Which is bigger: China or United States?

United States is larger (9,833,517 km²) — about 1.0 times the size of China (9,596,961 km²).

Why do China and United States 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 China and United States are distorted compared to their true land area.

China vs United States Size Comparison

Discover the true size difference between China and United States. 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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China ↗

Surface Area9,596,961 km²

Population1,392,730,000

TypeCountry

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United States ↗

Surface Area9,833,517 km²

Population326,687,501

TypeCountry

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