsoon climate and is known for its rich cultural heritage, including ancient civilizations and diverse religious traditions. The majority of India’s population is concentrated in the northern and eastern parts of the country, where its largest cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata, are located.

8. Argentina (2,780,400 square kilometers)

Argentina is the eighth largest country in the world by area, covering 2,780,400 square kilometers. It is located in South America and is bordered by Chile to the west, Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, Brazil to the northeast, Uruguay and the South Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Drake Passage to the south. Argentina has a diverse geography, including the Andes mountain range in the west, the Pampas grasslands in the center, and the Paraná Plateau in the northeast. The country is also home to several major rivers, including the Paraná, which forms part of the border with Paraguay and Brazil, and the Colorado, which flows into the Rio de la Plata estuary. The majority of Argentina’s population is concentrated in the northern and central parts of the country, where its largest cities, including Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Rosario, are located.

9. Kazakhstan (2,724,900 square kilometers)

Kazakhstan is the largest country in Central Asia and the ninth-largest country in the world by area, covering 2,724,900 square kilometers. It is located in the heart of Asia and is bordered by Russia to the north, Mongolia to the east, China to the southeast, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan to the south, and the Caspian Sea to the west. Kazakhstan has a diverse geography, including the Siberian Taiga in the north, the Kazakh Uplands in the center, and the Caspian Depression in the west. The country is also home to several major rivers, including the Irtysh, which flows into the Ob River in Russia, and the Syr Darya, which flows into the Aral Sea. The majority of Kazakhstan’s population is concentrated in the northern and central parts of the country, where its largest cities, including Almaty, Astana, and Shymkent, are located.

10. Algeria (2,381,741 square kilometers)

Algeria is the largest country in Africa and the tenth largest country in the world by area, covering 2,381,741 square kilometers. It is located in the northern part of Africa and is bordered by Morocco to the northwest, Western Sahara and Mauritania to the west, Mali to the southwest, Niger to the southeast, Libya to the east, and Tunisia to the northeast. Algeria has a diverse geography, including the Atlas Mountains in the northeast, the Tell Atlas in the center, and the Sahara Desert in the south. The country is also home to several major rivers, including the Shelif, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea, and the Moulouya, which flows into the Mediterranean in Morocco. The majority of Algeria’s population is concentrated in the northern and coastal parts of the country, where its largest cities, including Algiers, Oran, and Constantine, are located.

11. Democratic Republic of the Congo (2,344,858 square kilometers)

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) is the second-largest country in Africa and the eleventh-largest country in the world by area, covering 2,344,858 square kilometers. It is located in central Africa and is bordered by the Republic of the Congo to the west, the Central African Republic and South Sudan to the north, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi to the east, and Zambia and Tanzania to the south. DR Congo has a diverse geography, including the Congo Basin in the center, the Rwenzori Mountains in the east, and the Katanga Plateau in the southeast. The country is also home to several major rivers, including the Congo River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean, and the Lualaba River, which forms part of the Congo River system. The majority of DR Congo’s population is concentrated in the eastern and southern parts of the country, where its largest cities, including Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, and Goma, are located.

12. Greenland (2,166,086 square kilometers)

Greenland is the largest island in the world and autonomous territory of Denmark, covering 2,166,086 square kilometers. It is located in the northern Atlantic Ocean, between the Arctic Ocean to the north and the North Atlantic Ocean to the south and west. Greenland has a unique geography, with a vast ice sheet covering over 80% of its surface. The ice sheet is the second largest in the world, after Antarctica. The coast of Greenland is dotted with fjords, and the island is also home to several major glaciers, including the Jakobshavn Isbræ, which is one of the fastest-moving glaciers in the world. The majority of Greenland’s population is concentrated along the southwestern coast, where its largest cities, including Nuuk, Sisimiut, and Ilulissat, are located. The island is sparsely populated, with a population of about 56,000 people.

13. Saudi Arabia (2,149,690 square kilometers)

Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Arabian Peninsula and the fifth largest country in Asia by area, covering 2,149,690 square kilometers. It is located in the Middle East, bordered by Jordan, Iraq, and Kuwait to the north, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates to the northeast, Oman to the southeast, and Yemen to the south. Saudi Arabia has a predominantly arid and desert landscape, with the Rub’ al Khali, one of the largest sand deserts in the world, located in the southeast. The country is also home to several major oases, including Al-Ahsa and Al-Hasa, as well as several mountain ranges, including the Sarawat Mountains and the Asir Mountains. The majority of Saudi Arabia’s population is concentrated in the western and central parts of the country, where its largest cities, including Riyadh, Jeddah, and Mecca, are located.

14. Mexico (1,964,375 square kilometers)

Mexico is the third largest country in Latin America and the fourteenth largest country in the world by area, covering 1,964,375 square kilometers. It is located in North America, bordered by the United States to the north and Belize and Guatemala to the south. Mexico has a diverse geography, including the Sierra Madre Oriental and Sierra Madre Occidental mountain ranges, the Mexican Plateau, and the Yucatan Peninsula. The country is also home to several major rivers, including the Rio Grande, which forms the border between Mexico and the United States, and the Rio Conchos, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The majority of Mexico’s population is concentrated in the central and southern parts of the country, where its largest cities, including Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey, are located.

15. Indonesia (1,904,569 square kilometers)

Indonesia is the largest island country in the world and the fourth largest country in Asia by area, covering 1,904,569 square kilometers. It is located in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Indonesia is comprised of over 17,000 islands, the largest of which include Sumatra, Java, Borneo (shared with Malaysia and Brunei), and New Guinea (shared with Papua New Guinea). The country has a diverse geography, including the volcanic peaks of Sumatra and Java, the highlands of Papua, and the tropical rainforests of Borneo and Kalimantan. The majority of Indonesia’s population is concentrated on the islands of Java and Bali, where its largest cities, including Jakarta, Surabaya, and Bali, are located.

Also check: Inspiring Sunflower Quotes

Photo by Brett Zeck on Unsplash

The post Top 15 Largest Countries in The World by Covering Area appeared first on Knoansw.