Xinjiang and Libya are almost exactly the same size
Xinjiang (autonomous region of China) covers about 1,630,000 km² (629,000 mi²) and Libya (Africa) about 1,624,000 km² (627,000 mi²). Their outlines are laid over each other below at one scale.
- 1,630,000km²Xinjiang
- 1,624,000km²Libya
500 km
- Xinjiang
- Libya
Xinjiang: Part of this region's boundary is disputed with India. Size Versus draws Natural Earth's de facto outline, the boundary as it is held on the ground, and takes no position on it.
What fits
- Libya is 100% of the size of Xinjiang.
- The measured areas differ by 6,460 km², less than half a percent: closer than the measurement itself is certain.
- Measured in Belgiums: Xinjiang is about 53.2, Libya about 52.9.
How they differ
- Xinjiang also has the larger population: 25.9 million against 7.4 million, 3.50× as many people.
- Per square kilometre that is 16 in Xinjiang against 4.5 in Libya: Xinjiang is 3.49× as densely populated.
- Their centres are about 6,210 km apart.
- A standard web map misstates the comparison: Xinjiang at 41°N is drawn about 1.8× too large and Libya at 27°N about 1.3×, so the map shows Xinjiang as 1.40× the size of Libya instead of 1.00×.
- Together Xinjiang and Libya cover 3,254,000 km², close to the size of India (3,151,000 km², 3.2% smaller).
- At Libya's density, Xinjiang would have 7.4 million people (it has 25.9 million). At Xinjiang's density, Libya would have 25.7 million (it has 7.4 million).
- Xinjiang's centre is 14.0° of latitude, about 1,560 km, farther north than Libya's.
- Xinjiang is the largest of the 31 provinces and regions of China and covers 17% of its area; it is the 29th most densely populated of them.
- Libya ranks 18th of 246 countries and territories by area.
- Xinjiang lies about 14° of latitude (roughly 1,560 km) north of Libya.
- Shared out evenly, each person in Xinjiang would have about 63,060 m² and each person in Libya about 219,990 m².
- Laid side by side, Xinjiang and Libya would cover 3,254,000 km², 1.03× the size of India.
- Together they have 33.2 million people, about as many people as Saudi Arabia.
- Counted as a country, Xinjiang would rank 17th by area and 56th by population.
Side by side
| Xinjiang | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Is a | Autonomous RegionChina | CountryAfrica |
| Area, measured | 1,630,000 km²629,000 mi² | 1,624,000 km²627,000 mi² |
| Official area | 1,665,000 km²Wikidata | 1,760,000 km²Wikidata |
| Rank by area | 1st of 31in China | 17th of 239worldwide |
| Population | 25.9 millionWikidata, 2020 | 7.4 millionWikidata, 2024 |
| Rank by population | 21st of 31in China | 104th of 237worldwide |
| Density | 16 per km² | 4.5 per km² |
| Capital | Ürümqi | Tripoli |
| Latitude range | 34°N to 49°N | 19°N to 33°N |
Population: Wikidata 2020 and Wikidata 2024. Official figures: Wikidata (CC0).
- Our measured 1,630,000 km² is 2.1% below Wikidata's official figure of 1,665,000 km². Official figures can include inland water or count land that an outline draws differently.
- Our measured 1,624,000 km² is 7.7% below Wikidata's official figure of 1,760,000 km². Official figures can include inland water or count land that an outline draws differently. This difference is flagged for review.
Similar in size to Xinjiang
Similar in size to Libya
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Sources and method
- Outlines
- Natural Earth, 1:10m Admin 1 - States, Provinces, public domain for the region; Natural Earth, 1:10m Admin 0 - Countries, public domain
- Boundary
- De facto, as drawn by Natural Earth. A region is drawn whole, every island included; a country is its main territory.
- Area
- Measured on the WGS84 ellipsoid from the full-detail outlines, shown rounded.
- Drawing
- Each outline is projected with an equal-area projection centred on its own centroid, so areas stay true and the two can be laid over each other.
- Data built
- 2026-11-12