Land Area of the United States, China, and Russia
Land area (excluding inland water bodies) for the three largest countries by total area:
| Country | Land Area (km²) | Land Area (sq mi) |
|---|
| Russia | 17,075,200 | 6,612,073 |
| United States | 9,833,517 | 3,796,742 |
| China | 9,596,961 | 3,705,407 |
Notes
- Russia is 1.7× larger than the US or China — spans 11 time zones, 170° longitude.
- US vs. China are nearly equal in land area; US slightly larger. Total area (including coastal/territorial waters) favors US (9.8M vs 9.6M km²).
- Data: UN Statistics Division / CIA World Factbook (2023); definitions of "land area" vary slightly (e.g., inclusion of disputed territories, coastal waters).
- Canada (9,093,507 km²) is 4th; Brazil (8,460,415 km²) 5th.
Why It Matters
- Resource base (arable land, minerals, forests, water).
- Strategic depth, border management.
- Population density: Russia (8.4/km²), US (36/km²), China (153/km²) — vastly different carrying capacities.
These three giants dominate the planet's terrestrial surface—and its geopolitics.
Wanderlust World