Which is bigger: Sierra Leone or United Arab Emirates?

Sierra Leone is larger (72,300 km²) — about 1.0 times the size of United Arab Emirates (71,024 km²).

Why do Sierra Leone and United Arab Emirates 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 Sierra Leone and United Arab Emirates are distorted compared to their true land area.

Sierra Leone vs United Arab Emirates Size Comparison

Discover the true size difference between Sierra Leone and United Arab Emirates. Compare their overlaid silhouettes and learn how the Mercator projection distorts scale.