Ranking of Largest Countries
Russia Takes the Lead
Russia proudly stands as the king of the hill when it comes to land area, covering a whopping 17,098,242 square kilometers (6,601,665 square miles). Just imagine, this giant stretches across 11% of the earth’s land—impressive, right? It’s a country where you could chow down on caviar in one corner while a Siberian tiger roams the other. From icy tundras to lush taigas and rolling rivers, Russia’s more like a whole planet crammed into one nation.
| Rank | Country | Area (Km²) | Area (mi²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russia | 17,098,242 | 6,601,665 |
Canada: Land of the Maple Leaf
Canada’s not far behind as the runner-up, stretching its roots over 9,984,670 square kilometers (3,855,103 square miles) (How Stuff Works). Aside from hockey and maple syrup, Canada is known for its grand forests, chilly tundras, and mysterious Canadian Shield. It’s a place full of wonders like endless lakes and rivers, making it a dream come true for anyone who loves getting lost in nature.
| Rank | Country | Area (Km²) | Area (mi²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Canada | 9,984,670 | 3,855,103 |
USA: Mixed Bag of Landscapes
Moving to third place, we find the United States with 9,826,675 square kilometers (3,794,100 square miles). The US truly packs a punch with its diverse environments. Think of sizzling Florida beaches, Alaska’s icy tips, and everything in between—deserts, mountains, forests, you name it. It’s like nature’s buffet spread all across one country.
| Rank | Country | Area (Km²) | Area (mi²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | United States | 9,826,675 | 3,794,100 |
China’s Massive Area
China snags the fourth spot, clocking in at 9,706,961 square kilometers (3,747,879 square miles). Home to jaw-dropping features, its geography is as fascinating as its history, with landscapes shifting from rich forests to the vast Gobi Desert. And hey, Mount Everest peeks over to remind everyone it’s still there, chilling on the border with Nepal.
| Rank | Country | Area (Km²) | Area (mi²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | China | 9,706,961 | 3,747,879 |
Brazil’s Spread-Out Splendor
Rounding out the top five, Brazil covers 8,514,877 square kilometers (3,287,612 square miles). Known for football and samba, its terrain is nothing short of dynamic. From the Amazon twisting through it to the striking beaches along the Atlantic, Brazil’s got enough space for the world’s biggest party!
| Rank | Country | Area (Km²) | Area (mi²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Brazil | 8,514,877 | 3,287,612 |
Want even more geography fun? Check out our list of African countries and list of European countries. Get a load of economic facts with our list of countries by GDP and other cool categories.
The Smallest Countries
Ever wondered which countries could fit inside a football field? Check out Vatican City, Monaco, and Nauru, three of Earth’s tiniest nations that pack a punch far beyond their size.
Vatican City: A Tiny Enclave
Blink and you might miss it—Vatican City is the world’s smallest country, spread over just 0.17 square miles (0.44 square kilometers). It’s tucked away right in Rome, Italy, acting as the heart of the Roman Catholic Church. Don’t let its size fool you; it’s a heavyweight in cultural and religious circles globally.
| Attribute | Info |
|---|---|
| Area | 0.17 sq mi (0.44 sq km) |
| Location | Rome, Italy |
| Population | Around 800 |
Monaco: One of the Little Ones
Next in line is Monaco, covering 0.8 square miles (2.1 square kilometers) along the sunny French Riviera. This place is all about luxury, with opulent casinos and the famous Monaco Grand Prix creating a playground for the rich and famous. It’s packed with people and personality, keeping history and glamour side by side.
| Attribute | Info |
|---|---|
| Area | 0.8 sq mi (2.1 sq km) |
| Location | French Riviera |
| Population | Around 39,000 |
Want more on Europe’s tiny treasures? Check out our European countries list.
Nauru: A Small Pacific Nation
Feeling big at 8 square miles (20.98 square kilometers), Nauru is still one of the smallest. Floating in the Pacific Ocean, it’s famous for its phosphate mines and jaw-dropping coastal views. Life isn’t all sands and sunshine; Nauru faces tough environmental hurdles thanks to climate change.
| Attribute | Info |
|---|---|
| Area | 8 sq mi (20.98 sq km) |
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Population | Around 10,000 |
These pint-sized places are brimming with stories, beauty, and challenges. Want some island flavor? Try our Oceania countries list.
Curious about economies or development stats? Browse our country GDP list, South American countries list, and human development index list.
Countries at Risk of Climate Disaster
Climate change is giving some countries a real hard time, messing with their land, crops, and even the daily lives of their folks. Here’s a peek into what these countries are dealing with, the problems they face in growing food, and how wild weather is shaking things up.
Issues Brewing in Niger
Niger is having a rough go when it comes to dealing with climate woes. Every year, they watch between 100,000 and 120,000 hectares of good farmland vanish because of soil erosion and desert turning everything to dust. Can you imagine suffering through temps of over 95°F (35 °C) for more than 300 days each year? That’s reality for central Niger. Trying to grow food in such tough conditions isn’t a walk in the park and keeping everyone fed becomes a tough gig.
Nigeria’s Crops in Trouble
Nigeria’s farms took a real hit from Mother Nature. In late 2022, floods wreaked havoc, affecting 2.5 million people and messing up a lot of farmland. Because of this, around 25 million Nigerians could be scrambling for food by mid-2023.
| Metrics | Data |
|---|---|
| Affected Population | 2.5 million |
| Land Area Impacted | Extensive Farmland |
Dig into more about the countries in Africa at list of african countries.
Flood Problems in South Sudan
In South Sudan, nasty floods put over 900,000 people in a bind back in late 2022. It’s pretty clear that they really need to get serious about prepping for climate mess-ups to keep folks safe (International Rescue Committee). With floods showing up on the regular, their stretched resources get even more stretched, making it super important for them to think up some smart fixes.
Stormy Weather in the DRC
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), heavy rains are becoming more frequent these past ten years. This has brought on big floods and landslides, with more than 15,000 people caught in the storm and over 500 lives lost in May 2023. The DRC’s challenges scream for better readiness and quicker responses to disasters.
Want more about the layout and traits of countries? Check out articles like:
- list of countries by land area
- list of developing countries
- list of third world countries
Knowing what these countries are up against means we can start figuring out how best to tackle the climate headaches hitting their homes and cropping up from time to time.
Impact of Climate Change on Nations
Climate change is seriously messing with countries worldwide, creating a bunch of problems. A few nations are taking a bigger hit, especially with wild weather causing all sorts of humanitarian headaches.
Sudan’s Severe Hunger Crisis
Sudan’s got a rough ride when it comes to climate swings. Around 15 million folks are dealing with severe hunger, and more than 4 million kiddos and moms-to-be are struggling with bad malnutrition (World Food Program USA). The never-ending climate mess is making it harder to find food, so getting the full picture of its impact is key for understanding it across this African list.
| Indicator | Number of People Affected |
|---|---|
| Severely Hungry | 15 million |
| Acutely Malnourished Children and Mothers | 4 million |
Extensive Flooding in Pakistan
Back in 2022, Pakistan got slammed with heavy rain from June to October. This led to some gnarly floods and landslides. About 33 million people got caught up in it, with floods trashing 4.4 million acres of crops and 800,000 livestock didn’t make it. Now, 14.6 million people in Pakistan are dealing with severe hunger. For more on this, check out our Asian country list.
| Impact | Number Affected |
|---|---|
| People Affected by Floods | 33 million |
| Agricultural Land Damaged | 4.4 million acres |
| Livestock Killed | 800,000 |
| Severely Hungry | 14.6 million |
Cyclones Devastate Madagascar
February 2022 was nothing short of a nightmare for Madagascar, with four tropical cyclones hitting hard, wrecking infrastructure and rice fields. Over 270,000 people are desperately in need of food help, with almost 2 million battling severe hunger (World Food Program USA). This shows just how fragile island nations are, as seen in our island nations list.
| Impact | Number Affected |
|---|---|
| People in Urgent Need of Food Assistance | 270,000 |
| Severely Hungry | 2 million |
Flooding Hits Chad
Come fall 2022, Chad faced its worst floods seen in three decades, with over a million folks affected and 1,149,114 acres of farmland wiped out (World Food Program USA). This ordeal left 2.1 million people dealing with acute hunger post the 2022 lean season. Chad’s troubles are part of a larger issue affecting many countries in the Asia-Pacific.
| Impact | Number Affected |
|---|---|
| People Affected by Floods | 1 million |
| Farmland Damaged | 1,149,114 acres |
| Acutely Hungry | 2.1 million |
These countries show the crushing blow climate change is landing on food security and everyday life. For more on how these economies are faring, dive into our country economic status list.