realcountrysize.
Menu

Country size: answer key

These answers use the same boundary-derived area estimates as the map and quiz. They let the class discuss why a map impression and a measured-area answer can differ.

Student worksheet

  1. Greenland or India?

    India is 1.46× the area of Greenland in this dataset. Greenland: 2,154,808 km²; India: 3,155,830 km².

    Greenland’s high latitude strongly enlarges its Mercator drawing; India is larger by the fixed area estimate.

    Mercator scene · Equal-area scene

  2. Brazil or Australia?

    Brazil is 1.10× the area of Australia in this dataset. Brazil: 8,499,361 km²; Australia: 7,705,990 km².

    Both outlines are large, and the area gap is much smaller than their different shapes might suggest.

    Mercator scene · Equal-area scene

  3. United Kingdom or Japan?

    Japan is 1.54× the area of United Kingdom in this dataset. United Kingdom: 239,611 km²; Japan: 370,099 km².

    The United Kingdom sits farther north and gets more Mercator enlargement, even though Japan has more measured area.

    Mercator scene · Equal-area scene

  4. Madagascar or United Kingdom?

    Madagascar is 2.48× the area of United Kingdom in this dataset. Madagascar: 594,597 km²; United Kingdom: 239,611 km².

    Madagascar’s lower latitude makes its large measured area easy to underread on a familiar world map.

    Mercator scene · Equal-area scene

  5. Germany or Sweden?

    Sweden is 1.24× the area of Germany in this dataset. Germany: 356,163 km²; Sweden: 442,977 km².

    Sweden is larger in the dataset and also receives greater Mercator enlargement at its northern latitudes.

    Mercator scene · Equal-area scene

  6. Indonesia or Mexico?

    Mexico is 1.05× the area of Indonesia in this dataset. Indonesia: 1,872,160 km²; Mexico: 1,962,277 km².

    Indonesia spans a wide island chain, but the ocean between islands is not part of its area. This pair is close enough to require a clear data source.

    Mercator scene · Equal-area scene

Teacher notes

Ask students to identify which claim the map alone can support. The interactive outline shows how projection changes appearance; the figures answer the area comparison under this source’s method. For Mexico and Indonesia, the estimates are close enough that another area definition may narrow or alter the gap.

The figures are calculated from original Natural Earth 1:50m polygons on a sphere before the display outlines are simplified. This method does not consistently distinguish land from inland water. The area guide and projection guide explain the two limitations students are most likely to encounter.