The true dimensions of the world's countries may come as a surprise to some, as popular map projections, like the Mercator projection, don't accurately represent the relative size of different regions. Created in 1569, the Mercator projection was groundbreaking for its time. However, due to the spherical shape of the Earth and the flat design of the map, countries closer to the poles appear stretched and distorted.
To address these discrepancies and offer a more accurate view of the Earth's countries, we present the following data, listing countries by their true land area in square kilometers. Our exploration unveils some fascinating patterns and brings some intriguing differences among regions to light.
Key findings from the data include:
Year: 2021
Source: Food And Agriculture Organization of the United Nations