France vs. Ukraine: Which European Country is Bigger?
Explore the true size difference between France and Ukraine, and how map projections can affect our perception of European countries.
Map2Maps Team
France and Ukraine are both substantial European countries. Ukraine holds the title of largest country located entirely within Europe, exceeding France by about 9%.
The Numbers: France vs. Ukraine
- France's area: 551,695 square kilometers (213,011 square miles)
- Ukraine's area: 603,548 square kilometers (233,032 square miles)
- Population: France ~68 million, Ukraine ~36 million
- Location: France in Western Europe, Ukraine in Eastern Europe
Quick Comparison: - Ukraine is the largest country entirely in Europe - Ukraine is about 9% larger than France by land area
European Size Context
- Ukraine: 1,316 km east-west, 893 km north-south
- France: 1,000 km east-west, 973 km north-south
- Size difference: Ukraine is 51,853 km² larger (about the size of Slovakia)
Both countries have roughly similar north-south extents, but Ukraine's greater east-west span gives it the size advantage.
Why Maps Can Be Misleading
Map projections can make France and Ukraine appear quite similar in size. Ukraine is the largest country located entirely within European borders (excluding Russia), while France is slightly smaller when not counting its overseas territories.
Select France and Ukraine on the map to see their true sizes side by side.
Final Thoughts
France and Ukraine are both significant European nations, but Ukraine holds the continental size record. The 9% difference becomes clear when viewed on accurate map projections.
Use our interactive map tool to compare France and Ukraine with any country or region in the world.
For more size comparisons across different regions, see how Egypt compares to Turkey in the Middle East/Mediterranean, or check out substantial continental differences like Brazil vs India and Argentina vs Algeria. Also see Madagascar and New Zealand for island nation comparisons.
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Explore for Yourself
Ready to dive deeper? Use our interactive tools to compare countries, explore map projections, and see these geographic concepts in action.