Which is bigger: Norway or Central African Republic?

Norway is larger (624,500 km²) — about 1.0 times the size of Central African Republic (622,984 km²).

Why do Norway and Central African Republic 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 Norway and Central African Republic are distorted compared to their true land area.

02Act II · 1:1 studioChange pair ↙

Norway×Central African Republic

Put Norway and Central African Republic 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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Norway ↗

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Total surface area624,500 km²2023

Population5,610,8702025

Land area364,270 km²2023

TypeCountry

Central African Republic ↗

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Total surface area622,984 km²ed. 2024

Population5,513,2822025

Land area622,980 km²2023

TypeCountry