
Alaska and Western Australia are two of the largest subnational divisions in the world. Alaska is the largest US state by area, and Western Australia is Australia's largest state. Western Australia occupies 32.9% of Australia's land area, with a total land area of 2,527,013 square kilometres. Alaska, on the other hand, is approximately 1,481,348 sq km. While Alaska is larger in square feet, Western Australia is 1.47 times bigger than Alaska in square kilometres.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Size of Alaska | 1,481,348 sq km |
| Size of Western Australia | 2,527,013 sq km |
| Alaska as a percentage of Western Australia | 0.68 times |
| Population of Alaska | ~710,231 people |
| Population of Western Australia | 2.6 million people |
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What You'll Learn

Western Australia is 1.45 times bigger than Alaska
Western Australia is approximately 2,527,013 square kilometres in size, while Alaska is approximately 1,481,348 square kilometres. This makes Western Australia around 1.45 times bigger than Alaska.
Alaska is the largest US state by area, and it is even bigger than the next three largest states—Texas, California, and Montana—combined. However, Western Australia is still significantly larger. To put it into perspective, Western Australia occupies 32.9% of Australia's total land area, excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west and the Southern Ocean to the south, with the Northern Territory and South Australia as its eastern borders.
On the other hand, Alaska is a US state located in the northwest extremity of the country's West Coast. It borders the Canadian province of British Columbia and the territory of Yukon to the east and southeast. Alaska also has a maritime border with Russia's Chukotka Autonomous Okrug to the west. Despite being the largest US state, Alaska appears bigger on a Mercator projection map due to the distortion of regions near the poles.
The difference in size between Western Australia and Alaska is quite notable, with Western Australia being almost half a million square kilometres larger. This size comparison is interesting given that both regions are known for their vast and sparsely populated areas. While Western Australia has about 2.6 million inhabitants, Alaska's population is significantly smaller at around 710,000 people.
In summary, Western Australia is indeed approximately 1.45 times bigger than Alaska. This comparison highlights the significant geographical differences between these two regions, which are both known for their large sizes and relatively low population densities.
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Alaska is the seventh-largest subnational division in the world
Alaska is a massive state, so big that it is the seventh-largest subnational division in the world. It is so large that it has been compared in size to Western Australia, which occupies 32.9% of Australia's land area, excluding external territories. Western Australia is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, and the Southern Ocean to the south, with the Northern Territory to the northeast and South Australia to the southeast. It is Australia's largest state, with a total land area of 2,527,013 square kilometres (975,685 sq mi).
Alaska, on the other hand, is approximately 1,481,348 sq km, making it almost half the size of Australia. It is located at the northwest extremity of the US West Coast, bordering Canada and Russia. As the largest US state by area, Alaska is even bigger than the next three largest states combined: Texas, California, and Montana.
Despite its vast size, Alaska has a relatively small population of around 710,231 people, while Western Australia is home to about 2.6 million people. This highlights the differences in population density between the two regions.
The comparison between Alaska and Western Australia is interesting because it showcases the unique geographical characteristics of these regions. While Alaska may appear larger on certain map projections, such as the Mercator projection, the actual area per square mile of Western Australia is difficult to comprehend. This comparison also highlights the impact of scale and perspective on our understanding of geographical sizes.
In conclusion, Alaska's status as the seventh-largest subnational division in the world is impressive, especially when compared to other large regions like Western Australia. Its sheer size and geographical position contribute to its unique characteristics and importance on a global scale.
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Western Australia is Australia's largest state
The state is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. The Timor Sea makes up its northern coast. Western Australia has a population of over 2.9 million people as of June 2024, with more than 2 million people living in the state capital, Perth, and around 80% of the state's population concentrated in this south-west corner. The remaining areas of the state are sparsely populated.
Western Australia has the world's largest iron-ore mining industry and is a significant contributor to the country's economy. The state is also a major producer of bauxite, gold, nickel, wheat, copper, lithium, and other commodities. Its primary industries include agriculture in the Wheatbelt and temperate southern coastal regions, pastoralism, forestry, and fishing.
The flora of Western Australia is diverse, with 10,162 published native vascular plant species and 1,196 more that are currently recognised but unpublished. The state is also home to around 630 species of birds, with the southwestern corner and the area around Broome and the Kimberley being particularly notable for birdwatching.
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Alaska is the largest US state by area
Alaska's vast land area comprises more total area than the next three largest US states—Texas, California, and Montana—combined. It is an exclave of the US, situated in the northwest extremity of the country's West Coast, bordering Canada and Russia. With its substantial size, Alaska showcases the diversity and grandeur of American landscapes.
Western Australia, on the other hand, occupies 32.9% of Australia's land area, excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west and the Southern Ocean to the south, sharing borders with the Northern Territory and South Australia. Western Australia is not only Australia's largest state but also the second-largest country subdivision globally, surpassed only by Russia's Sakha Republic.
Despite Alaska's impressive size within the US, it becomes evident that Western Australia surpasses it in terms of sheer geographical extent. This comparison highlights the substantial sizes of both regions and showcases the unique characteristics of these two remarkable places on our planet.
While Alaska may be the largest US state by area, Western Australia's expanse showcases that size can be relative, depending on the context. This comparison invites us to explore the diverse landscapes and cultural offerings of both regions, each with its own distinct character and natural wonders.
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Western Australia is the second-largest country subdivision in the world
Western Australia is a massive Australian state occupying the western 32.9 percent of Australia's land area. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the northeast, and South Australia to the southeast. Western Australia is Australia's largest state, with a total land area of 2,527,013 square kilometres (975,685 sq mi). In fact, it is the second-largest country subdivision in the world, only surpassed by Russia's Sakha Republic.
Western Australia is so big that it is almost the same size as Alaska, the largest US state by area. Alaska is approximately 1,481,348 sq km, while Western Australia is around 2,527,013 sq km, making Western Australia 68% larger than Alaska. To put it into perspective, Alaska is bigger than the next three largest US states—Texas, California, and Montana—combined.
Despite their similar sizes, the population numbers between the two regions vary greatly. As of 2017, Western Australia had about 2.6 million inhabitants, with the vast majority (92%) living in the southwest corner, particularly in the Perth area. In contrast, Alaska has a population of around 710,231 people.
The sheer size of Western Australia is evident when comparing it to other countries. For instance, Texas, a state often associated with vast expanses, is only about 0.28 times the size of Western Australia. Similarly, countries like Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile are respectively 1, 0.43, and 0.3 times the size of Western Australia, highlighting the immense size of this Australian state.
Western Australia's vast land area and sparse population outside the Perth region contribute to its unique character and present a different perspective on the typical notion of scale and distance.
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Frequently asked questions
Alaska is approximately 1,481,348 sq km, while Western Australia is roughly 2,527,013 sq km. This makes Western Australia around 0.68 times the size of Alaska, or about two-thirds as big.
Alaska is smaller than Western Australia.
Alaska is the largest US state by area, comprising more total area than the next three largest states (Texas, California, and Montana) combined.
Western Australia occupies about 32.9% of Australia's land area (excluding external territories) and is the country's largest state.
Alaska has a population of around 710,231 people, while Western Australia has approximately 2.6 million inhabitants as of 2017. Western Australia has a higher population despite its smaller size.
























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