The world's largest country vs the world's second-largest continent
Winner: Africa (1.77× larger)
🗺️ Compare InteractivelyProportional representation: Africa could contain Russia + additional 13.3M km²
| Comparison Factor | 🇷🇺 Russia | 🌍 Africa | Winner | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land Area | 17,098,246 km² | 30,365,000 km² | Africa | 1.77:1 |
| Population | 146.2 million | 1.4+ billion | Africa | 9.6:1 |
| Population Density | 8.5 people/km² | 46.1 people/km² | Africa | 5.4:1 |
| GDP (Nominal 2023) | $2.24 trillion | $2.86 trillion | Africa | 1.28:1 |
| Number of Countries | 1 | 54 | Africa | 54:1 |
| Coastline Length | 37,653 km | 30,490 km | Russia | 1.23:1 |
| Time Zones | 11 | 6 | Russia | 1.83:1 |
| Highest Point | 5,642m (Mt. Elbrus) | 5,895m (Mt. Kilimanjaro) | Africa | 1.04:1 |
Map Distortion Impact: Russia appears even larger on Mercator maps due to its high latitude. At Moscow's latitude (56°N), areas appear 1.8× their actual size relative to equatorial regions.
Minimal Distortion: Africa's equatorial position means it appears close to its true size on most map projections, unlike high-latitude regions that suffer extreme distortion.
Source: US Geological Survey
Source: WorldClim Database
During the Cold War (1945-1991), the Soviet Union's apparent dominance on world maps reinforced perceptions of its power and reach. The declassified CIA documentsfrom this era often referenced the USSR's "vast territorial expanse" as a strategic factor.
The visual impact of Russia's stretched appearance on maps contributed to Western fears about Soviet expansion, even though much of Russia's territory consists of sparsely populated tundra and taiga.
Meanwhile, Africa's true enormity was consistently underestimated. Colonial-era maps often fragmented Africa into separate regions, making it harder to grasp the continent's massive scale. According toUN Economic Commission for Africa, this contributed to systematic underinvestment in continental infrastructure.
Understanding Africa's true size helps explain why it's now considered the world's last major economic frontier, with the African Development Bankprojecting sustained high growth rates.
Mind-blowing fact: You could fit the contiguous United States into the Sahara Desert alone, and still have room for Texas!
Source: World Bank Transport Data
Source: International Energy Agency
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