Lexi Webster
Australia is the world's sixth-largest country, with a land area of about 2.989 million square miles or 7,741,220 sq km. In comparison, the United States is approximately 9,833,517 sq km, making it around 27% larger than Australia. In terms of size, Australia is comparable to the continental US, and its population is similar to that of Texas. This comparison aims to provide a sense of the vastness of Australia and the number of US states that could fit within its borders.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Land area of Australia | 2.989 million sq. miles or 7,688,287 sq. km |
| Land area of the US | 3.797 million sq. miles or 9,833,517 sq. km |
| US as % larger than Australia | 27% |
| Population of Australia | 26.1 million |
| Population of the US | 337.3 million |
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What You'll Learn
Australia is 2.99 million sq mi, the US is 3.79 million sq mi
Australia has a total area of 2.99 million square miles, which includes the mainland and its territories. In comparison, the contiguous United States (excluding Alaska and Hawaii) covers an area of approximately 3.1 million square miles. If we consider just the contiguous US, it would fit comfortably within Australia with some room to spare. However, the total area of the US, including all states and territories, is 3.79 million square miles, which is larger than Australia. This means that the US, in its entirety, would not fit within Australia.
To put this into perspective, let's consider the size of some individual US states. For example, Alaska, the largest state in the US, has an area of approximately 665,384 square miles, which is almost as large as the entire country of Australia. Texas, the second-largest state, covers 268,596 square miles, making it larger than any Australian state or territory. Even smaller states, such as California or New York, are comparable in size to some of the larger Australian states, such as Queensland or New South Wales.
In terms of landmass, the United States and Australia are both large countries with varying geographical features. The US has a more varied landscape, with mountains, deserts, forests, and a long coastline. Australia, on the other hand, is the smallest continent, and while it also has diverse landscapes, a significant portion of the country is arid or desert. Both countries have similar-sized populations, with the US having a slightly larger population density.
When comparing the sizes of countries or states, it's important to consider not just the total area but also the geographical features and land usage. For example, while the US is larger than Australia, a significant portion of this area is made up of water bodies, such as the Great Lakes, or is otherwise uninhabitable, such as the deserts in the Southwest. In contrast, Australia has a lower proportion of water bodies and a higher percentage of habitable land.
In conclusion, while it is true that the contiguous United States could fit within the borders of Australia, the total area of the US, including all states and territories, is larger. The comparison highlights the significant geographical size of both countries and the varying landscapes and features they encompass. It also reminds us that size alone does not tell the whole story, and other factors, such as population, land usage, and natural resources, play a crucial role in shaping a country's character and potential.
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The US is 27% larger than Australia
Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world, with a land area of 2.989 million square miles or approximately 7,741,220 square kilometres. In comparison, the United States is 3.797 million square miles or approximately 9,833,517 square kilometres in size. This makes the US 27% larger than Australia.
To put this into perspective, travelling from Sydney to Perth in Australia (from the East Coast to the West Coast) is roughly the same distance as travelling from New York to Los Angeles in the US. Despite Australia's vast size, it has a much smaller population than the US. Australia is home to around 26.1 million people, which is comparable to the population of the single US state of Texas.
The US also has a larger population, with approximately 311.2 million more people than Australia. In terms of landmass, the US is ranked fourth, after Russia, Canada, and China. While Australia is the smallest continental land mass, it is the largest island in the world, constituting five per cent of the Earth's land area.
The Mercator projection, used in some map representations, distorts the size of regions near the poles, which can affect the accuracy of size comparisons between the US and Australia. Nonetheless, the US is indeed larger than Australia, and this size difference is evident when considering the distance between their respective east and west coasts and their overall land areas.
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Australia is the world's sixth-largest country
To put it into perspective, travelling from Sydney to Perth in Australia (from the East Coast to the West Coast) is comparable to travelling from New York to Los Angeles in the US. Additionally, Australia has a significantly smaller population than the US, with around 26.1 million people, whereas 311.2 million people reside in the US.
Australia is the smallest continent in the world and is considered part of Oceania. It is surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans and boasts 35,877 kilometres of coastline. The country encompasses the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands.
Being the world's flattest and driest inhabited continent, Australia exhibits a wide variety of landscapes and climates. It features deserts in its interior and tropical rainforests along its coast. The country is also home to the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef, which extends for more than 1,400 miles off the northeast coast.
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The US has 311.2 million more people than Australia
The US and Australia are comparable in size, with the US being around 27% larger than Australia. However, the population of the US is significantly higher than that of Australia. In fact, the population of the entire country of Australia is roughly equivalent to the population of the single US state of Texas.
The US population stands at approximately 337.3 million people, while Australia's population is around 26.1 million. This means that the US has 311.2 million more people than Australia. To put this into perspective, the difference in population between the two countries is similar to the entire population of the United Kingdom, or more than four times the population of New York City.
There are several factors that contribute to the significant population difference between the US and Australia. One factor is historical; the US has a longer history of immigration, dating back to the 17th century, while large-scale immigration to Australia did not begin until the mid-19th century. Additionally, the US has a higher birth rate than Australia, which has contributed to its larger population.
Another factor is the land area of the two countries. Despite being similar in size, Australia has a much lower population density than the US. Australia's population is concentrated in a few major cities, such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, while large areas of the country are sparsely populated or uninhabited. In contrast, the US has numerous large cities and a more evenly distributed population, which has allowed for a higher overall population.
The difference in population between the US and Australia has significant implications for various aspects of life in the two countries. For example, the US has a much larger economy and a higher GDP due to its larger population and workforce. Additionally, the US has a more diverse range of cultural, social, and political perspectives due to its larger and more varied population.
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Sydney to Perth is like New York to Los Angeles
When comparing the vast distances in Australia to those in the United States, one common analogy is to liken the journey from Sydney to Perth to travelling from New York to Los Angeles. This comparison helps to put into perspective just how large and spread out Australia is. Sydney and Perth are two of Australia's most prominent cities, with Sydney being the largest and Perth renowned for its isolation. Similarly, in the US, New York and Los Angeles are major cultural and economic centres on opposite coasts. The distance between Sydney and Perth is approximately 2,700 miles (4,350 kilometres), while the distance between New York and Los Angeles is roughly 2,775 miles (4,466 kilometres). So, in pure distance terms, these two journeys are quite comparable.
However, when we consider the context of each country, the analogy takes on a deeper significance. The United States has a population of over 330 million people spread across 50 states, while Australia's population is just over 25 million, with only 6 states and 2 territories. This means that Australia's population is more sparsely distributed, and its cities tend to be more remote from one another. So, while the distance between Sydney and Perth may be similar to that between New York and LA, the Australian journey often feels more arduous due to the sparse population and vast, often uninhabited, landscapes traversed.
The journey from Sydney to Perth takes you across almost the entire width of the Australian continent. Along the way, you'll pass through several iconic Australian landscapes, from the lush, coastal regions surrounding Sydney, through the agricultural heartland of New South Wales and into the vast, arid interior of the country, before finally reaching the Indian Ocean coast in Western Australia. In contrast, the journey from New York to LA takes travellers across the vast expanse of the United States, from the bustling East Coast, through the agricultural Midwest, and into the desert landscapes of the Southwest, before finally reaching the Pacific Coast. Both journeys offer a diverse and dynamic insight into the geography and culture of their respective countries.
Sydney and New York, while thousands of miles apart, both serve as iconic global cities and key cultural centres for their respective nations. Sydney is renowned for its stunning harbour, beaches, and laid-back outdoor lifestyle, while also being a major financial hub in the Asia-Pacific region. New York, on the other hand, is often considered the cultural and financial capital of the United States, with its dense urban landscape, world-renowned museums and theatres, and status as a global centre for media, fashion, and art. Perth, meanwhile, shares similarities with Los Angeles in terms of their sunny, coastal settings and their association with the entertainment industry, though Perth lacks the same scale of population and industry as LA.
This comparison of Sydney to Perth and New York to Los Angeles helps to illustrate the vast distances and unique geography of both countries. It also highlights the diverse range of landscapes, cultures, and lifestyles that can be found within these two expansive nations. While the US has a higher population density overall, Australia's vast interior and remote cities offer a different kind of challenge when it comes to travel and connectivity. So, the next time you hear someone compare Sydney to Perth as being like New York to LA, you'll understand the context and the unique characteristics that make these journeys similar yet distinct.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is about the same size as continental USA. The land area of Australia is 2.989 million square miles, while the US is 3.797 million square miles.
Given that the US has about 25% more land area than Australia, it's likely that around 3-4 small US states could fit into Australia.
Alaska is the US state that is closest in size to Australia, with a land area of around 665,384 square miles.
Australia's population is significantly less than that of the US. Australia has about the same number of people as the state of Texas.
Yes, Alaska and Texas are both larger than Australia in terms of land area.
