Countries around the world are incredibly diverse, differing not only in language, culture, and wealth, but also in land area. This variation leads to a categorization of countries into the largest and smallest in the world. Quoting Worldometers, here are the 10 largest countries in the world by land area:
1. Russia
Russia is the largest country in the world, with a total area of 17.09 million square kilometers (km²). Of this total, 16.37 million km² is land.
Russia's total land area accounts for 11% of the world's total landmass, making it the largest country in the world by both total area and land area.
Russia is located across two continents, Europe and Asia. Almost all of Russia is in Asia, but of its approximately 147 million inhabitants, 77% live in Europe.
2. Canada
The second largest country is Canada. Located in North America, it has a total area of 9.98 million km².
Canada is one of the countries with the most islands in the world, with 52,455. Canada's land area is 9.09 million km², or 6.1% of the world's total landmass.
3. China
China is not only the most populous country in the world, but also the third largest by land area.
China stretches across 9.7 million km². The land area of this country, whose capital is Beijing, reaches 9.38 million km².
4. United States
The United States is the fourth largest country in the world by land area. Its total area is 9.37 million km².
Of this, 9.14 million km² is land, with the remainder being water.
5. Brazil
As the largest country in South America, Brazil is also the fifth largest country in the world. Brazil has a total area of 8.51 million km² with a land area of 8.35 million km².
This country, which includes a large part of the Amazon rainforest, borders 10 other countries. Most of Brazil's population lives near the coast.
6. Australia
Australia has a total area of 7.6 million km². Its land area is also 7.6 million km².
This country is known for its abundant wildlife. Kangaroos are its hallmark, leading to Australia's nickname, "The Land of Kangaroos."
7. India
Located in South Asia, India has a total area of 3.28 million km², with 2.97 million km² being land.
India has the second largest population in the world after China, at approximately 1.38 billion people.
8. Argentina
This South American country has a total area of 2.78 million km², with a land area of 2.73 million km².
Besides being one of the largest countries in the world, Argentina is the second largest country in South America.
9. Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan has an area of 2.74 million km², with a land area of 2.69 million km².
Kazakhstan is a transcontinental country, with most of its territory located in Central Asia and a small part in Eastern Europe.
10. Algeria
Algeria is a country located in Africa. Its total area is 2.38 million km², and almost 100% of its territory is land.
With a population of over 37 million, Algeria is the 34th most populous country in the world.