The 10 Biggest Countries In The World

Are you wondering where the biggest countries in the world are located? Are you interested to learn more about these countries? Then you have come to the right place! In this article I will tell you all about the 10 biggest countries in the world by size, but also by population, gross domestic product (GDP) and Human Development Index (HDI). Ready to learn more? Keep reading…

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The Biggest Countries in the World

Studying the biggest countries in the world is fascinating! The world is made up of a total of 195 countries, each with its own unique culture, history, and economic system. While some countries are small, others are massive and cover large areas of land. Lets dig a bit deeper and take a look at the biggest countries in the world by size and examine their political, economic, and social developments too.

Country Profiles of the 10 Largest Countries

Before we look at the biggest countries in the world in depth, lets first take a look at some of the key facts. Here are brief profiles of the 10 largest countries by total area and land area:

Russia: This massive country covers 17,098,242 square kilometres and has a population of 145 million. It is the world’s largest country by total area, and it is an upper-middle-income country with a GDP of $1.61 trillion.
Canada: This sprawling nation covers 9,984,670 square kilometres and has a population of 37 million. It is the world’s second-largest country by total area, and it is a high-income country with a GDP of $1.76 trillion.
China: This immense country covers 9,719,000 square kilometres and has a population of 1.4 billion. It is the world’s third-largest country by total area, and it is an upper-middle-income country with a GDP of $14.23 trillion.
United States: This large country covers 9,629,091 square kilometres and has a population of 328 million. It is the world’s fourth-largest country by total area, and it is a high-income country with a GDP of $21.44 trillion.
Brazil: This massive nation covers 8,515,767 square kilometres and has a population of 212 million. It is the world’s fifth-largest country by total area, and it is an upper-middle-income country with a GDP of $2.14 trillion.
Australia: This expansive country covers 7,682,300 square kilometres and has a population of 25 million. It is the world’s sixth-largest country by total area, and it is a high-income country with a GDP of $1.45 trillion.
India: This huge country covers 3,287,263 square kilometres and has a population of 1.3 billion. It is the world’s seventh-largest country by total area, and it is a lower-middle-income country with a GDP of $2.94 trillion.
Argentina: This vast nation covers 2,780,400 square kilometres and has a population of 44 million. It is the world’s eighth-largest country by total area, and it is an upper-middle-income country with a GDP of $711 billion.
Kazakhstan: This immense country covers 2,724,900 square kilometres and has a population of 18 million. It is the world’s ninth-largest country by total area, and it is an upper-middle-income country with a GDP of $244 billion.
Algeria: This immense nation covers 2,381,741 square kilometres and has a population of 43 million. It is the world’s tenth-largest country by total area, and it is an upper-middle-income country with a GDP of $248 billion.

The Biggest Countries in the World: An In Depth Look

The biggest countries in the world are also some of the most fascinating! These countries have some of the best landmarks in the world, the longest rivers in the world and some of the world’s largest glaciers, to name just a few examples of why these countries are so interesting. So, without further ado, lets look a bit deeper into the biggest countries in the world..

Russia – The Largest Country in the World

Russia is the largest country in the world, covering an area of 17,098,242 square kilometres. It is located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia, bordered by 16 countries. It has a population of 146.2 million people and is home to over 100 ethnic groups, making it one of the most diverse countries in the world.

The Russian economy is the twelfth largest in the world and is heavily dependent on oil and natural gas exports. It is also one of the world’s leading producers of grain and other agricultural products. The country’s culture is a mix of East Slavic and other influences, including the Orthodox Church, which is the largest religion in Russia.

Russia is a transcontinental nation with a vast geography that includes both the European and Asian continents. It is home to some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes and landmarks, from the vast tundra of the north to the majestic mountains of the south. The country is also home to many iconic cities, such as Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Canada – The Second Largest Country in the World

Coming in second on the list of the largest countries in the world is Canada, which has an area of 9,984,670 square kilometres. It is located in North America and has a population of 37.7 million people. Canada is a multicultural country, with over 200 ethnic groups and two official languages: English and French.

The Canadian economy is the tenth largest in the world and is powered by an abundance of natural resources, including oil, natural gas, and timber. The country is also home to a thriving technology sector, which is rapidly expanding.

Canada is home to an incredible variety of landscapes, from the prairies and mountains of the west to the forests and coastlines of the east. The country is also home to many iconic cities, including Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.

China – The Third Largest Country in the World

China is the third largest country in the world, covering an area of 9,596,960 square kilometres. It is located in East Asia and is home to a population of 1.4 billion people. China is a culturally diverse nation, with over 56 distinct ethnic groups.

The Chinese economy is the second largest in the world and is powered by a combination of manufacturing, agriculture, and services. The country is also one of the world’s largest exporters of goods and services.

China is home to an incredible variety of landscapes, from the deserts of the northwest to the tropical islands of the south. The country is also home to some of the world’s most iconic cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong and the landmarks in China are some of the most impressive in the world.

United States – Fourth Largest Country in the World

The United States is the fourth largest country in the world, covering an area of 9,833,520 square kilometres. It is located in North America and is home to a population of 329.6 million people. The US is a culturally diverse nation, with over 250 ethnic groups and many languages spoken.

The US economy is the largest in the world and is powered by a combination of services, manufacturing, and agriculture. The country is also one of the world’s leading exporters of goods and services.

The US is home to an incredible variety of landscapes, from the deserts of the southwest to the forests of the northeast. The country is also home to some of the world’s most iconic cities, such as New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. There are also a large number of landmarks in the USA that are worth visiting.

Brazil – Fifth Largest Country in the World

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world, covering an area of 8,515,770 square kilometres. It is located in South America and is home to a population of 211.5 million people. Brazil is a culturally diverse nation, with over 65 distinct ethnic groups.

The Brazilian economy is the ninth largest in the world and is powered by a combination of services, manufacturing, and agriculture. The country is also one of the world’s largest producers of coffee and soybeans.

Brazil is home to an incredible variety of landscapes, from the Amazon rainforest to the beaches of the northeast. The country is also home to some of the world’s most iconic cities, such as Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. The landmarks of Brazil are very impressive too.

Australia – Sixth Largest Country in the World

Australia is the sixth largest country in the world, covering an area of 7,692,024 square kilometres. It is located in the southern hemisphere and is home to a population of 25.5 million people. Australia is a culturally diverse nation, with over 250 distinct ethnic groups.

The Australian economy is the world’s twelfth largest and is powered by a combination of services, manufacturing, and agriculture. The country is also one of the world’s leading exporters of goods and services.

Australia is home to an incredible variety of landscapes, from the vast outback to the stunning coastlines of the east. The country is also home to some of the world’s most iconic cities, such as Sydney and Melbourne.

India – Seventh Largest Country in the World

India is the seventh largest country in the world, covering an area of 3,287,263 square kilometres. It is located in South Asia and is home to a population of 1.3 billion people. India is a culturally diverse nation, with over 2,000 distinct ethnic groups. India has a fascinating history.

The Indian economy is the world’s fifth largest and is powered by a combination of services, manufacturing, and agriculture. The country is also one of the world’s leading exporters of goods and services.

India is home to an incredible variety of landscapes, from the Himalayan mountains to the tropical beaches of the south. The country is also home to some of the world’s most iconic cities, such as Delhi and Mumbai. There are some incredible landmarks in India that millions of tourists flock to every year.

Argentina – Eighth Largest Country in the World

Argentina is the eighth largest country in the world, covering an area of 2,780,400 square kilometres. It is located in South America and is home to a population of 45.1 million people. Argentina is a culturally diverse nation, with over 30 distinct ethnic groups.

The Argentine economy is the world’s seventeenth largest and is powered by a combination of services, manufacturing, and agriculture. The country is also one of the world’s leading exporters of goods and services.

Argentina is home to an incredible variety of landscapes, from the Andes mountains to the grasslands of the south. The country is also home to some of the world’s most iconic cities, such as Buenos Aires and Cordoba.

Kazakhstan – Ninth Largest Country in the World

The ninth country on this list might surprise you! Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world, covering an area of 2,724,900 square kilometres. It is located in Central Asia and is home to a population of 18.9 million people. Kazakhstan is a culturally diverse nation, with over 130 distinct ethnic groups.

The Kazakh economy is the world’s fiftieth largest and is powered by a combination of services, manufacturing, and agriculture. The country is also one of the world’s leading exporters of oil and gas.

Although it does not currently receive a huge amount of tourists to take advantage of this, Kazakhstan is home to an incredible variety of landscapes, from the mountains of the east to the steppes of the west. The country is also home to some of the world’s most iconic cities, such as Almaty and Astana.

Algeria – Tenth Largest Country in the World

Last but not least on this list of the biggest countries in the world is Algeria. Algeria is the tenth largest country in the world, covering an area of 2,381,741 square kilometres. It is located in North Africa and is home to a population of 43.2 million people. Algeria is a culturally diverse nation, with over 90 distinct ethnic groups.

The Algerian economy is the world’s forty-fourth largest and is powered by a combination of services, manufacturing, and agriculture. The country is also one of the world’s leading exporters of natural gas and crude oil.

Algeria is home to an incredible variety of landscapes, from the desert of the north to the mountains of the south. The country is also home to some of the world’s most iconic cities, such as Algiers and Oran.

The Biggest Countries in the World- Other Measures

Whilst most people will measure the biggest countries in the world by the physical size of the land, there are other important measures that should also be noted, namely population, GDP and HDI. After all, The United Kingdom is physically tiny, yet it is considered a ‘big’ country in the world by plenty of other measures!

So, lets take a look at these three other measures and how the ranks of biggest countries in the world change…

The 10 Biggest Countries In the World by Population

World population growth is huge and there are several countries who are currently experiencing a decline birth rates, such as China and others which are set to boom in terms of population numbers, such as India. This means, that whilst one country may be bigger than another now, this might not always be the case. But… bigger doesn’t always mean better, does it?

The 10 most populous countries in the world are:

China- 1.4 billion
India- 1.3 billion
The United States- 328 million
Indonesia– 270 million
Brazil- 212 million
Pakistan– 207 million
Nigeria- 200 million people
Bangladesh- 164 million
Russia- 145 million
Mexico- 128 million

As you can see, this list of biggest countries in the world is quite different than the previous list!

The Biggest Countries in the World by Gross Domestic Product

For many people, the biggest countries in the world are the ones with most clout, i.e. money and power. The more GDP a country has, the more power is usually has on the world stage. As such, we could argue that the biggest countries in the world are not those with the most land, but instead those with the biggest money.

Whether you agree or not, it is interesting to know which countries are the biggest GDP, so I have summarised this for you below:

The United States- $21.44 trillion
China- $14.23 trillion
Japan- $5.15 trillion
Germany- $4.19 trillion
India- $2.94 trillion
The United Kingdom- $2.83 trillion
France– $2.71 trillion
Brazil- $2.14 trillion
Italy– $2.09 trillion
Canada- $1.86 trillion

The Largest Countries by Human Development Index

Many people would argue that when considering the biggest countries in the world the best measure is The Human Development Index (HDI). This is a method to measure the average performance of people in terms of human development.

The HDI includes having a healthy life, being knowledgeable, and having a satisfying standard of living. The HDI is the mean of three indices which are used to measure the three dimensions, which are:

Average life expectancy of a person at birth
The number of years of schooling for adults and anticipated years of schooling for kids of school age
The gross national income per capita.

All the three indices are then combined to form one composite index which is calculated using the geometric mean. The HDI can be used to question the choices a country is making and why two countries with the same level of GNI per capita can end up with different results and is often used in political decision making.

The 10 countries with the highest HDI scores are:

Norway- 0.944
Switzerland– 0.939
Ireland– 0.935
Germany- 0.934
Australia- 0.933
Hong Kong- 0.931
Iceland- 0.930
Sweden- 0.927
Singapore- 0.926
Denmark– 0.923

And last but not least, lets finish off this article by taking a look at the political, economic and social developments of the 10 biggest countries in the world.

The biggest countries in the world by total area and land area have made great strides in terms of political, economic, and social development. Here are a few interesting and important facts with some links if you want to learn more:

Russia has emerged as a global leader in the energy sector, and it has a strong military presence in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
Canada has a strong economy and is a major global financial centre, while China has emerged as a key player in the global economy and is a leader in technology and innovation.
The United States has the world’s largest economy and is a major player in global affairs.
Brazil has made great strides in reducing poverty and inequality.
Australia is a wealthy country with a well-developed economy.
India is a rapidly developing nation with a growing middle class.
Argentina is a major agricultural producer and a major exporter of food.
Kazakhstan is a major oil producer and exporter.
Algeria is a major exporter of oil and natural gas, and it has made great strides in reducing poverty and inequality.

Conclusion- The Biggest Countries in the World

In conclusion, the 10 biggest countries in the world can be measured in different ways, from physical size, to GDP and HDI and determining which measure it the most important is an interesting debate. If you have enjoyed this article about the biggest countries in the world, I am sure that you will love these too: