Which is bigger: Afghanistan or France?

Afghanistan is larger (652,230 km²) — about 1.0 times the size of France (643,801 km²).

Why do Afghanistan and France look different on the map than in reality?

The common Mercator projection enlarges areas the farther they lie from the equator, so the on-map size proportions of Afghanistan and France are distorted compared to their true land area.

Afghanistan vs France Size Comparison

Discover the true size difference between Afghanistan and France. Compare their overlaid silhouettes and learn how the Mercator projection distorts scale.

Direct Silhouette Overlay (same scale)

Comparison of shapes at the exact same, real geographic scale. Click or tap and drag either silhouette to adjust positioning manually.

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Afghanistan ↗

Surface Area652,230 km²

Population37,172,386

TypeCountry

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France ↗

Surface Area643,801 km²

Population66,977,107

TypeCountry

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