Which is bigger: Western Sahara or Ecuador?

Western Sahara is larger (266,000 km²) — about 1.0 times the size of Ecuador (257,215.296 km²).

Why do Western Sahara and Ecuador 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 Western Sahara and Ecuador are distorted compared to their true land area.

Western Sahara vs Ecuador Size Comparison

Discover the true size difference between Western Sahara and Ecuador. Compare their overlaid silhouettes and learn how the Mercator projection distorts scale.