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Brits may think that getting from one end of their country to the other is a long-distance journey.
But your perspective on the matter might change if you use the fascinating size comparison map toolmylifesomewhere.comwhich allows users to place maps of countries and continents directly on top of other land masses to find out how big they really are.
Using this narrative function of the tapes, it turns out that Britain is a small country in the international circuit, slightly smaller than the state of California and overshadowed by the United States as a whole.
The United States, for its part, appears much more diminished when compared to Africa.
AND Indiawhich stands imposingly over the Asian subcontinent, does not seem so impressive when placed on the mighty Canada.
Scroll down for a geography lesson like no other.
Europe vs Africa
Africa is about 30,365,000 square kilometres, making it three times larger than Europe (10,180,000 square kilometres).
Europe vs. United States
![Fascinating size comparison maps reveal just how big countries and continents REALLY are – the UK is smaller than California… and Africa is bigger than Australia 7 Fascinating size comparison maps reveal just how big countries and](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/Fascinating-size-comparison-maps-reveal-just-how-big-countries-and.jpg.webp)
Europe (10,180,000 km²) is larger than the United States (9,833,517 km²), but only by four percent.
Australia vs Africa
![Fascinating size comparison maps reveal just how big countries and continents REALLY are – the UK is smaller than California… and Africa is bigger than Australia 9 Australia covers 7,741,220 square kilometres, but Africa covers a whopping 30,365,000 square kilometres, making it 3.9 times larger.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1723999454_425_Fascinating-size-comparison-maps-reveal-just-how-big-countries-and.jpeg.webp)
Australia covers 7,741,220 square kilometres, but Africa covers a whopping 30,365,000 square kilometres, making it 3.9 times larger.
United States vs China
![Fascinating size comparison maps reveal just how big countries and continents REALLY are – the UK is smaller than California… and Africa is bigger than Australia 11 The United States is the world's largest economy, followed by China in second place. But does the United States also surpass China in size? Just barely. China covers 9,596,960 km2, while the United States has 9,833,517 km2. The United States is therefore 2% larger. However, the United States, which has a population of 333 million, is home to 1.1 billion fewer people than China, which has a population of 1.4 billion.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1723999460_975_Fascinating-size-comparison-maps-reveal-just-how-big-countries-and.jpeg.webp)
The United States is the world’s largest economy, followed by China in second place. But does the United States also surpass China in size? Just barely. China covers 9,596,960 km2, while the United States has 9,833,517 km2. The United States is therefore 2% larger. However, the United States, which has a population of 333 million, is home to 1.1 billion fewer people than China, which has a population of 1.4 billion.
United States vs United Kingdom
![Fascinating size comparison maps reveal just how big countries and continents REALLY are – the UK is smaller than California… and Africa is bigger than Australia 13 The United States (9,833,517 square kilometres) is approximately 40 times larger than the United Kingdom (243,610 square kilometres), with 269 million more people living there.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1723999465_629_Fascinating-size-comparison-maps-reveal-just-how-big-countries-and.jpeg.webp)
The United States (9,833,517 square kilometres) is approximately 40 times larger than the United Kingdom (243,610 square kilometres), with 269 million more people living there.
United Kingdom vs California
![Fascinating size comparison maps reveal just how big countries and continents REALLY are – the UK is smaller than California… and Africa is bigger than Australia 15 California is approximately 1.7 times larger than the United Kingdom, with the former covering 403,882 square kilometres.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1723999470_478_Fascinating-size-comparison-maps-reveal-just-how-big-countries-and.jpeg.webp)
California is approximately 1.7 times larger than the United Kingdom, with the former covering 403,882 square kilometres.
United Kingdom vs Australia
![Fascinating size comparison maps reveal just how big countries and continents REALLY are – the UK is smaller than California… and Africa is bigger than Australia 17 Australia is huge: it covers 7,741,220 square kilometres, making it 32 times larger than the UK.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1723999475_560_Fascinating-size-comparison-maps-reveal-just-how-big-countries-and.jpeg.webp)
Australia is huge: it covers 7,741,220 square kilometres, making it 32 times larger than the UK.
Greenland vs. United States
![Fascinating size comparison maps reveal just how big countries and continents REALLY are – the UK is smaller than California… and Africa is bigger than Australia 19 In reality, Greenland is a bit smaller than it appears on many maps, but it is still huge: it covers 2,166,086 km2. The image above shows how it looks compared to the US, where the latter country is 354% larger. In terms of population, the contrast is stark: only 57,000 people live in Greenland.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1723999481_453_Fascinating-size-comparison-maps-reveal-just-how-big-countries-and.jpeg.webp)
In reality, Greenland is a bit smaller than it appears on many maps, but it is still huge: it covers 2,166,086 km2. The image above shows how it looks compared to the US, where the latter country is 354% larger. In terms of population, the contrast is stark: only 57,000 people live in Greenland.
India vs Africa
![Fascinating size comparison maps reveal just how big countries and continents REALLY are – the UK is smaller than California… and Africa is bigger than Australia 21 India (3,287,263 square kilometers) occupies a prominent place in the Asian subcontinent, but is swamped by Africa, which is nine times larger.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1723999486_436_Fascinating-size-comparison-maps-reveal-just-how-big-countries-and.jpeg.webp)
India (3,287,263 square kilometers) occupies a prominent place in the Asian subcontinent, but is swamped by Africa, which is nine times larger.
Africa vs. United States
![Fascinating size comparison maps reveal just how big countries and continents REALLY are – the UK is smaller than California… and Africa is bigger than Australia 23 While the United States is colossal, it is no match for the African continent, which is 3.1 times larger.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1723999491_55_Fascinating-size-comparison-maps-reveal-just-how-big-countries-and.jpeg.webp)
While the United States is colossal, it is no match for the African continent, which is 3.1 times larger.
Russia vs. United States
![Fascinating size comparison maps reveal just how big countries and continents REALLY are – the UK is smaller than California… and Africa is bigger than Australia 25 Russia is huge, covering 17,098,242 square kilometers, making it 1.7 times larger than the United States (shown here without Alaska).](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1723999495_676_Fascinating-size-comparison-maps-reveal-just-how-big-countries-and.jpeg.webp)
Russia is huge, covering 17,098,242 square kilometers, making it 1.7 times larger than the United States (shown here without Alaska).
United States vs Canada
![Fascinating size comparison maps reveal just how big countries and continents REALLY are – the UK is smaller than California… and Africa is bigger than Australia 27 Canada (9,984,670 square kilometers) is slightly larger than its busier southern neighbor, while the United States is 98.49 percent the size.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1723999500_596_Fascinating-size-comparison-maps-reveal-just-how-big-countries-and.jpeg.webp)
Canada (9,984,670 square kilometers) is slightly larger than its busier southern neighbor, while the United States is 98.49 percent the size.
United States vs Australia
![Fascinating size comparison maps reveal just how big countries and continents REALLY are – the UK is smaller than California… and Africa is bigger than Australia 29 Australia is 78.72 percent the size of the United States, or 1.3 times smaller.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1723999506_18_Fascinating-size-comparison-maps-reveal-just-how-big-countries-and.jpeg.webp)
Australia is 78.72 percent the size of the United States, or 1.3 times smaller.
Canada vs India
![Fascinating size comparison maps reveal just how big countries and continents REALLY are – the UK is smaller than California… and Africa is bigger than Australia 31 Canada is 204 percent larger than India, even though there are 1.4 billion fewer people there.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1723999512_453_Fascinating-size-comparison-maps-reveal-just-how-big-countries-and.jpeg.webp)
Canada is 204 percent larger than India, even though there are 1.4 billion fewer people there.
United Kingdom vs India
![Fascinating size comparison maps reveal just how big countries and continents REALLY are – the UK is smaller than California… and Africa is bigger than Australia 33 India (3,287,263 km2) is 13 times larger than the UK (243,610 km2). However, India, which has a population of around 1.4 billion, is home to almost 1.3 billion more people than the UK, which has 68 million.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1723999518_31_Fascinating-size-comparison-maps-reveal-just-how-big-countries-and.jpeg.webp)
India (3,287,263 km2) is 13 times larger than the UK (243,610 km2). However, India, which has a population of around 1.4 billion, is home to almost 1.3 billion more people than the UK, which has 68 million.
Brazil vs United Kingdom
![Fascinating size comparison maps reveal just how big countries and continents REALLY are – the UK is smaller than California… and Africa is bigger than Australia 35 Brazil (8,515,770 km2) is approximately 35 times larger than the United Kingdom.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1723999523_611_Fascinating-size-comparison-maps-reveal-just-how-big-countries-and.jpeg.webp)
Brazil (8,515,770 km2) is approximately 35 times larger than the United Kingdom.
Brazil vs. United States
![Fascinating size comparison maps reveal just how big countries and continents REALLY are – the UK is smaller than California… and Africa is bigger than Australia 37 It's almost a tie: Brazil is 86.6 percent the size of the United States, but Brazil is home to 120.1 million fewer people](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1723999527_513_Fascinating-size-comparison-maps-reveal-just-how-big-countries-and.jpeg.webp)
It’s almost a tie: Brazil is 86.6 percent the size of the United States, but Brazil is home to 120.1 million fewer people
MyLifeElsewhere reveals that it uses the Mercator projection to display maps. It is “the most commonly used projection in cartography” but it does mean that some areas are distorted near the poles.