Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia is the planet's sixth-largest country, spanning 7,688,287 square kilometres. While it is the smallest continental land mass, it is the largest island in the world. Australia's land area is about the same size as the continental US, and a trip from Sydney to Perth is comparable in distance to travelling from New York to Los Angeles. Australia is also larger than Europe, Japan, and the UK.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Australia's rank among the world's largest countries | Sixth |
| Australia's land area | 7,688,287 km2 |
| Australia's land area as a percentage of the world's land area | 5% |
| Australia's rank among the world's continental land masses | Smallest |
| Australia's rank among the world's islands | Largest |
| Australia's land area compared to the USA's | About the same |
| Australia's land area in square miles | 2.989 million |
| The USA's land area in square miles | 3.797 million |
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What You'll Learn
Australia is the world's largest island
Although Australia is the smallest continental land mass, it is almost twice the size of the next-largest island, Greenland, which covers 2,166,086 square kilometres. Australia's land area is so vast that it is comparable in size to the entire continent of North America, which includes the USA and Canada.
The size of Australia is often underestimated, and many people don't realise how large it is. It is a massive country with a variety of landscapes, from the tropical rainforests of Queensland to the snowy mountains of Victoria. The island continent is home to a diverse range of wildlife and ecosystems, including some of the most unique and rare species on the planet.
Despite its size, Australia has a relatively small population, with only about the same number of people as the state of Texas. This means that much of the country is sparsely populated, and there are vast areas of untouched wilderness. The country has a diverse range of environments, from the arid outback to the lush rainforests of the Daintree, and the majority of the population lives along the coastal areas, where the climate is more moderate.
Australia's size and isolation have also contributed to its unique flora and fauna. The island continent has been isolated from other land masses for millions of years, allowing its plant and animal life to evolve independently. This has resulted in a high level of biodiversity and many species that are found nowhere else on Earth, such as the kangaroo, the koala, and the Tasmanian devil.
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Australia is about the same size as continental USA
Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world, spanning 7,688,287 square kilometres. While it is the smallest continental land mass, it is the planet's largest island.
In comparison to the USA, Australia is about the same size as continental America. The land area of Australia is 2.989 million square miles, while the US measures 3.797 million square miles. To put this into perspective, travelling from Sydney to Perth (Australia's east to west coast) is roughly the same distance as travelling from New York to Los Angeles.
Despite being roughly the same size as the US, Australia has a significantly smaller population. The whole of Australia has around the same number of people as the state of Texas.
Australia's land mass is comparable to that of continental USA, but it is worth noting that it is smaller than the US as a whole, which includes Alaska and Hawaii.
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Australia is the planet's sixth-largest country
Australia is about the same size as continental USA. For example, travelling from Sydney to Perth (East Coast to West Coast) is roughly the same distance as travelling from New York to Los Angeles. However, the population of Australia is significantly less than that of the US. The whole of Australia has a similar population to the single state of Texas.
Despite its size, most of Australia's population lives within 100km of the coast. This is because much of the country is an inhospitable wasteland, with extreme temperatures and a lack of water for large cities. However, some people disagree with this characterisation, arguing that there is beauty in the desolation of the Australian desert.
Compared to other continents, Australia is smaller than Russia, Canada, China, the USA, and Brazil. However, it is still a large country, and its size is often underestimated.
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Australia is smaller than Russia, Canada, China, the USA, and Brazil
Australia is indeed a large country, but when compared to some other countries and continents, it is relatively small. To put it into perspective, Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world by land area, but it is significantly smaller than the top five: Russia, Canada, China, the United States, and Brazil. Russia, for example, is almost 15 million square kilometers larger than Australia, while Canada is almost double the size of Australia. China, the United States, and Brazil also surpass Australia in size, with each country boasting a land area of over 9 million square kilometers. In fact, the land area of the United States is so vast that it could fit almost 14 Australias within its borders.
When compared to these countries, Australia's land mass seems modest. Australia covers a total area of approximately 7.7 million square kilometers, including its mainland and its territories, such as Tasmania and Melville Island. In contrast, Russia, the largest country in the world, spans across 17 million square kilometers, or almost one-ninth of the Earth's land area. Canada, the second-largest country, covers nearly 10 million square kilometers, with a significant portion being the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.
China, the United States, and Brazil also dwarf Australia in size. China, the third-largest country, has a land area of over 9.5 million square kilometers, while the United States, the fourth-largest country, encompasses close to 9.9 million square kilometers. Brazil, the fifth-largest country, is slightly smaller than the United States but still significantly bigger than Australia, covering just over 8.5 million square kilometers. These countries not only surpass Australia in terms of land area but also often have more diverse and varied landscapes due to their larger geographical scope.
While Australia may not be as expansive as these top five countries, it is still a significant and sizeable country in its own right. Australia's unique geography and isolation as an island continent give it a distinct character and a diverse range of ecosystems and landscapes. The country is known for its vast interior deserts, such as the famous Outback, as well as its tropical rainforests, mountainous regions, and stunning coastal areas. Australia's size and geography have also played a role in shaping its culture, history, and economy, contributing to a strong national identity and a sense of remoteness from the rest of the world.
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Australia is 2.989 million square miles
Australia is a massive country, and its size is often underestimated when compared to other continents. Spanning 2.989 million square miles, Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world by total area. To put this into perspective, let's compare Australia's size to that of other continents.
Starting with South America, Australia is approximately half the size of this continent. South America covers an area of approximately 6.8 million square miles, making it significantly larger than Australia. Moving to Africa, the difference is even more pronounced. Africa, as a continent, is roughly triple the size of Australia, covering around 11.7 million square miles.
The comparison with North America also highlights Australia's substantial size. While North America, including Canada, the United States, and Mexico, covers an area of about 9.5 million square miles, Australia takes up almost one-third of this area. This becomes even more evident when compared to the continent of Europe, excluding Russia. Europe's area totals around 3.9 million square miles, which is just slightly larger than Australia.
Finally, let's compare Australia to the continent of Asia. Asia is the largest continent, covering approximately 17.2 million square miles. In comparison, Australia is just a fraction of Asia's size, highlighting the vastness of this continent. So, while Australia may not be a continent itself, its size is comparable to some of the smaller continents and makes it a significant landmass on the global scale.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is the planet's sixth-largest country, with a land area of 2.989 million square miles or 7,688,287 square kilometres.
The land area of the USA is 3.797 million square miles, which makes Australia about the same size as the continental USA.
Australia is the smallest continental land mass.
Australia's population is significantly less than that of the USA. The whole of Australia has about the same number of people as the state of Texas.
