Compare Country Sizes at True Scale
Web maps lie about size — this tool doesn't. Pick any two countries to see their outlines drawn at identical scale with true spherical areas, so you can finally see how big countries really are next to each other.
Loading country shapes…
How to use this tool
Type to search 177 countries in each box. Start typing and select from the suggestions.
Both shapes render at the exact same map scale using an equal-area projection, so the on-screen areas are directly comparable.
The headline tells you how many times larger the bigger country is, with each country's true area in square kilometers underneath.
Use the swap button to flip the pair, and test famous surprises — like how many Texases fit in Algeria, or Greenland versus Africa.
What people use this tool for
End arguments about whether one country is really bigger than another with a true-scale visual.
Show students why Mercator maps exaggerate high-latitude countries by comparing outlines here versus on a web map.
Grasp the real scale of a destination country before planning a trip or writing about it.
How it's calculated
Outlines come from the Natural Earth 1:110m dataset. Areas are computed on the sphere from polygon geometry (not flat map math). Both countries are drawn with a Lambert cylindrical equal-area projection at one shared degrees-to-pixels scale, so visual area ratios match the true area ratios.
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Frequently asked questions
Why do countries look different sizes here than on Google Maps?
Most web maps use the Mercator projection, which stretches high-latitude regions — Greenland looks as big as Africa, but Africa is actually about 14 times larger. This tool uses an equal-area projection at identical scale, so sizes are honest.
How is each country's area calculated?
From the spherical geometry of its boundary polygons — the true surface area on Earth in square kilometers, not flat pixels on a screen.
Which countries can I compare?
All 177 countries and territories in the Natural Earth 1:110m dataset, searchable by name in both boxes.
Does the comparison include overseas territories?
Outlines follow the Natural Earth dataset's country definitions, which generally include a country's main administered territory as one feature.
Can I compare more than two countries?
The tool compares pairs for clarity. To compare a third country, swap one of the boxes and compare it against the same reference.