World geography · Updated September 2026
Largest countries in the world by area
Largest countries by area in 2026: Russia, Canada, China, the United States, Brazil, Australia, India, Argentina, Kazakhstan and Algeria — with why ranks stay stable.
Area ranks barely move from year to year because land does not appear overnight. Russia is first by a wide margin — more than 17 million square kilometres, spanning Europe and Asia.
Canada is second. China and the United States swap in some tables depending on whether you count only the 50 states, or also territories and disputed border lakes. Brazil is the largest country in the Southern Hemisphere that is not Australia.
India is seventh by area but first by population. Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country. Algeria is the largest country in Africa.
Largest countries in the world by area — key facts (2026)
| Topic | Fact |
|---|---|
| 1. Russia | About 17.1 million km² |
| 2. Canada | About 10.0 million km² |
| 3. China | About 9.6 million km² |
| 4. United States | About 9.5 million km² (50 states + DC; territories vary by table) |
| 5. Brazil | About 8.5 million km² |
| 6. Australia | About 7.7 million km² |
| 7. India | About 3.3 million km² |
| Largest in Africa | Algeria |
Figures are the usual classroom and news-desk numbers for 2026. Border disputes and membership votes can change a count by one or two.
People also ask
Is China larger than the USA?
Most UN-style tables put China just ahead of the United States. Some US sources put the USA first if they count territorial waters or extra territories. For exams, use the UN statistical yearbook order: China then USA.
What is the largest country in Africa?
Algeria, after South Sudan’s independence changed Sudan’s size.
What is the largest landlocked country?
Kazakhstan.