Which is bigger: United States or China?

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

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

United States vs China Size Comparison

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

Surface Area9,833,517 km²

Population326,687,501

TypeCountry

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China ↗

Surface Area9,596,961 km²

Population1,392,730,000

TypeCountry

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