Islands at true size, beside the countries they match
Natural Earth outlines 294 islands, and a further set of island-group shapes that are drawn for labels (Polynesia is 33 million km²) and are not used. Each island here has been measured on the ellipsoid and checked against its published area, and the 81 with pages passed. Below they are drawn at true scale and matched to the country nearest each in size.
This page is about size, not about borders or names. A lake or a sea has no legal boundary of its own, so the outlines are cartographic ones, and every area is shown beside the published figure it was checked against.
The largest, at one scale
Greenland (island)2,171,000 km²New Guinea775,000 km²Borneo725,000 km²Madagascar (island)589,000 km²Baffin Island509,000 km²Honshu225,000 km²Victoria Island220,000 km²Great Britain214,000 km²Ellesmere Island196,000 km²Sulawesi166,000 km²South Island147,000 km²Java124,000 km²
2,000 km, the same scale for every outline
Every outline is drawn at the same scale; select one to open its page.
At a glance
- Greenland (island), the largest of the 81 islands on sizeversus, is 2.80× the size of New Guinea, the next, and 868× the size of Réunion, the smallest.
- The ten largest cover 5,790,000 km² together, 75% of the size of Australia.
- 37 of the 81 are larger than Belgium (30,700 km²).
- 23 of the 81 are larger than Ireland (69,400 km²).
- 18 of the 81 are larger than Austria (84,000 km²).
- Greenland (island) alone is larger than 201 of the 212 countries on sizeversus, and than 51 of the 51 US states and districts.
- The three largest, Greenland (island), New Guinea, Borneo, are 3,671,000 km² together.
- Natural Earth draws coastlines at 1:10 million, so island outlines measure 1% to 5% below the published areas; 22 of the 81 are flagged because they are more than 5% off, and 122 outlines were left out.
Every island matched to a country
Largest first. The match is the country closest in area from Natural Earth’s country list (contested places and dependencies are never used), and the second is the closest US state or Chinese province, or else the closest island, when one is within a factor of 3. A flag means the outline is more than 5% from the published area.
- Greenland (island)2,171,000 km²Size ofGreenland1.01× · 2,154,000 km²US stateAlaska1.44× · 1,505,000 km²
- New Guinea775,000 km²Size ofTurkey0.99× · 780,000 km²ProvinceQinghai1.08× · 714,000 km²
- Borneo725,000 km²Size ofChile0.98× · 736,000 km²ProvinceQinghai1.01× · 714,000 km²
- Madagascar (island)589,000 km²Size ofKenya1.01× · 586,000 km²US stateTexas86% · 685,000 km²
- Baffin Island509,000 km²Size ofThailand0.99× · 514,000 km²ProvinceSichuan1.05× · 485,000 km²
- Honshu225,000 km²Size ofLaos0.99× · 228,000 km²US stateMinnesota1.00× · 225,000 km²
- Victoria Island220,000 km²Size ofLaos0.96× · 228,000 km²US stateUtah1.00× · 220,000 km²
- Great Britain214,000 km² · flaggedSize ofGuyana1.01× · 211,000 km²US stateKansas1.00× · 213,000 km²
- Ellesmere Island196,000 km²Size ofSenegal1.00× · 196,000 km²US stateSouth Dakota0.98× · 199,000 km²
- Sulawesi166,000 km²Size ofTunisia1.06× · 157,000 km²ProvinceHenan1.00× · 166,000 km²
- South Island147,000 km²Size ofNepal1.00× · 147,000 km²US stateFlorida1.00× · 147,000 km²
- Java124,000 km²Size ofEritrea1.01× · 123,000 km²US stateMississippi1.00× · 124,000 km²
- North Island111,000 km²Size ofHonduras0.99× · 112,000 km²US stateTennessee1.02× · 109,000 km²
- Newfoundland105,000 km²Size ofIceland1.03× · 102,000 km²US stateKentucky1.01× · 105,000 km²
- Cuba (island)103,000 km²Size ofIceland1.01× · 102,000 km²US stateVirginia1.00× · 104,000 km²
- Luzon103,000 km² · flaggedSize ofIceland1.00× · 102,000 km²US stateVirginia0.99× · 104,000 km²
- Iceland (island)102,000 km²Size ofIceland0.99× · 102,000 km²ProvinceZhejiang1.00× · 101,000 km²
- Mindanao92,000 km² · flaggedSize ofPortugal1.01× · 91,400 km²US stateIndiana0.97× · 94,300 km²
- Ireland (island)81,600 km²Size ofAustria0.97× · 84,000 km²ProvinceChongqing0.99× · 82,400 km²
- Hokkaidō77,100 km²Size ofSerbia0.99× · 77,600 km²US stateSouth Carolina0.96× · 80,200 km²
- Sakhalin74,500 km²Size ofPanama1.00× · 74,500 km²US stateSouth Carolina0.93× · 80,200 km²
- Hispaniola72,400 km² · flaggedSize ofSierra Leone1.01× · 71,600 km²US stateSouth Carolina0.90× · 80,200 km²
- Banks Island70,600 km²Size ofIreland1.02× · 69,400 km²US stateWest Virginia1.12× · 62,700 km²
- Sri Lanka (island)65,700 km²Size ofSri Lanka0.99× · 66,300 km²US stateWest Virginia1.05× · 62,700 km²
- Tasmania63,200 km²Size ofLatvia0.98× · 64,600 km²US stateWest Virginia1.01× · 62,700 km²
- Devon Island54,600 km²Size ofCroatia0.99× · 55,000 km²ProvinceNingxia1.05× · 52,100 km²
- Alexander Island46,000 km² · flaggedSize ofEstonia1.00× · 45,800 km²ProvinceNingxia88% · 52,100 km²
- Berkner Island43,600 km²Size ofDenmark1.02× · 42,700 km²ProvinceNingxia84% · 52,100 km²
- Southampton Island42,300 km²Size ofDenmark0.99× · 42,700 km²ProvinceNingxia81% · 52,100 km²
- Axel Heiberg Island41,400 km²Size ofSwitzerland1.00× · 41,400 km²ProvinceHainan1.22× · 33,800 km²
- Melville Island40,400 km²Size ofSwitzerland0.98× · 41,400 km²ProvinceHainan1.19× · 33,800 km²
- Marajó37,400 km² · flaggedSize ofNetherlands1.01× · 37,100 km²ProvinceHainan1.11× · 33,800 km²
- Spitsbergen37,000 km² · flaggedSize ofNetherlands1.00× · 37,100 km²ProvinceHainan1.09× · 33,800 km²
- Taiwan Island35,500 km²Size ofNetherlands0.96× · 37,100 km²ProvinceHainan1.05× · 33,800 km²
- Kyushu35,400 km²Size ofNetherlands0.95× · 37,100 km²ProvinceHainan1.05× · 33,800 km²
- Hainan Island33,800 km²Size ofMoldova1.02× · 33,200 km²ProvinceHainan1.00× · 33,800 km²
- Prince of Wales Island31,200 km² · flaggedSize ofBelgium1.02× · 30,700 km²ProvinceHainan0.92× · 33,800 km²
- Vancouver Island30,500 km² · flaggedSize ofBelgium1.00× · 30,700 km²ProvinceHainan0.90× · 33,800 km²
- Timor27,900 km² · flaggedSize ofAlbania0.98× · 28,300 km²US stateMaryland1.10× · 25,500 km²
- Sicily25,300 km²Size ofRwanda1.00× · 25,300 km²US stateMaryland0.99× · 25,500 km²
- Somerset Island23,900 km²Size ofRwanda0.95× · 25,300 km²US stateNew Hampshire0.99× · 24,300 km²
- Sardinia23,800 km²Size ofRwanda0.94× · 25,300 km²US stateNew Hampshire0.98× · 24,300 km²
- Kotelny Island22,400 km²Size ofBelize1.01× · 22,300 km²US stateMassachusetts1.06× · 21,200 km²
- Peloponnese20,800 km² · flaggedSize ofEl Salvador1.01× · 20,500 km²US stateMassachusetts0.98× · 21,200 km²
- Shikoku18,100 km²Size ofKuwait1.04× · 17,500 km²US stateHawaii1.08× · 16,800 km²
- Halmahera Island17,500 km²Size ofKuwait1.00× · 17,500 km²US stateHawaii1.04× · 16,800 km²
- Bathurst Island15,500 km²Size ofEast Timor1.03× · 15,100 km²ProvinceBeijing0.95× · 16,300 km²
- Prince Patrick Island15,000 km² · flaggedSize ofEast Timor1.00× · 15,100 km²ProvinceBeijing0.92× · 16,300 km²
- October Revolution Island14,300 km²Size ofMontenegro1.05× · 13,700 km²US stateConnecticut1.13× · 12,700 km²
- Flores Island14,000 km²Size ofMontenegro1.02× · 13,700 km²US stateConnecticut1.10× · 12,700 km²
- Nordaustlandet14,000 km²Size ofMontenegro1.02× · 13,700 km²US stateConnecticut1.10× · 12,700 km²
- Sumbawa Island13,700 km²Size ofMontenegro1.00× · 13,700 km²US stateConnecticut1.08× · 12,700 km²
- Negros12,600 km²Size ofBahamas1.00× · 12,600 km²US stateConnecticut1.00× · 12,700 km²
- King William Island12,600 km²Size ofBahamas1.00× · 12,600 km²US stateConnecticut0.99× · 12,700 km²
- Samar Island12,100 km² · flaggedSize ofVanuatu0.99× · 12,300 km²US stateConnecticut0.96× · 12,700 km²
- Bangka Island11,300 km²Size ofQatar1.01× · 11,200 km²ProvinceTianjin0.98× · 11,500 km²
- Panay11,200 km² · flaggedSize ofQatar1.01× · 11,200 km²ProvinceTianjin0.98× · 11,500 km²
- Bolshevik Island11,100 km²Size ofJamaica1.00× · 11,000 km²ProvinceTianjin0.97× · 11,500 km²
- Kolepom Island10,900 km²Size ofJamaica0.98× · 11,000 km²ProvinceTianjin0.95× · 11,500 km²
- Bylot Island10,700 km²Size ofGambia1.02× · 10,500 km²ProvinceTianjin0.93× · 11,500 km²
- Cape Breton Island9,950 km²Size ofLebanon0.99× · 10,000 km²ProvinceTianjin87% · 11,500 km²
- Mindoro9,650 km² · flaggedSize ofLebanon0.96× · 10,000 km²ProvinceTianjin84% · 11,500 km²
- Komsomolets Island9,580 km² · flaggedSize ofLebanon0.96× · 10,000 km²ProvinceTianjin84% · 11,500 km²
- Prince Charles Island9,060 km²Size ofLebanon0.91× · 10,000 km²ProvinceTianjin79% · 11,500 km²
- Cyprus (island)8,960 km²Size ofLebanon90% · 10,000 km²ProvinceTianjin78% · 11,500 km²
- Kodiak Island8,720 km² · flaggedSize ofLebanon87% · 10,000 km²ProvinceShanghai1.29× · 6,750 km²
- Corsica8,640 km²Size ofLebanon86% · 10,000 km²ProvinceShanghai1.28× · 6,750 km²
- Puerto Rico (island)8,550 km² · flaggedSize ofLebanon85% · 10,000 km²ProvinceShanghai1.27× · 6,750 km²
- Chiloé Island8,370 km²Size ofLebanon84% · 10,000 km²ProvinceShanghai1.24× · 6,750 km²
- Buru Island8,140 km²Size ofLebanon81% · 10,000 km²ProvinceShanghai1.21× · 6,750 km²
- Disko Island8,140 km² · flaggedSize ofLebanon81% · 10,000 km²ProvinceShanghai1.21× · 6,750 km²
- Crete8,010 km²Size ofLebanon80% · 10,000 km²ProvinceShanghai1.19× · 6,750 km²
- Anticosti Island7,700 km²Size ofLebanon77% · 10,000 km²ProvinceShanghai1.14× · 6,750 km²
- Roosevelt Island7,500 km² · flaggedSize ofBrunei1.31× · 5,720 km²ProvinceShanghai1.11× · 6,750 km²
- Wrangel Island7,100 km² · flaggedSize ofBrunei1.24× · 5,720 km²ProvinceShanghai1.05× · 6,750 km²
- Cornwallis Island6,710 km²Size ofBrunei1.17× · 5,720 km²ProvinceShanghai0.99× · 6,750 km²
- Zealand6,680 km²Size ofBrunei1.17× · 5,720 km²ProvinceShanghai0.99× · 6,750 km²
- East Falkland6,480 km²Size ofBrunei1.13× · 5,720 km²ProvinceShanghai0.96× · 6,750 km²
- New Siberia6,080 km²Size ofBrunei1.06× · 5,720 km²ProvinceShanghai0.90× · 6,750 km²
- Wellington Island5,990 km² · flaggedSize ofBrunei1.05× · 5,720 km²ProvinceShanghai89% · 6,750 km²
- Réunion2,500 km²Size ofLuxembourg0.96× · 2,610 km²US stateRhode Island88% · 2,830 km²
The closest matches in size
Left out, and why
122 outlines were measured and not kept: either the outline differs from the published area by more than 10%, or Wikidata has no published area to check it against. The largest, with the reason:
| Name | Outline, km² | Published, km² | Difference | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumatra | 424,000 | 473,000 | -10.5% | outline differs |
| Labrador | 187,000 | 294,000 | -36.3% | outline differs |
| Tierra del Fuego | 58,000 | 73,800 | -21.3% | outline differs |
| Nova Scotia | 42,200 | 55,300 | -23.6% | outline differs |
| Seram | 16,900 | 70,400 | -76% | outline differs |
Sources and method
- Outlines
- Natural Earth, 1:10m Geography Regions (geography_regions_polys), public domain. Lakes and reservoirs, marine areas and island outlines are three Natural Earth files; countries for the matches come from Natural Earth's Admin 0 file.
- What was checked
- Every outline was measured on the WGS84 ellipsoid and compared with the area Wikidata (CC0) publishes for it, fetched 2026-11-11. Within 2% it agrees, within 5% it is near, within 10% it is kept and flagged; beyond that, or with no published area, it is left out.
- Pieces
- Where Natural Earth draws a sea or a lake system in several outlines, the pieces are named in
config/waters.jsonand counted together only if their sum agrees with the published area of the whole. An outline that lies mostly inside a larger lake (Georgian Bay in Lake Huron) is counted once, in the larger one. - Boundary
- A lake or a sea has no legal boundary. The outlines are cartographic, and the pages say so.
- Data built
- 2026-11-11