Earth or Globe or Map!! Whatever the topic you choose, it is always interesting and something mysterious which creates extra enthusiasm in our hearts to learn more and more about out geographical dimensions of earth. Aren’t you!? I knew yes, everyone out there are excited to know about earth anytime.
Well, what are geographical dimensions!? Geographical dimensions are nothing but the function of the distance between two geographic objects that belong to same object class. Each and every geographic dimension bears a hierarchic rank. The greater the distance between the geographic objects, the higher is the rank of the geographical dimension. The four dimensions of geography are:
1) Locational Dimension, well-known as spatial dimension
2) Regional Dimension, also known as Area Studies Dimension
3) Man-Land Dimension (also called Human-Environmental, Human-Land, or Culture-Environment Dimension)
4) Earth Science Dimension
What is the role of maps in geography? Maps are the symbolic depiction and diagrammatic representation of a land or sea in terms of area, showing physical features such as roads, cities, etc. some types of maps are static and fixed on to a paper whereas some other maps are interactive and dynamic. Maps usually emphasizes the relation between the elements of the space.
Interesting Facts about Geography
1) Russia has been acing the list with highest area and land since 2005
2) China has been ranking in the top 3 position for area and land since 2005
3) United States has had ranked in the top 4 for area and land since 2005
4) Canada has ranked in the top 5 for area and land since 2005
5) Brazil has ranked in the top 6 for area and land since 2005
6) Australia has ranked in the top 7 for area and land since 2005
7) 15 of the top 25 countries by area and land are sparsely populated
8) 4 of the top 7 countries by area and land are Christian
9) India ranked first for area and land amongst densely populated countries in 2008
10) United Kingdom has had ranked first for area and land amongst UK and its territories in 2008
11) France ranked first for area and land amongst Western Europe in 2006
12) North America and Europe aren’t really that big and Africa really is much bigger.
13) Mercator, an interactive map tool reveals countries’ true sizes without having to resort to the Peters projection.
14) On a Mercator map, countries in further north (and south) are shown larger than they are relative to countries closer to the equator.
15) For Example: on a Mercator map, Europe seems larger than South America; in fact, South America is almost double the size of Europe.
16) Hence, comparing each countries land area is the only way to know exactly how big a country is when compared to another. You can click on this link which directs to the website that allows you to compare map-projected countries based on the land area: The True Size.
Australia is the largest island or the smallest continental land mass with only 5% of total world’s land area. Also it is the sixth largest country in the world while its population is quite small compared to land size. For example: United Kingdom has 248.25 persons per 1 km2, while Australia claims only 2.66 persons per 1 km2.
Here we have compared few countries along with Australia in the list of the world’s countries and their dependent territories by area, ranked by total area. The three measurements of area included in the below list are:
1) Land Area: The total aggregate land within international boundaries and coastlines but water area is not included.
2) Water Area: The calculation of surface areas of all inland water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans, and reservoirs with in international boundaries and coastlines, including the small coastal internal waters like small bays and excluding territorial waters. Exclusive economic zones and contiguous zones are also not included.
3) Total Area: The totality of all the water and land areas with in international boundaries and coastlines.
Arable land is the land used for cultivation of crops replanted after each harvest like wheat, corn, and rice.
All the data mentioned in this list is collected from the United Nations Statistics Division.
|
Country |
Area in km2 |
Arable Land |
Number of People per km2 |
Population |
Land in km2 |
Water in km2 |
% Water |
Small Notes about the Country |
|
Russia |
170,76,200 |
7.19% |
8.28 |
1413,77,752 |
16,377,742 (6,323,482) |
720,500 (278,200) |
4.21 |
Largest country in the world with 10.995% of the world’s land mass. Its Asian portion makes it the largest country in Asia, and its European portion of roughly 3,960,000 km2 (1,530,000 sq mi) makes it the largest country in Europe. |
|
Canada |
99,84,670 |
4.57% |
3.34 |
333,90,141 |
9,093,507 (3,511,023) |
891,163 (344,080) |
8.93 |
Largest English and French-speaking country and the largest country completely in the Western Hemisphere by total area (second-largest by land area, after the United States), with the largest surface area of water. Total area and water area figures include area covered by freshwater only, and do not include internal waters (non-freshwater) of about 1,600,000 km2, or territorial waters of 200,000 km2. |
|
USA |
96,29,091 |
18.01% |
31.27 |
3011,39,947 |
9,147,643 (3,531,925) |
685,924 (264,837) |
3.96–6.97 |
Largest country in the English-speaking world and the Western Hemisphere by land area (second-largest by total area, after Canada). Secondary figures for total area and water area denote the inclusion of all coastal and territorial waters into the statistical area. |
|
China |
95,96,960 |
14.86% |
137.74 |
1,321,851,888 |
9,326,410 (3,600,950) |
270,550 (104,460) |
2.82 |
Second-largest country in Asia (though the largest located wholly within the continent), and second-largest country in the world by land area. Excludes Taiwan, disputed territories with India, and disputed islands in the South China Sea. Figures for total area and water area also exclude all coastal and territorial waters. |
|
Brazil |
85,11,965 |
6.93% |
22.32 |
1900,10,647 |
8,460,415 (3,266,584) |
55,352 (21,372) |
0.65 |
Largest Portuguese-speaking country, largest country in South America and in the Southern Hemisphere, and the largest contiguous territory in the Americas. |
|
Australia |
76,86,850 |
6.15% |
2.66 |
204,34,176 |
7,633,565 (2,947,336) |
58,459 (22,571) |
0.76 |
Third-largest English-speaking country and largest country in Oceania, largest country without land borders, and the largest country completely in the Southern Hemisphere |
|
List of some other countries to Compare |
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|
India |
32,87,590 |
48.83% |
343.68 |
1,129,866,154 |
2,973,190 (1,147,960) |
314,073 (121,264) |
9.55 |
Third-largest country in Asia and largest country in South Asia. |
|
Mexico |
19,72,550 |
12.66% |
55.11 |
1087,00,891 |
1,943,945 (750,561) |
20,430 (7,890) |
1.04 |
Second-largest Spanish-speaking country by area, after Argentina. |
|
Egypt |
10,01,450 |
2.92% |
80.22 |
803,35,036 |
995,450 (384,350) |
6,000 (2,300) |
0.6 |
Transcontinental country located between Asia and Africa. |
|
France |
5,47,030 |
33.46% |
117.1 |
640,57,790 |
640,427 (247,270) |
3,374 (1,303) |
0.52 |
Figures include metropolitan France (in Europe) as well as the five overseas regions. This does not include New Caledonia (an autonomous sui generis collectivity), the five autonomous overseas collectivities, and the two uninhabited territories (the French Southern and Antarctic Lands and Clipperton Island) which are listed individually, although also part of the French Republic.[Note 17] Third-largest country by European area, and largest within the EU by EU territory. |
|
Spain |
5,04,782 |
27.18% |
80.13 |
404,48,191 |
498,980 (192,660) |
6,390 (2,470) |
1.26 |
Largest country in Southern Europe and second-largest member state of European Union. |
|
Japan |
3,77,835 |
11.64% |
337.28 |
1274,33,494 |
364,545 (140,752) |
13,430 (5,190) |
3.55 |
Largest island country in East Asia and the world’s 4th largest island country |
|
Germany |
3,57,021 |
33.13% |
230.8 |
824,00,996 |
348,672 (134,623) |
8,350 (3,220) |
2.34 |
Largest country in Central Europe. Before the 1990 German reunification, West Germany was 248,577 (95,976) and East Germany was 108,333 (41,828). |
|
Italy |
3,01,230 |
26.41% |
190.03 |
581,47,733 |
294,140 (113,570) |
7,200 (2,800) |
2.39 |
|
|
New Zealand |
2,68,680 |
5.54% |
15 |
41,15,771 |
262,443 (101,330) |
4,395 (1,697) |
1.65 |
|
|
United Kingdom |
2,44,820 |
0 |
248.25 |
607,76,238 |
241,930 (93,410) |
1,680 (650) |
0.69 |
Largest island country in Europe and Western Hemisphere. |
|
List of a few more small countries and Dependencies by Area |
||||||||
|
Argentina |
2,780,400 (1,073,500) |
14.30% |
17 |
451,95,774 |
2,736,690 (1,056,640) |
43,710 (16,880) |
1.57 |
Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country located mostly in the southern half of South America. Largest Spanish-speaking country and second-largest country in South America. |
|
Kazakhstan |
2,724,900 (1,052,100) |
10.89% |
15 |
187,20,752 |
2,699,700 (1,042,400) |
25,200 (9,700) |
0.92 |
Largest landlocked country.[16] Second-largest Russian-speaking country, after Russia, and the largest country in Central Asia. Transcontinental country located between Asia and Europe. |
|
Algeria |
2,381,741 (919,595) |
3.11% |
15.9 |
43,650,957 |
2,381,741 (919,595) |
0 (0) |
0 |
Largest country in Africa; also largest in the Arab world and the Mediterranean Basin. |
|
Democratic Republic of Congo |
2,344,858 (905,355) |
1.61% |
40 |
888,53,113 |
2,267,048 (875,312) |
3.32 |
Second-largest French-speaking country. Largest country in Central and Sub-Saharan Africa. Second-largest country in Africa, has the largest French-speaking city i.e. Kinshasa. |
|
|
Kingdom of Denmark |
2,220,093 (857,183) |
56.56% |
27.5 |
57,87,163 |
2,220,072 (857,175) |
21 (8.1) |
0 |
UN figure does not include the entire Kingdom area. |
|
Greenlnd (Denmark) |
2,166,086 (836,330) |
0.00% |
0.1365 |
56,746 |
2,166,086(836,330) |
0(0) |
0 |
Largest island in the world. Largest territory in the Kingdom of Denmark. |
|
Saudi Arabia |
2,149,690 (830,000) |
1.62% |
15.68 |
346,79,141 |
2,149,690 (830,000) |
0(0) |
0 |
Largest country in Western Asia. Second-largest in the Arab world, after Algeria. |
|
Indonesia |
1,910,931 (737,815) |
12.97% |
148 |
2728,05,349 |
1,811,569 (699,451) |
93,000 (36,000) |
4.87 |
Largest country in Southeast Asia. Largest island country and archipelagic state in the world by area and population. |
|
Sudan |
1,861,484 (718,723) |
N/A |
22.69 |
435,90,143 |
Formerly the largest country in Africa. It is now the third-largest country in Africa,[Note 11] and also third-largest in the Arab world. |
|||
|
Libya |
1,759,540 (679,360) |
0.98% |
3.79 |
68,48,180 |
1,759,540 (679,360) |
0(0) |
0 |
Libya is located in North Africa bordering the Mediterranean Sea to the north. Libya is Africa’s 4th largest county by area and covers 1,800,000 sq. k |
|
Iran |
1,648,195 (636,372) |
9.02% |
50.22 |
837,27,528 |
1,531,595 (591,352) |
116,600 (45,000) |
7.07 |
Iran is the 18th largest country of the world. It stretches from the Caspian Sea in north to the Persian Gulf in the south. Iran also controls about a dozen islands in the Persian Gulf. |
|
Mongolia |
1,564,110 (603,910) |
0.37% |
2 |
3,265,155 |
1,553,556 (599,831) |
10,560 (4,080) |
0.68 |
Largest landlocked country that does not border a closed sea. |
|
Peru |
1,285,216 (496,225) |
2.70% |
25.129 |
328,58,157 |
1,279,996 (494,209) |
5,220 (2,020) |
0.41 |
Third-largest Spanish-speaking country and third-largest country in South America. |
|
Chad |
1,284,000 (496,000) |
3.90% |
12.29 |
163,05,044 |
1,259,200 (486,200) |
24,800 (9,600) |
1.93 |
Third-largest landlocked country and largest outside of Asia. |
|
Niger |
1,267,000 (489,000) |
37.33% |
17.72 |
239,75,524 |
1,266,700 (489,100) |
300 (120) |
0.02 |
Largest country in West Africa. |
|
South Africa |
1,221,037 (471,445) |
10.30% |
47.63 |
591,24,159 |
1,214,470 (468,910) |
4,620 (1,780) |
0.38 |
Largest country in Southern Africa. |
|
Ethiopia |
1,104,300 (426,400) |
15.12% |
109 |
1142,40,434 |
1,000,000 (390,000) |
104,300 (40,300) |
0.7 |
Largest country in East Africa |
|
Turkey |
783,562 (302,535) |
26.48% |
107 |
841,16,077 |
769,632 (297,157) |
13,930 (5,380) |
1.78 |
Transcontinental country located between Asia and Europe. |
|
Ukraine |
603,500 (233,000) |
56.58% |
77.03 |
437,95,834 |
579,300 (223,700) |
24,200 (9,300) |
4.01 |
Second-largest country by European area and largest country wholly in Europe |
|
Spain |
505,992 (195,365) |
24.70% |
93.53 |
46,750,435 |
498,980 (192,660) |
6,390 (2,470) |
1.26 |
Largest country in Southern Europe and second-largest member state of European Union. |
|
Sweden |
450,295 (173,860) |
6.32% |
25 |
100,83,955 |
410,335 (158,431) |
39,960 (15,430) |
8.87 |
Largest country in Northern Europe. Third-largest member state of European Union. |
|
Morocco |
446,550 (172,410) |
18.22% |
80.73 |
368,02,787 |
446,300 (172,300) |
250 (97) |
0.06 |
Does not include the disputed Western Sahara, shown separately |
|
Norway |
385,207 (148,729) |
2.20% |
14.55 |
5,410,897 |
365,957 (141,297) |
19,520 (7,540) |
5 |
Kingdom of Norway, included Svalbard and Jan Mayen, but not included Bouvet Island. |
|
Japan |
377,975 (145,937) |
11.50% |
347 |
1265,68,563 |
364,545 (140,752) |
13,430 (5,190) |
3.55 |
Largest island country in East Asia and the world’s 4th largest island country |
|
Germany |
357,114 (137,882) |
33.67% |
232.4 |
837,19,272 |
348,672 (134,623) |
8,350 (3,220) |
2.34 |
Largest country in Central Europe. Before the 1990 German reunification, West Germany was 248,577 (95,976) and East Germany was 108,333 (41,828). |
|
Norway |
323,802 (125,021) |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
304,282 (117,484) |
19,520 (7,540) |
6.03 |
Mainland Norway, excluded Svalbard and Jan Mayen |
|
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic |
266,000 (103,000) |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
266,000 (103,000) |
0(0) |
0 |
Disputed territory. Administrative control is limited to approximately one-third of this area, with the remaining area controlled by Morocco. |
|
United Kingdom |
242,495 (93,628) |
24.91% |
275 |
677,99,513 |
241,930 (93,410) |
1,680 (650) |
0.69 |
Largest island country in Europe and Western Hemisphere. |
|
Laos |
236,800 (91,400) |
6.60% |
30.6 |
72,49,390 |
230,800 (89,100) |
6,000 (2,300) |
2.53 |
Only landlocked country in South East Asia. |
|
Belarus |
207,600 (80,200) |
28% |
46.73 |
94,50,067 |
202,900 (78,300) |
4,700 (1,800) |
2.26 |
Largest landlocked country in Europe. |
|
Suriname |
163,820 (63,250) |
0.40% |
3.6 |
5,75,990 |
156,000 (60,000) |
7,820 (3,020) |
4.77 |
Smallest country in South America |
|
Nepal |
147,181 (56,827) |
14.70% |
196 |
290,05,842 |
143,351 (55,348) |
3,830 (1,480) |
2.6 |
Largest country in the Himalayan range. |
|
Nicaragua |
130,373 (50,337) |
12.50% |
53.73 |
66,05,136 |
119,990 (46,330) |
10,380 (4,010) |
7.96 |
Largest country in Central America. |
|
Cuba |
109,884 (42,426) |
28.74% |
106 |
113,28,270 |
109,820 (42,400) |
1,040 (400) |
0.94 |
Largest country in the West Indies. |
|
Serbia |
88,361 (34,116) |
67.12% |
79.83 |
8,745,724 |
88,246 (34,072) |
115 (44) |
0.13 |
The largest Serbo-Croatian-speaking country. |
|
Azerbaijan |
86,600 (33,400) |
N/A |
123 |
101,16,315 |
86,100 (33,200) |
500 (190) |
0.13 |
Largest country in Caucasus. Transcontinental country located between Asia and Europe |
|
Ireland |
70,273 (27,133) |
6.47% |
70.45 |
49,24,220 |
68,883 (26,596) |
1,390 (540) |
1.98 |
The figure shown is for the Republic of Ireland, the island of Ireland is 84,421 km2 or 32,595 sq mi |
|
Georgia |
69,700 (26,900) |
4.95% |
65.28 |
3,990,993 |
69,700 (26,900) |
0(0) |
0 |
Transcontinental country located between Asia and Europe. |
|
Denmark |
43,094 (16,639) |
56.56% |
347 |
57,87,274 |
42,434 (16,384) |
660 (250) |
1.53 |
Includes Metropolitan Denmark proper only, but excludes the autonomous territories in the Kingdom of Denmark, shown separately |
|
Netherlands |
41,850 (16,160) |
30.50% |
511 |
17,125,638 |
33,893 (13,086) |
7,650 (2,950) |
18.41 |
Includes the special municipalities, but excludes other countries in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, shown separately |
|
Switzerland |
41,284 (15,940) |
10.09% |
206 |
86,38,678 |
39,997 (15,443) |
1,280 (490) |
3.1 |
|
|
Taiwan |
36,193 (13,974) |
16.90% |
673 |
238,06,403 |
32,260 (12,460) |
3,720 (1,440) |
10.34 |
Between 1945 and 1949, the Republic of China included Mainland China, Mongolia, Taiwan and other areas, totaling 11,418,174 km2 (4,408,582 sq mi). |
|
El Salvador |
21,041 (8,124) |
35.57% |
310 |
64,78,003 |
20,721 (8,000) |
320 (120) |
1.52 |
Smallest country in continental North America. |
|
Artsakh |
11,458 (4,424) |
N/A |
N/A |
1,45,053 |
11,458 (4,424) |
1,200 (460) |
1 |
5.000 km2. Armenian-controlled territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh by regions 11,5 km2. |
|
The Gambia |
11,295 (4,361) |
43.46% |
176 |
23,99,290 |
10,000 (3,900) |
1,295 (500) |
11.47 |
Smallest country in continental Africa. |
|
Lebanon |
10,452 (4,036) |
12.90% |
669 |
68,32,692 |
10,230 (3,950) |
170 (66) |
1.63 |
Second smallest country in continental Asia. |
|
Puerto Rico |
9,104 (3,515) |
6.87% |
360 |
28,77,655 |
9,104 (3,515) |
3,054 (1,179) |
35.2 |
An American territory, it is the third-largest island of the United States after the Big Island of Hawaii and Kodiak Island of Alaska. Also the smallest part of Hispanic America. |
|
French Southern and Antarctic Lands (France) |
7,747 (2,991) |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
7,668 (2,961) |
79.8 (30.8) |
1.03 |
Excludes claim on Adélie Land in Antarctica. |
|
Luxembourg |
2,586 (998) |
25.46% |
250 |
6,23,415 |
2,586 (998) |
0(0) |
0 |
The smallest country that is not a European microstate or island country |
|
Seychelles |
452 (175) |
0.32% |
214 |
98,199 |
455 (176) |
0(0) |
0 |
Smallest country in Africa. |
|
Malta |
316 (122) |
N/A |
1562 |
4,41,260 |
316 (122) |
0(0) |
0 |
Smallest European Union member state. |
|
Maldives |
300 (120) |
26.33% |
1719 |
5,38,141 |
298 (115) |
0(0) |
0 |
Smallest Country in Asia |
|
Saint Kits and Navis |
261 (101) |
19.23% |
205 |
53,107 |
261 (101) |
0(0) |
0 |
Smallest country in the Americas and the Western Hemisphere. |
|
Akrotiri and Dhekelia (United Kingdom) |
253.8 (98.0) |
N/A |
27.5 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
There is a salt lake and some wetlands of unknown area. |
|
Tuvalu |
26 (10) |
N/A |
393 |
11,192 |
26 (10) |
0(0) |
0 |
Smallest Commonwealth realm. |
|
Nauru |
21 (8.1) |
N/A |
682.45 |
10,807 |
21 (8.1) |
Smallest island country, smallest republic and smallest country that is not a city-state |
||
|
Monaco |
2.02 (0.78) |
0% |
N/A |
39,174 |
2.02 (0.78) |
0(0) |
0 |
Smallest country with a coastline. Smallest United Nations member state. |
|
Vatican City |
0.44 (0.17) |
0% |
N/A |
801 |
0.44 (0.17) |
0(0) |
0 |
Smallest country in the world. |
Note: In this post, we haven’t included the Antarctic territory in the Australian figures and dimensions since the Australia’s claim is not been recognized by the world.
What is that claim? There are seven nations in the world including Australia, Argentina, France, Norway, New Zealand, Britain, and Chile, who claims some land is overlapping in the Antarctic region. Following up the claim, the Antarctic Treaty in 1961 decided not to allow any single country to take control over any part of the Antarctic region and kept the claim of those seven nations on hold for the Treaty duration. No country claims or owns any part of land of Antarctica until all the land claims are resolved and hence no country includes the Antarctica area and region in their countries total size and area.
