How Big is Australia Compared to the United States?

Australia and the United States are both large countries that dominate their respective regions. While many assume they're similar in size, the actual numbers tell a different story.

The Numbers: Australia vs. United States

• Australia's area: 7,692,024 square kilometers (2,969,907 square miles)
• United States' area: 9,833,517 square kilometers (3,796,742 square miles)
• Population: Australia ~26.6 million, USA ~335 million
• Location: Australia in Oceania, United States in North America

Global Size Rankings

• United States: 3rd or 4th largest country globally (depending on measurement method)
• Australia: 6th largest country globally
• Size difference: USA is 2.14 million km² larger (roughly the size of Greenland)

Why the Mercator Projection Matters

The Mercator projection affects how we perceive both countries. The United States (roughly 25-49°N) experiences moderate distortion, while Australia (10-44°S) sits closer to the equator and appears smaller than its true size on standard maps. This makes the size gap seem larger than it actually is.

Breaking Down the States

US States vs. Australian States

Alaska alone (1,717,856 km²) is larger than Queensland, Australia's biggest state (1,851,736 km²). However, Western Australia (2,646,338 km²) dwarfs even Alaska and is the world's largest subnational entity.

Texas (695,662 km²) is nearly the same size as New South Wales (809,444 km²). California (423,970 km²) matches closely with Victoria and Tasmania combined (~238,000 km²).

The Australian Capital Territory (2,358 km²) is smaller than Rhode Island (4,001 km²). Both are the tiniest regions in their respective countries.

Population: A Major Contrast

The USA has 335 million people (36 per km²), while Australia has just 26.6 million (3.5 per km²). This gives Australia one of the lowest population densities globally.

Most Australians cluster in coastal cities. About 40% live in just Sydney and Melbourne. The entire interior, known as the Outback, is largely uninhabited desert. The USA has more distributed population centers spanning the entire continent, though density is highest on the coasts.

Geographic Characteristics

Australia:

• Dimensions: 4,000 km east-west, 3,700 km north-south
• Coastline: 25,760 km
• Terrain: Desert interior, tropical north, temperate south, mountain ranges along the east
• Highest point: Mount Kosciuszko (2,228 m)
• Major features: Great Barrier Reef, Outback, Great Dividing Range

United States:

• Dimensions: 4,500 km east-west (contiguous), 2,700 km north-south
• Coastline: 19,924 km
• Terrain: Mountains, plains, deserts, forests, swamps across different regions
• Highest point: Denali (6,190 m)
• Major features: Rocky Mountains, Mississippi River, Great Lakes, Great Plains

Climate: Extremes and Diversity

Both countries experience wide climate ranges. Australia ranges from tropical in the north to temperate in the south, with an arid interior covering 70% of the continent. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 40°C (104°F) in the Outback.

The United States spans Arctic conditions in Alaska to tropical in Hawaii and Florida, with deserts, temperate forests, and everything between. The country experiences hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, and droughts across different regions.

Interactive Exploration

Explore this comparison on our interactive map tool

Explore Interactive Map

See how Australia fits within the United States when overlaid side by side.

Economic Comparison

Despite the size similarity, their economies differ substantially.

United States:

• GDP: ~$27 trillion (largest globally)
• Major industries: Technology, finance, manufacturing, agriculture
• Population: 335 million
• Economic diversity: World's most diverse economy

Australia:

• GDP: ~$1.7 trillion (13th largest globally)
• Major industries: Mining, agriculture, tourism, education
• Population: 26.6 million
• Economic focus: Resource extraction and export, primarily to Asia

The US economy is roughly 16 times larger than Australia's, driven by its larger population and economic diversity.

Countries That Fit Inside Both

To put their sizes in perspective:

Inside the United States:

• Australia (with room left over)
• India twice over
• All of Europe (almost fits)

Inside Australia:

• India twice
• All of Western Europe
• Alaska three times

The Empty Interior

Both countries have large, sparsely populated interiors.

Australia's Outback covers most of the continent. It's hot, dry, and inhospitable. Only small mining towns and cattle stations dot the landscape. The Simpson Desert alone spans 176,500 km² with virtually no permanent residents.

America's Great Plains and Desert Southwest are more populated than the Outback but still sparse. Wyoming, Montana, and Nevada have fewer than 10 people per km². Death Valley reaches temperatures rivaling the Outback.

Fun Facts

Australia:

• Home to 21 of the world's 25 most venomous snakes
• Has more than 10,000 beaches, more than any other country
• The Dingo Fence (5,614 km) is longer than the Great Wall of China
• More than 80% of Australians live within 50 km of the coast
• Has the world's longest fence, longest straight road, and longest golf course

United States:

• Contains the world's largest economy
• Has the most diverse climate zones of any country
• Yellowstone (est. 1872) was the world's first national park
• The Mississippi River system is the 4th longest river system globally
• Home to the world's tallest trees (coast redwoods, 115+ meters)

Time Zones and Distance

Australia spans 3 main time zones (though it gets complicated with half-hour offsets and daylight saving). Flying from Sydney to Perth takes over 5 hours, similar to flying from New York to Los Angeles.

The United States spans 6 time zones (including Alaska and Hawaii). Driving coast to coast takes 4-5 days of continuous driving. The Trans-America road trip is a cultural rite of passage.

Why Australia Feels Smaller

Despite being nearly as large as the USA, Australia often feels smaller for several reasons:

• Population concentrated in 5 major coastal cities
• The interior is largely empty and inaccessible
• Less international awareness compared to the USA
• Single country vs. 50 diverse states creates different perceptions
• Mercator maps minimize its apparent size

Conclusion

The United States is 28% larger than Australia, but both are continental giants. The USA has more people, greater economic power, and more geographic diversity. Australia offers unique wildlife, vast wilderness, and a landscape unlike anywhere else.

Both countries offer large scale and variety, just in different ways.