Which is bigger: Western Sahara or Guinea?

Western Sahara is larger (266,000 km²) — about 1.1 times the size of Guinea (245,857 km²).

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

Western Sahara vs Guinea Size Comparison

Discover the true size difference between Western Sahara and Guinea. 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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Western Sahara ↗

Surface Area266,000 km²

Population652,271

TypeCountry

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Guinea ↗

Surface Area245,857 km²

Population12,414,318

TypeCountry

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