What is Larger: the US or Brazil?

Brazil and the US are two of the five largest countries in the world by total area. They are also two of the three largest countries in the Americas (the other being Canada). Brazil is the largest country in both South and Latin America while the US is the second-largest country in North America after Canada. The United States has a population of approximately 327 million people while Brazil’s population of about 210 million people. Also, the US is the largest English-speaking country in the world while Brazil is the largest Portuguese-speaking country. When it comes to total land area, the United States is larger than Brazil. 

Geography and Size of the US

The United States comprises 50 states including the two non-contiguous states of Alaska and Hawaii. The country covers a total area of approximately 3.8 million square miles, making it the 4th largest country by total area (after Russia, Canada, and China). With a land area of approximately 3.53 million square miles, the US is the world’s 3rd largest after Russia and China and the largest country in North America. The contiguous US covers a total area of approximately 3 million square miles. The state of Alaska which is separated from the contiguous US by Canada is the largest state with a total area of approximately 663 268 square miles. The total area of the US varies from source to source. According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, the country’s total size is 3,677,649 square miles while The World Factbook gives it a total area of 3,796,742 square miles.

The Size of Brazil

Brazil is located on the eastern coast of the continent of South America and covers much of the continent’s interior. It shares its borders with all of the South American countries except Chile and Ecuador. It also comprises several archipelagos including Rocas atoll, Fernando de Noronha, and Trindade and Martim Vaz. Brazil’s size, climate, relief, and natural resources make it a geographically diverse country. It is the fifth-largest country by both total area and land area, spanning over an area of approximately 3.3 million square miles, including 21,411 square miles of water. Brazil is the largest country in South America and the entire Southern Hemisphere. It is also Americas’ largest contiguous territory.

Size Comparison

Although the total area of the US is approximately 500,000 square miles larger than the total area of Brazil, Brazil is larger than the contiguous US by approximately 300,000 square miles. About 685,924 square miles of the US is covered by water compared to only 21,441 square miles of Brazil. The waters of the US account for 3.96-6.97% of the world’s water compared to Brazil’s 0.65%. According to the US Census Bureau, the US has a population of approximately 327 million people, making it the third-most populous country in the world after China and India. Brazil is the fifth-most populous country, with a population of approximately 210 million people. From the descriptions and comparisons above, it can be concluded that the US is larger than Brazil.