Which is bigger: Laos or Guyana?

Laos is larger (236,800 km²) — about 1.1 times the size of Guyana (214,969 km²).

Why do Laos and Guyana 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 Laos and Guyana are distorted compared to their true land area.

02Act II · 1:1 studioChange pair ↙

Laos×Guyana

Put Laos and Guyana on the same scale. Drag, separate, and see what the Mercator map hides.

Reverse order ⇄

True-size comparison

Same scale. Real difference.

Drag the outlines to overlap them, or place them side by side.

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Laos ↗

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Total surface area236,800 km²ed. 2024

Population7,873,0462025

Land area230,800 km²2023

TypeCountry

Guyana ↗

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Total surface area214,969 km²ed. 2024

Population835,9862025

Land area211,140 km²2023

TypeCountry