there are completely44 European countriesrecognized by the United Nations, which ranks Europe third among the world's continents. These countries range in size from tiny to gigantic. In this post, we take a look atbiggest country in europe,as well as the top 20 by size.
An important consideration to keep in mind when ranking European countries by size is whether to count the area of a country's territory that lies outside the continent. For example, most of Russia is within theAsian continent🇧🇷 Other countries like France and Denmark also have areas outside the continent that can significantly increase their size. In this post, we try to count only the European parts of a country.
common questions
Is Ukraine the biggest country in Europe?
If you only want to count countries that exist entirely in Europe, then yes, Ukraine is the biggest. However, only the European part of Russia is larger than Ukraine.
What is the biggest country in Europe?
The biggest country in Europe is Russia. It is actually the biggest country in the world. Even though Russia exists on two continents, it still stands out if we only count the area of the country that belongs to Europe.
What continent is Russia on?
Russia is located on two continents: Europe and Asia. Both geography and culture play a role in determining where one continent begins and another ends, but the Ural Mountains and Ural River are often used to define Europe's eastern border in Russia. Russia is also widely considered a European country, with 75% of its population residing on the European continent.
Is Turkey in Europe?
Like Russia, Turkey exists in Europe and Asia. Unlike Russia, Turkey is widely considered an Asian and not a European country, as 97% of its territory is in Asia. Turkey's continents are separated by the Bosphorus, which separates Istanbul from the Anatolian side of the country.
Here is a map of the 10 largest countries in Europe:
1. Russia
Perhaps not surprisingly, Russia is the largest country in Europe; After all, it is the biggest country in the world. Although about 75% of Russia is in Asia, it still occupies 1,542,555 3,995,200 square kilometers (square miles) of Europe, an area much larger than any other European country. It is also home to the world's largest freshwater lake, Lake Baikal, and Europe's longest river, the Volga.
Russia is so vast that it spans 11 time zones and borders 16 other countries, more than any other country in the world. It is also number four in the rankingCountries with the longest coastlines
- World category:1
- European finish:3,995,200 Kilometers2(1,542,555 miles2)
- Total area of the property:16,377,742 Kilometers2(95,79%)
- Total water area:720,500 Kilometers2(4,21%)
2.Ukraine
How big is Ukraine? With an area of just over 600,000 square kilometers, Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe. He ranks 46th on a list ofthe biggest countries in the world🇧🇷 In addition to its gigantic neighbor to the east, Russia, it borders five other countries and the Black Sea. Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in 2014 and is actively trying to control other areas of Ukraine, a former member of the Soviet Union.
Plains and plateaus can be found in most parts of Ukraine, but the Carpathians can also be found to the west near Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. There are also many rivers in Ukraine, most of which flow into the Black Sea.
- World category:46
- Surface:603,628 Kilometers2(233,062 miles2)
- landing area:579.330 Kilometers2(95,99%)
- water surface:24,220 Kilometers2(4,01%)
3. France
Number three on this list is France with 551,695 square kilometers of territory in Europe. This number does not include the overseas territories, whose areas would help place France as the second largest country in Europe.
France is bordered by several bodies of water, including the North Sea, the English Channel, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It also borders eight different European countries. France is the first country on this list to be a member of the European Union and the Schengen Zone.
- World category:43
- European finish:551.695 Kilometers2(213,011 miles2)
- Total area of the property:640,427 kilometers2(99,48%)
- Total water area:3,374 kilometers2(0,52%)
4. Spain
Ranked 52nd on the list of the largest countries in the world, Spain is the fourth largest in Europe. It borders Portugal, Gibraltar (UK), Andorra and France and is the second westernmost country in continental Europe (after Portugal).
Spain is a transcontinental country with territories in Europe and Africa, but we have included in this list only the area of its European territory.
Spain is a very mountainous country with several mountain ranges, three main climate zones and several main rivers.
- World category:52
- European finish:498,511 kilometers2(192,576 miles2)
- Total area of the property:498,980 Kilometers2(%98,74)
- Total water area:6,390 kilometers2(%1,26)
5. Sweden
Between Norway and Finland is the Scandinavian country of Sweden, the fifth largest in Europe and the 56th largest in the world. Sweden's geography is characterized by extensive forest cover and many large lakes, particularly in the southern regions. Its border with Norway is the longest unbroken border in Europe.
- World category:56
- Surface:450,295 kilometers2(173,860 miles2)
- landing area:410.335 Kilometers2(91,13%)
- water surface:39,960 kilometers2(8,87%)
6. Germany
With coastlines on the Baltic and North Seas and land borders with nine other countries, Germany is the sixth largest country in Europe and ranks 63rd in the world. Germany has mountains, forests and rivers in abundance. The Danube originates in Germany and is the second longest river in Europe, eventually flowing into the Black Sea.
A little over half of the land in Germany is used for agriculture, almost a third of the country is covered in forests and 14% is developed with some kind of infrastructure.
- World category:63
- Surface:357,114 kilometers2(137,882 miles2)
- landing area:348,672 kilometers2(97,66%)
- water surface:8,350 kilometers2(2,34%)
7. Finland
After Germany in the list of the largest countries in Europe comes Finland with an area of almost 340,000 square kilometers. It occupies an area in the far north of Europe, bordering Russia, Sweden and Norway. TheCapital of Finland, Helsinki, is the northernmost world capital in continental Europe. The only capital further north is Reykjavík, Iceland.
- World category:66
- Surface:338,424 km² (130,666 miles)2)
- landing area:303,815 kilometers2(89,85%)
- water surface:34,330 Kilometers2(10,15%)
8. Norway
Norway is the eighth largest country in Europe, although it would rank sixth if Svalbard were included in its area measurement. It covers the northernmost point of continental Europe and is west of Finland and Sweden. The Norwegian coast is particularly fascinating as it is made up of spectacular fjords and thousands of islands.
- World category:69
- Surface:323,802 Kilometers2(125,012 miles2)
- landing area:304,282 kilometers2(93,97%)
- water surface:19,520 Kilometers2(6,03%)
9. Poland
The landscape of Europe's ninth largest country is diverse. Its northeast region contains one of the highest densities of lakes in the world, with over ten thousand in the country. There are also mountain ranges, a coastline along the Baltic Sea and forests. Poland's national animals are the sage, white stork and white-tailed eagle. Poland is also home to Europe's heaviest land animal, the European bison, which is protected by conservation efforts.
- World category:71
- Surface:312,679 Kilometers2(120,726 miles2)
- landing area:311,888 Kilometers2(99,98%)
- water surface:791 kilometers2(0,02%)
10. Italy
Italy is the tenth largest country in Europe and belongs to southern and western Europe. It borders France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia in the north of the country and extends to the Mediterranean Sea. Enclaves within the country are the sovereign states of San Marino and Vatican City. Italy also includes the two largest islands in the Mediterranean, Sicily and Sardinia.
- World category:73
- Surface:301,336 Kilometers2(116,346 miles2)
- landing area:294,140 Kilometers2(97,61%)
- water surface:7,200 kilometers2(2,39%)
11. United Kingdom
The United Kingdom comprises most of the British Isles and lies between the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The country with the highest percentage of land in the UK is England, which accounts for 53% of the total land area. The second largest country in Great Britain is Scotland, which also has the most mountainous terrain.
- World category:80
- Surface:242,900 kilometers2(93,784 miles2)
- landing area:241,930 Kilometers2(99,31%)
- water surface:1,680 kilometers2(0,69%)
12. Romania
Romania lies between Central, Southern and Southeast Europe. Bounded by the Black Sea and five other countries, it is populated by mountains, forests, lakes and castles. It is the 12th largest country in Europe and the 6th largest in the EU.
Around 27% of Romania's territory is covered by virgin forests, more than most other European countries. Romania is also where the Danube, Europe's second longest river, meets the Black Sea in the Danube Delta.
- World category:83
- Surface:238,397 kilometers2(92,046 miles2)
- landing area:231,231 kilometers2(96,9%)
- water surface:7,160 kilometers2(3,0%)
13. Belarus
The 13th largest country in Europe is Belarus, a landlocked country in northeastern Europe. It borders Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. Forests and rivers are two of the most common features of the country, with seven distinct administrative regions: sixoblastjthe capital of Belarus, Minsk.
- World category:86
- Surface:207,600 Kilometers2(80,200 miles2)
- landing area:202,900 kilometers2(97,7%)
- water surface:4,700 kilometers2(2,3%)
14. Kazakhstan
Like Russia and Turkey, Kazakhstan is a transcontinental country that occupies parts of Europe and Asia. For this list, only the area west of the Urals is considered European, making it the 14th largest country in Europe by area. Its total area is much larger: Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world with an area of almost 2,700,000 square kilometers.
The only other landlocked country that has territory on two different continents is Azerbaijan.
- World category:9
- European finish:148,000 kilometers2(mi2)
- Total area of the property:2,699,700 Kilometers2(99,0%)
- Total water area:25,200 kilometers2(1,0%)
15. Greece
Greece is not only the fifteenth largest country in Europe, but also one of the most mountainous. About 80% of the country is covered by mountains and hills, the highest peak being Mytikas, known as Mount Olympus in Greek mythology, home to the Greek gods. The country also has one of the longest coastlines in the world, thanks to its many islands and coastlines.
- World category:97
- Surface:131,940 Kilometers2(50,940 miles2)
- landing area:130,792 kilometers2(99,13%)
- water surface:1.148 km2(0,87%)
16. Bulgaria
Bulgaria occupies the entire eastern part of the Balkans, bordering the Black Sea and five other countries. It is home to some of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and has been ruled by many different peoples. There are three national parks in Bulgaria, and the country has one of the most diverse collections of flora and fauna in Europe.
- World category:105
- Surface:110,994 Kilometers2(42,855 miles2)
- landing area:108,560 Kilometers2(97,8%)
- water surface:2,434 Kilometers2(2,2%)
17. Island
Although Iceland is an island in the Atlantic Ocean and not connected to the European mainland, it is considered part of the continent in geographical, cultural, political, linguistic and historical contexts. Iceland is Europe's least populous country and the continent's second-largest island after Great Britain.
In addition to the main island, there are around 30 smaller islands that also make up Iceland. More than 60% of the country is covered by tundra.
- World category:108
- Surface:102,775 Kilometers2(39,682 miles2)
- landing area:100.031 Kilometers2(97,33%)
- water surface:2,744 Kilometers2(2,67%)
18. Hungary
Hungary is a landlocked country that borders seven others. There are two main rivers in Hungary, the Danube and the Tisza, which are often used to refer to different sections of the country's geography. There are few mountains in Hungary and the average elevation across the country is quite low.
The two most notable architectural styles in Hungary are historicism and art nouveau. The country is home to the largest synagogue in Europe, the Dohány Street Synagogue, and the largest spa in Europe, the Széchenyi Spa.
- World category:110
- Surface:93,030 Kilometers2(35,920 miles2)
- landing area:92,340 Kilometers2(99,3%)
- water surface:690 kilometers2(0,07%)
19. Portugal
In the far west of continental Europe lies the 19th largest country on the continent: Portugal. The only country that shares a land border with Portugal is Spain; The country is bathed by the Atlantic Ocean on its west and south sides.
Portugal is divided by the Tagus River, which runs through Lisbon from east to west,to portugal capital🇧🇷 The area of the country north of the river is mountainous as you move inland, and the southern part of Portugal is home to rolling plains.
- World category:111
- Surface:88,416 kilometers2(34,138 miles2)
- landing area:88,018 kilometers2(99,55%)
- water surface:398 kilometers2(0,45%)
20. Serbia
Serbia is a landlocked country in the Balkans and the 20th largest European country. Belgrade,the capital of Serbia, is by far the most populous city in the country. this is one ofCapitals of the world where the Danube flows.
Much of southern Serbia is mountainous, and there are four distinct mountain ranges found in the country: the Carpathians, the Balkan Mountains, the Dinaric Alps, and the Rilo-Rhodope mountain system.
- World category:113
- Surface:88,361 kilometers2(34,116 miles2)
- landing area:87,460 Kilometers2(99,0%)
- water surface:901 kilometer2(1,0%)
FAQs
Is Ukraine bigger than any country in Europe? ›
Background: Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe and the second-largest country in Europe after Russia. The Crimean Autonomous Republic - encompassing the Crimean Peninsula, or Crimea, in the south was part of Ukraine but is now occupied by Russia.
Where does Ukraine rank in size in the world? ›In terms of area, Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe after Russia and the 45th largest country in the world.
What is the biggest country in Europe by size? ›By surface area, France is the largest EU country and Malta the smallest.
Is Ukraine the 3rd largest country in Europe? ›Ukraine (Ukrainian: Україна, romanized: Ukraïna, pronounced [ʊkrɐˈjinɐ] ( listen)) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast.
Is Ukraine bigger than France or Spain? ›Top 10 Largest Countries in Europe (by total area):
Ukraine - 603,500 km² (233,000 mi²) France - 543,940 km² (210,020 mi²) Spain - 505,992 km² (195,365 mi²)
In terms of size the two are almost even, with Europe only slightly bigger than the US (10.2 million sq km vs 9.8 million sq km) but this includes large parts of Russia. The EU, which many people think of as Europe, has a population of 510 million people, in an area half the size of the US (4.3 million sq km).
How big is Europe without Russia? ›...
Europe.
| Show national borders Hide national borders Show all | |
|---|---|
| Area | 10,180,000 km2 (3,930,000 sq mi) (6th) |
| Population | 745,173,774 (2021; 3rd) |
Ukraine is slightly smaller than Texas, coming in at 233,031 square miles while Texas sits at 268,597 square miles. When the borders for the post-Soviet Union countries were drawn in 1991, Ukraine became the second largest country in Europe.
Is Ukraine larger than Germany? ›The territory of Ukraine is bigger than the territory of France, Spain, Sweden, Germany, and Poland. Ukraine is a transit point for passengers and cargoes from various countries thanks to its geographical location in the heart of Europe and an extensive network of the aircraft, railway, sea, and motor transport.
Which country is No 1 in world? ›United States. The United States of America is a North American nation that is the world's most dominant economic and military power.
What European country is as big as Texas? ›
France is roughly the same size as Texas with Texas about 8% larger. France is 248,573 square miles compared to Texas at 268,597 square miles.
Is Europe bigger than Texas? ›Texas Is Bigger Than Europe
Texas is around 695.6 ㎢ in size, making it at least 12% bigger than Ukraine and 23% larger than France. In fact, not only will the entire population of Europe fit in Texas, but the world too! That's how big this diverse state is.
The Ural Mountains divide Russia into two parts, bisecting the Eurasian supercontinent. European Russia covers the vast majority of Eastern Europe, and spans roughly 40% of Europe's total landmass, with over 15% of its total population, making Russia the largest and most populous country in Europe.
Is Ukraine the 2nd largest military in Europe? ›In 2021, Ukraine's Armed Forces, now numbering 246,445 (including 195,626 military personnel), was the second largest in the region after the Russian Armed Forces.
Is Ukraine the 4th largest country? ›Ukraine is the second-largest country in Europe with an area of just over 600,000 square kilometers. It is ranked 46 in a list of the largest countries of the world.
Is the country Ukraine larger than Texas? ›Ukraine is around the same size as Texas.
Texas is approximately 678,052 sq km, while Ukraine is approximately 603,550 sq km, making Ukraine 89.01% the size of Texas. Meanwhile, the population of Texas is ~25.1 million people (18.4 million more people live in Ukraine).
New York is about 4.9 times smaller than Ukraine.
Ukraine is approximately 603,550 sq km, while New York is approximately 122,283 sq km, making New York 20.26% the size of Ukraine. Meanwhile, the population of Ukraine is ~43.5 million people (24.2 million fewer people live in New York).
The largest country in the world is Russia with a total area of 17,098,242 Km² (6,601,665 mi²) and a land area of 16,376,870 Km² (6,323,142 mi²), equivalent to 11% of the total world's landmass of 148,940,000 Km² (57,510,000 square miles).
Is Ukraine bigger than Florida? ›Ukraine is about 4.3 times bigger than Florida.
Florida is approximately 139,670 sq km, while Ukraine is approximately 603,550 sq km, making Ukraine 332% larger than Florida. Meanwhile, the population of Florida is ~18.8 million people (24.7 million more people live in Ukraine).
| Characteristic | Area in square kilometers |
|---|---|
| Russia | 17,098,242 |
| Canada | 9,984,670 |
| USA | 9,833,517 |
| China | 9,596,960 |
What is the 40 largest country in the world? ›
- Australia. 2,967,909. 7,686,850.
- India. 1,269,346. 3,287,590.
- Argentina. 1,068,302. 2,766,890.
- Kazakhstan. 1,049,155. 2,717,300.
- Algeria. 919,595. 2,381,740.
- Democratic Republic of the Congo. 905,568. 2,345,410.
- Greenland. 836,330. 2,166,086.
- Mexico. 761,606. 1,972,550.
- Vietnam. For those wanting to live and work in an exotic place, but not pay a fortune, Vietnam is any budget travelers dream. ...
- Costa Rica. ...
- Bulgaria. ...
- Mexico. ...
- South Africa. ...
- China. ...
- South Korea. ...
- Thailand.
Before we move on to non-material stuff, it's worth it to ask why the U.S. is richer than Europe. One reason, as we'll see, is that Americans work more. Another reason is that the U.S. has a large endowment of natural resources, while European countries often have to pay for these from overseas.
Which is better Europe or USA? ›Key Takeaways. Overall, Europe has a lower cost of living due to lower healthcare expenses, a weakening euro currency, and low inflation. Europeans, however, tend to pay more of their income to taxes, and average wages tend to be lower than in America.
Is Texas larger than Germany? ›Did you know the state of Texas is nearly twice as big as Germany? Texas is approximately 268,581 sq mi, while Germany is approximately 137,988 sq mi. And @texasgov has a smaller population: 54,090,000 less people than Germany.
Why does Russia own a little bit of land in Europe? ›The short answer is: Germany was forced to give up huge patches of its conquered land at the end of WWII. In 1945 the Potsdam Agreement was signed by the USSR (now Russia), Britain and the USA. It specifically gave Kaliningrad (known as the German Königsberg at the time) to Russia, without opposition.
Which European country is closest to USA? ›Russia is the closest country to the United States outside North America. The answer is d) Russia. In fact, Russia is only about 58 miles away from the U.S. Maybe you got this travel trivia question right, thanks to Tina Fey's impersonation of Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live.
Can Europe exist without Russian oil? ›Even in a worst-case scenario, in which there is no piped Russian gas and low demand destruction, BNEF estimates Europe would still have enough gas to endure the coldest winter of the last 30 years without depleting its inventories.
Why is everything so big in Texas? ›The saying that everything is bigger in Texas likely originated as a reference to the enormity of the state's geographical area. In terms of square miles, Texas is second only to Alaska in size, and it is the largest of the contiguous 48 states.
Is Texas bigger than Africa? ›Africa has an area of 30,370,000 sq km, while Texas doesn't even break one million sq km, coming in at 676,587 sq km. This means Africa is 45 times larger than the state!
Is Ukraine bigger than California? ›
Ukraine is about 1.5 times bigger than California.
California is approximately 403,882 sq km, while Ukraine is approximately 603,550 sq km, making Ukraine 49% larger than California.
Ukraine is about 1.6 times bigger than Japan.
Japan is approximately 377,915 sq km, while Ukraine is approximately 603,550 sq km, making Ukraine 60% larger than Japan.
Ukraine is about 2.4 times bigger than Michigan.
Michigan is approximately 250,493 sq km, while Ukraine is approximately 603,550 sq km, making Ukraine 141% larger than Michigan. Meanwhile, the population of Michigan is ~9.9 million people (33.6 million more people live in Ukraine).
Ukraine is about 6 times bigger than Ohio.
Ohio is approximately 106,056 sq km, while Ukraine is approximately 603,550 sq km, making Ukraine 469% larger than Ohio. Meanwhile, the population of Ohio is ~11.5 million people (32.0 million more people live in Ukraine).
| Rank | Country | Overall |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 80.6 |
| 2 | Switzerland | 80.1 |
| 3 | Ireland | 80.0 |
| 4 | New Zealand |
- United States.
- Russia.
- China.
- India.
- Japan.
- South Korea.
- France.
The U.S. economy is the world's largest in terms of gross domestic product, and also the most technologically powerful. The country's most significant exports are computers and electrical machinery, vehicles, chemical products, food, live animals and military equipment.
Is France or Texas Bigger? ›France is roughly the same size as Texas—but you can comfortably stuff Switzerland in alongside it like an accessory.
Is north America bigger than Europe? ›(1) North America is about 9.5 million square miles (24.7 million sq. km), or 16.5% of the Earth's total land area, vs. Europe's 3.9 million square miles (10.2 million sq. km) – just 6.8% of the total land area on the planet.
Is Texas bigger than Paris? ›Texas is about 1.2 times bigger than France.
Meanwhile, the population of France is ~68.3 million people (43.2 million fewer people live in Texas).
What US state is equal to size of Italy? ›
Italy is around the same size as California.
Is Alaska bigger than Europe? ›The total area of Europe is 3,837,081 square miles, while the state of Alaska comprises 663,268 total square miles. This equals about 1/6 of the size of Europe. So no, it's not nearly as large as Europe. Considering that it's a state and Europe is an entire continent, though, the size is still impressive!
What US state is the size of Germany? ›An area of 357,022 km² makes Germany the seventh-largest country in Europe, compared; it is about two-thirds the size of France, or slightly smaller than the US state of Montana.
Is Africa bigger than North America? ›The continents are, from largest to smallest: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.
Is Europe bigger than Earth? ›So while Europa is only one-fourth the diameter of Earth, its ocean may contain twice as much water as all of Earth's oceans combined. Europa's vast and unfathomably deep ocean is widely considered the most promising place to look for life beyond Earth.
What's the biggest city in Europe? ›The country covers more territory than any in Europe except Russia, about 233,000 square miles.
Does Ukraine have the largest army in Europe? ›In 2021, Ukraine's Armed Forces, now numbering 246,445 (including 195,626 military personnel), was the second largest in the region after the Russian Armed Forces.
Is Ukraine the largest population in Europe? ›In 2022, Russia had the largest population among European countries at 144.7 million people. The next largest countries in terms of their population size were Turkey at 85 million, Germany at 83.4 million, the United Kingdom at 67.4 million, and France at 65.6 million.
Is Ukraine the second largest country in Europe? ›Ukraine, country located in eastern Europe, the second largest on the continent after Russia.
Is Ukraine bigger or smaller than Texas? ›
Ukraine is slightly smaller than Texas, coming in at 233,031 square miles while Texas sits at 268,597 square miles. When the borders for the post-Soviet Union countries were drawn in 1991, Ukraine became the second largest country in Europe.
Is Italy or Ukraine bigger? ›Ukraine is about 2 times bigger than Italy.
Italy is approximately 301,340 sq km, while Ukraine is approximately 603,550 sq km, making Ukraine 100% larger than Italy. Meanwhile, the population of Italy is ~61.1 million people (17.6 million fewer people live in Ukraine).
PowerIndex of military forces in Europe 2022
Russia had the most powerful military in Europe according to its PowerIndex score, which compares the strength and capability of different countries.
In 2022, China had the largest armed forces in the world by active duty military personnel, with about 2 million active soldiers. India, the United States, North Korea, and Russia rounded out the top five largest armies.
Who has the most powerful army in Europe? ›Russia. Russia remains the single most powerful military force in Europe even though its military forces and industrial base have greatly atrophied since the collapse of the Soviet Union. ...
Is Ukraine one of the richest country in Europe? ›...
2014-10 Richest countries in Europe.
| Rank | Country | PPP GDP per capita |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | Ukraine | 8,788 |
| 42 | Kosovo | 8,740 |
| 43 | Armenia | 7,774 |
| 44 | Georgia | 7,165 |
Just how big is Ukraine? Ukraine is the second-largest country in Europe with an area of just over 600,000 square kilometers. It is ranked 46 in a list of the largest countries of the world.