The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1990 to 2025 World
Area - comparative World, in 32 editions.
The entry for World published Area - comparative in 32 editions of 36, from 1990 to 2025. The text changed in 11 editions. Each is shown as published. Area - comparative in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 11
- the first edition with it
- 1990
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Comparative area” (1990 to 1992), “Area - comparative” (1997 to 2025), “Area-comparative” (1998) and “Area--comparative” (1999).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
1990 edition
First publishedThe same text in 3 editions, 1990 to 1992.
Published as “Comparative area”
land area about 16 times the size of the US
land area about 16 times the size of the US
The entry for World did not include Area - comparative.
land area about 15 times the size of the US
land area about 16 15 times the size of the US
Published as “Area-comparative”
land area about 15 times the size of the US
land area about 15 times the size of the US
Published as “Area--comparative”
land area about 15 times the size of the US
land area about 15 times the size of the US
The same text in 9 editions, 2000 to 2008.
land area about 16 times the size of the US
land area about 15 16 times the size of the US
land area about 16 times the size of the US
- top fifteen World Factbook entities ranked by size:
- Pacific Ocean 155.557 million sq km;
- Atlantic Ocean 76.762 million sq km;
- Indian Ocean 68.556 million sq km;
- Southern Ocean 20.327 million sq km;
- Russia 17,098,242 sq km;
- Arctic Ocean 14.056 million sq km;
- Antarctica 14 million sq km;
- Canada 9,984,670 sq km;
- United States 9,826,675 sq km;
- China 9,596,961 sq km;
- Brazil 8,514,877 sq km;
- Australia 7,741,220 sq km;
- European Union 4,324,782 sq km;
- India 3,287,263 sq km;
- Argentina 2,780,400 sq km
Rewritten: too little of the 2008 text remains to mark the changes.
land area about 16 times the size of the US
top fifteen World Factbook entities ranked by size:
Pacific Ocean 155.557 million sq km; Atlantic Ocean 76.762 million sq km; Indian Ocean 68.556 million sq km; Southern Ocean 20.327 million sq km; Russia 17,098,242 sq km; Arctic Ocean 14.056 million sq km; Antarctica 14 million sq km; Canada 9,984,670 sq km; United States 9,826,675 sq km; China 9,596,961 sq km; Brazil 8,514,877 sq km; Australia 7,741,220 sq km; European Union 4,324,782 sq km; India 3,287,263 sq km; Argentina 2,780,400 sq km
The same text in 3 editions, 2010 to 2012.
land area about 16 times the size of the US
- top fifteen World Factbook entities ranked by size:
- Pacific Ocean 155.557 million sq km;
- Atlantic Ocean 76.762 million sq km;
- Indian Ocean 68.556 million sq km;
- Southern Ocean 20.327 million sq km;
- Russia 17,098,242 sq km;
- Arctic Ocean 14.056 million sq km;
- Antarctica 14 million sq km;
- Canada 9,984,670 sq km;
- United States 9,826,675 sq km;
- China 9,596,961 sq km;
- Brazil 8,514,877 sq km;
- Australia 7,741,220 sq km;
- European Union 4,324,782 sq km;
- India 3,287,263 sq km;
- Argentina 2,780,400 sq km
- top ten largest islands:
- Greenland 2,166,086 sq km;
- New Guinea (Indonesia, Papua New Guinea) 785,753 sq km;
- Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia) 751,929 sq km;
- Madagascar 587,713 sq km;
- Baffin Island (Canada) 507,451 sq km;
- Sumatra (Indonesia) 472,784 sq km;
- Honshu (Japan) 227,963 sq km;
- Victoria Island (Canada) 217,291 sq km;
- Great Britain (United Kingdom) 209,331 sq km;
- Ellesmere Island (Canada) 196,236 sq km
land area about 16 times the size of the US
top fifteen World Factbook entities ranked by size:
Pacific Ocean 155.557 million sq km; Atlantic Ocean 76.762 million sq km; Indian Ocean 68.556 million sq km; Southern Ocean 20.327 million sq km; Russia 17,098,242 sq km; Arctic Ocean 14.056 million sq km; Antarctica 14 million sq km; Canada 9,984,670 sq km; United States 9,826,675 sq km; China 9,596,961 sq km; Brazil 8,514,877 sq km; Australia 7,741,220 sq km; European Union 4,324,782 sq km; India 3,287,263 sq km; Argentina 2,780,400 sq km
top ten largest islands:
Greenland 2,166,086 sq km; New Guinea (Indonesia, Papua New Guinea) 785,753 sq km; Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia) 751,929 sq km; Madagascar 587,713 sq km; Baffin Island (Canada) 507,451 sq km; Sumatra (Indonesia) 472,784 sq km; Honshu (Japan) 227,963 sq km; Victoria Island (Canada) 217,291 sq km; Great Britain (United Kingdom) 209,331 sq km; Ellesmere Island (Canada) 196,236 sq km
The same text in 2013 and 2014.
land area about 16 times the size of the US
- top fifteen World Factbook entities ranked by size:
- Pacific Ocean 155.557 million sq km;
- Atlantic Ocean 76.762 million sq km;
- Indian Ocean 68.556 million sq km;
- Southern Ocean 20.327 million sq km;
- Russia 17,098,242 sq km;
- Arctic Ocean 14.056 million sq km;
- Antarctica 14 million sq km;
- Canada 9,984,670 sq km;
- United States 9,826,675 sq km;
- China 9,596,961 sq km;
- Brazil 8,514,877 sq km;
- Australia 7,741,220 sq km;
- European Union 4,324,782 sq km;
- India 3,287,263 sq km;
- Argentina 2,780,400 sq km
- top ten largest water bodies:
- Pacific Ocean 155.557 million sq km;
- Atlantic Ocean 76.762 million sq km;
- Indian Ocean 68.556 million sq km;
- Southern Ocean 20.327 million sq km;
- Arctic Ocean 14.056 million sq km;
- Coral Sea 4,184,100 sq km;
- South China Sea 3,595,900 sq km;
- Caribbean Sea 2.834 million sq km;
- Bering Sea 2.52 million sq km;
- Mediterranean Sea 2.469 million sq km
- top ten largest landmasses:
- Asia 44,568,500 sq km;
- Africa 30.065 million sq km;
- North America 24.473 million sq km;
- South America 17.819 million sq km;
- Antarctica 14 million sq km;
- Europe 9.948 million sq km;
- Australia 7,741,220 sq km;
- Greenland 2,166,086 sq km;
- New Guinea 785,753 sq km;
- Borneo 751,929 sq km
- top ten largest islands:
- Greenland 2,166,086 sq km;
- New Guinea (Indonesia, Papua New Guinea) 785,753 sq km;
- Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia) 751,929 sq km;
- Madagascar 587,713 sq km;
- Baffin Island (Canada) 507,451 sq km;
- Sumatra (Indonesia) 472,784 sq km;
- Honshu (Japan) 227,963 sq km;
- Victoria Island (Canada) 217,291 sq km;
- Great Britain (United Kingdom) 209,331 sq km;
- Ellesmere Island (Canada) 196,236 sq km
land area about 16 times the size of the US
top fifteen World Factbook entities ranked by size:
Pacific Ocean 155.557 million sq km; Atlantic Ocean 76.762 million sq km; Indian Ocean 68.556 million sq km; Southern Ocean 20.327 million sq km; Russia 17,098,242 sq km; Arctic Ocean 14.056 million sq km; Antarctica 14 million sq km; Canada 9,984,670 sq km; United States 9,826,675 sq km; China 9,596,961 sq km; Brazil 8,514,877 sq km; Australia 7,741,220 sq km; European Union 4,324,782 sq km; India 3,287,263 sq km; Argentina 2,780,400 sq km
top ten largest water bodies:
Pacific Ocean 155.557 million sq km; Atlantic Ocean 76.762 million sq km; Indian Ocean 68.556 million sq km; Southern Ocean 20.327 million sq km; Arctic Ocean 14.056 million sq km; Coral Sea 4,184,100 sq km; South China Sea 3,595,900 sq km; Caribbean Sea 2.834 million sq km; Bering Sea 2.52 million sq km; Mediterranean Sea 2.469 million sq km
top ten largest landmasses:
Asia 44,568,500 sq km; Africa 30.065 million sq km; North America 24.473 million sq km; South America 17.819 million sq km; Antarctica 14 million sq km; Europe 9.948 million sq km; Australia 7,741,220 sq km; Greenland 2,166,086 sq km; New Guinea 785,753 sq km; Borneo 751,929 sq km
top ten largest islands:
Greenland 2,166,086 sq km; New Guinea (Indonesia, Papua New Guinea) 785,753 sq km; Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia) 751,929 sq km; Madagascar 587,713 sq km; Baffin Island (Canada) 507,451 sq km; Sumatra (Indonesia) 472,784 sq km; Honshu (Japan) 227,963 sq km; Victoria Island (Canada) 217,291 sq km; Great Britain (United Kingdom) 209,331 sq km; Ellesmere Island (Canada) 196,236 sq km
land area about 16 times the size of the US
- top fifteen World Factbook entities ranked by size:
- Pacific Ocean 155.557 million sq km;
- Atlantic Ocean 76.762 million sq km;
- Indian Ocean 68.556 million sq km;
- Southern Ocean 20.327 million sq km;
- Russia 17,098,242 sq km;
- Arctic Ocean 14.056 million sq km;
- Antarctica 14 million sq km;
- Canada 9,984,670 sq km;
- United States 9,826,675 sq km;
- China 9,596,960 sq km;
- Brazil 8,515,770 sq km;
- Australia 7,741,220 sq km;
- European Union 4,324,782 sq km;
- India 3,287,263 sq km;
- Argentina 2,780,400 sq km
- top ten largest water bodies:
- Pacific Ocean 155.557 million sq km;
- Atlantic Ocean 76.762 million sq km;
- Indian Ocean 68.556 million sq km;
- Southern Ocean 20.327 million sq km;
- Arctic Ocean 14.056 million sq km;
- Coral Sea 4,184,100 sq km;
- South China Sea 3,595,900 sq km;
- Caribbean Sea 2.834 million sq km;
- Bering Sea 2.52 million sq km;
- Mediterranean Sea 2.469 million sq km
- top ten largest landmasses:
- Asia 44,568,500 sq km;
- Africa 30.065 million sq km;
- North America 24.473 million sq km;
- South America 17.819 million sq km;
- Antarctica 14 million sq km;
- Europe 9.948 million sq km;
- Australia 7,741,220 sq km;
- Greenland 2,166,086 sq km;
- New Guinea 785,753 sq km;
- Borneo 751,929 sq km
- top ten largest islands:
- Greenland 2,166,086 sq km;
- New Guinea (Indonesia, Papua New Guinea) 785,753 sq km;
- Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia) 751,929 sq km;
- Madagascar 587,713 sq km;
- Baffin Island (Canada) 507,451 sq km;
- Sumatra (Indonesia) 472,784 sq km;
- Honshu (Japan) 227,963 sq km;
- Victoria Island (Canada) 217,291 sq km;
- Great Britain (United Kingdom) 209,331 sq km;
- Ellesmere Island (Canada) 196,236 sq km
land area about 16 times the size of the US
top fifteen World Factbook entities ranked by size:9,596,961 9,596,960 sq km; Brazil 8,514,877 8,515,770 sq km; Australia 7,741,220 sq km; European Union 4,324,782 sq km; India 3,287,263 sq km; Argentina 2,780,400 sq km
top ten largest water bodies:
top ten largest landmasses:
top ten largest islands:
The same text in 2016 and 2017.
land area about 16 times the size of the US
- top fifteen World Factbook entities ranked by size:
- Pacific Ocean 155.557 million sq km;
- Atlantic Ocean 76.762 million sq km;
- Indian Ocean 68.556 million sq km;
- Southern Ocean 20.327 million sq km;
- Russia 17,098,242 sq km;
- Arctic Ocean 14.056 million sq km;
- Antarctica 14 million sq km;
- Canada 9,984,670 sq km;
- United States 9,826,675 sq km;
- China 9,596,960 sq km;
- Brazil 8,515,770 sq km;
- Australia 7,741,220 sq km;
- European Union 4,324,782 sq km;
- India 3,287,263 sq km;
- Argentina 2,780,400 sq km
- top ten largest water bodies:
- Pacific Ocean 155.557 million sq km;
- Atlantic Ocean 76.762 million sq km;
- Indian Ocean 68.556 million sq km;
- Southern Ocean 20.327 million sq km;
- Arctic Ocean 14.056 million sq km;
- Coral Sea 4,184,100 sq km;
- South China Sea 3,595,900 sq km;
- Caribbean Sea 2.834 million sq km;
- Bering Sea 2.52 million sq km;
- Mediterranean Sea 2.469 million sq km
- top ten largest landmasses:
- Asia 44,568,500 sq km;
- Africa 30.065 million sq km;
- North America 24.473 million sq km;
- South America 17.819 million sq km;
- Antarctica 14 million sq km;
- Europe 9.948 million sq km;
- Australia 7,741,220 sq km;
- Greenland 2,166,086 sq km;
- New Guinea 785,753 sq km;
- Borneo 751,929 sq km
- top ten largest islands:
- Greenland 2,166,086 sq km;
- New Guinea (Indonesia, Papua New Guinea) 785,753 sq km;
- Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia) 751,929 sq km;
- Madagascar 587,713 sq km;
- Baffin Island (Canada) 507,451 sq km;
- Sumatra (Indonesia) 472,784 sq km;
- Honshu (Japan) 227,963 sq km;
- Victoria Island (Canada) 217,291 sq km;
- Great Britain (United Kingdom) 209,331 sq km;
- Ellesmere Island (Canada) 196,236 sq km
- ten smallest independent countries:
- Holy See (Vatican City) 0.44 sq km;
- Monaco 2 sq km;
- Nauru 21 sq km;
- Tuvalu 26 sq km;
- San Marino 61 sq km;
- Liechtenstein 160 sq km;
- Marshall Islands 181 sq km;
- Saint Kitts and Nevis 261 sq km;
- Maldives 298 sq km;
- Malta 316 sq km
land area about 16 times the size of the US
top fifteen World Factbook entities ranked by size: Pacific Ocean 155.557 million sq km; Atlantic Ocean 76.762 million sq km; Indian Ocean 68.556 million sq km; Southern Ocean 20.327 million sq km; Russia 17,098,242 sq km; Arctic Ocean 14.056 million sq km; Antarctica 14 million sq km; Canada 9,984,670 sq km; United States 9,826,675 sq km; China 9,596,960 sq km; Brazil 8,515,770 sq km; Australia 7,741,220 sq km; European Union 4,324,782 sq km; India 3,287,263 sq km; Argentina 2,780,400 sq km
top ten largest water bodies: Pacific Ocean 155.557 million sq km; Atlantic Ocean 76.762 million sq km; Indian Ocean 68.556 million sq km; Southern Ocean 20.327 million sq km; Arctic Ocean 14.056 million sq km; Coral Sea 4,184,100 sq km; South China Sea 3,595,900 sq km; Caribbean Sea 2.834 million sq km; Bering Sea 2.52 million sq km; Mediterranean Sea 2.469 million sq km
top ten largest landmasses: Asia 44,568,500 sq km; Africa 30.065 million sq km; North America 24.473 million sq km; South America 17.819 million sq km; Antarctica 14 million sq km; Europe 9.948 million sq km; Australia 7,741,220 sq km; Greenland 2,166,086 sq km; New Guinea 785,753 sq km; Borneo 751,929 sq km
top ten largest islands: Greenland 2,166,086 sq km; New Guinea (Indonesia, Papua New Guinea) 785,753 sq km; Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia) 751,929 sq km; Madagascar 587,713 sq km; Baffin Island (Canada) 507,451 sq km; Sumatra (Indonesia) 472,784 sq km; Honshu (Japan) 227,963 sq km; Victoria Island (Canada) 217,291 sq km; Great Britain (United Kingdom) 209,331 sq km; Ellesmere Island (Canada) 196,236 sq km
ten smallest independent countries: Holy See (Vatican City) 0.44 sq km; Monaco 2 sq km; Nauru 21 sq km; Tuvalu 26 sq km; San Marino 61 sq km; Liechtenstein 160 sq km; Marshall Islands 181 sq km; Saint Kitts and Nevis 261 sq km; Maldives 298 sq km; Malta 316 sq km
- land area about 16 times the size of the US top fifteen World Factbook entities ranked by size: 155,557,000 Pacific Ocean;
- 76,762,000 Atlantic Ocean;
- 68,556,000 Indian Ocean;
- 20,327,000 Southern Ocean;
- 17,098,242 Russia;
- 14,056,000 Arctic Ocean;
- 14,000,000 Antarctica;
- 9,984,670 Canada;
- 9,826,675 United States;
- 9,596,960 China;
- 8,515,770 Brazil;
- 7,741,220 Australia;
- 4,324,782 European Union;
- 3,287,263 India;
- 2,780,400 Argentina top ten largest water bodies: 155,557,000 Pacific Ocean;
- 76,762,000 Atlantic Ocean;
- 68,556,000 Indian Ocean;
- 20,327,000 Southern Ocean;
- 14,056,000 Arctic Ocean;
- 4,184,100 Coral Sea;
- 3595900 South China Sea;
- 2,834,000 Caribbean Sea;
- 2,520,000 Bering Sea;
- 2,469,000 Mediterranean Sea top ten largest landmasses: 44,568,500 Asia;
- 30,065,000 Africa;
- 24,473,000 North America;
- 17,819,000 South America;
- 14,000,000 Antarctica;
- 9,948,000 Europe;
- 7,741,220 Australia;
- 2,166,086 Greenland;
- 785,753 New Guinea;
- 751,929 Borneo top ten largest islands: 2,166,086 Greenland;
- 785,753 New Guinea (Indonesia, Papua New Guinea);
- 751,929 Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia);
- 587,713 Madagascar;
- 507,451 Baffin Island (Canada);
- 472,784 Sumatra (Indonesia);
- 227,963 Honshu (Japan);
- 217,291 Victoria Island (Canada);
- 209,331 Great Britain (United Kingdom);
- 196,236 Ellesmere Island (Canada) ten smallest independent countries: 0.44 Holy See (Vatican City);
- 2 Monaco;
- 21 Nauru;
- 26 Tuvalu;
- 61 San Marino;
- 160 Liechtenstein;
- 181 Marshall Islands;
- 261 Saint Kitts and Nevis;
- 298 Maldives;
- 316 Malta
Rewritten: too little of the 2017 text remains to mark the changes.
land area about 16 times the size of the US top fifteen World Factbook entities ranked by size: 155,557,000 Pacific Ocean; 76,762,000 Atlantic Ocean; 68,556,000 Indian Ocean; 20,327,000 Southern Ocean; 17,098,242 Russia; 14,056,000 Arctic Ocean; 14,000,000 Antarctica; 9,984,670 Canada; 9,826,675 United States; 9,596,960 China; 8,515,770 Brazil; 7,741,220 Australia; 4,324,782 European Union; 3,287,263 India; 2,780,400 Argentina top ten largest water bodies: 155,557,000 Pacific Ocean; 76,762,000 Atlantic Ocean; 68,556,000 Indian Ocean; 20,327,000 Southern Ocean; 14,056,000 Arctic Ocean; 4,184,100 Coral Sea; 3595900 South China Sea; 2,834,000 Caribbean Sea; 2,520,000 Bering Sea; 2,469,000 Mediterranean Sea top ten largest landmasses: 44,568,500 Asia; 30,065,000 Africa; 24,473,000 North America; 17,819,000 South America; 14,000,000 Antarctica; 9,948,000 Europe; 7,741,220 Australia; 2,166,086 Greenland; 785,753 New Guinea; 751,929 Borneo top ten largest islands: 2,166,086 Greenland; 785,753 New Guinea (Indonesia, Papua New Guinea); 751,929 Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia); 587,713 Madagascar; 507,451 Baffin Island (Canada); 472,784 Sumatra (Indonesia); 227,963 Honshu (Japan); 217,291 Victoria Island (Canada); 209,331 Great Britain (United Kingdom); 196,236 Ellesmere Island (Canada) ten smallest independent countries: 0.44 Holy See (Vatican City); 2 Monaco; 21 Nauru; 26 Tuvalu; 61 San Marino; 160 Liechtenstein; 181 Marshall Islands; 261 Saint Kitts and Nevis; 298 Maldives; 316 Malta
land area about 16 times the size of the US
- Africa-US area comparison map :
- Africa-US area comparison map
- Antarctica-US area comparison map :
- Antarctica-US area comparison map
- Asia-US area comparison map :
- Asia-US area comparison map
- Australia-US area comparison map :
- Australia-US area comparison map
- Europe-US area comparison map :
- Europe-US area comparison map
- North America-US area comparison map :
- North America-US area comparison map
- South America-US area comparison map :
- South America-US area comparison map
Rewritten: too little of the 2018 text remains to mark the changes.
land area about 16 times the size of the US
Africa-US area comparison map : Africa-US area comparison map
Antarctica-US area comparison map : Antarctica-US area comparison map
Asia-US area comparison map : Asia-US area comparison map
Australia-US area comparison map : Australia-US area comparison map
Europe-US area comparison map : Europe-US area comparison map
North America-US area comparison map : North America-US area comparison map
South America-US area comparison map : South America-US area comparison map
land area about 16 times the size of the US
- Africa-US area comparison map :
- Africa-US area comparison map
- Antarctica-US area comparison map :
- Antarctica-US area comparison map
- Asia-US area comparison map :
- Asia-US area comparison map
- Australia-US area comparison map :
- Australia-US area comparison map
- Europe-US area comparison map :
- Europe-US area comparison map
- North America - US area comparison map:
- North America - US area comparison map
- South America-US area comparison map :
- South America-US area comparison map
land area about 16 times the size of the US
Africa-US area comparison map : Africa-US area comparison map
Antarctica-US area comparison map : Antarctica-US area comparison map
Asia-US area comparison map : Asia-US area comparison map
Australia-US area comparison map : Australia-US area comparison map
Europe-US area comparison map : Europe-US area comparison map
North America-US America - US area comparison map : map: North America-US America - US area comparison map
South America-US area comparison map : South America-US area comparison map
The same text in 5 editions, 2021 to 2025.
land area about 16 times the size of the US
Rewritten: too little of the 2020 text remains to mark the changes.
land area about 16 times the size of the US
No edition has those words. Try a shorter word.
Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “World: Area - comparative.” The World Factbook, 1990–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/world/area-comparative.