Top 10 Largest Countries in the World

Several of the largest countries in the world are also popular tourist destinations. If you enjoy traveling chances are you’ve visited at least a few of the world’s largest nations. These are the 10 largest countries in the world listed in order from smallest to largest.

10 – Sudan (967,498 sq. miles) – Located in northern Africa, Sudan is the largest country on the African continent and the largest country in the Arab world. Sudan is home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations and has a population of around 42 million people.

9 – Kazakhstan (1,049,155 sq. miles) – Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country in the world. Kazakhstan is bordered by Russia, China , Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and the Caspian Sea. The country is home to around 16.2 million people.

8 – Argentina (1,068,302 sq. miles) – Of all South American nations, Argentina is surpassed in size only by neighboring Brazil. Argentina is a diverse nation home to glaciers, rainforests and fantastic wildlife. The country’s southernmost city of Ushuaia serves as the gateway to Antarctica and the Patagonian region of Argentina is a favorite tourist destination.

7 – India (1,269,345 sq. miles) – India is the third-largest country in Asia after Russia and China and the second-most populous country in the world. India gained independence from the United Kingdom as recently as 1947. The country is an increasingly popular tourist destination.

6 – Australia (2,967,908 sq. miles) – Australia is the largest country in the world that is completely surrounded by ocean and the world’s smallest continent. With a population of around 22 million people, Australia is one of the world’s most developed nations.

5 – Brazil (3,286,487 sq. miles) – Brazil is the largest country in South America and the largest country in the Southern Hemisphere. Brazil is one of the few non-Spanish speaking nations in South America. Brazil is home to the Amazon Rainforest and numerous impressive natural wonders.

4 – China (3,705,405 sq. miles) – China is the second-largest country in Asia after Russia. China is home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations and is the most populous nation in the world with over 1.3 billion residents. The country is an increasingly popular tourist destination.

3 – United States (3,717,811 sq. miles) – The United States is the second-largest country in North America after Canada. Bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south the United States includes the Alaska, Hawaii and several territories in the Caribbean and Pacific. The United States has a population of around 309 million people.

2 – Canada (3,851,808 sq. miles) – Canada is the largest country in the Western Hemisphere. It occupies most of the continent of North America. Both English and French are recognized as official languages. Canada is ranked among the safest counties in the world.

1 – Russia (6,592,769 sq. miles) – Russia is by far the largest country in the world and is home to 142 million people. The country spans nine time zones and a wide range of environments and landscapes.

Sources:
World Atlas
About.com Geography
The World Factbook
Wikipedia