List of islands by area facts for kids
This page lists the biggest islands in the world, ordered from largest to smallest. It includes all islands bigger than 2,500 square kilometers (about 965 square miles) and most islands over 1,000 square kilometers (about 386 square miles). To help you understand their size, we also show four very large land areas called continents.
What are Continents?
Even though continents are huge landmasses completely surrounded by water, they are usually not called islands. This is because continents are defined differently by geographers. For example, some people see the Americas as two separate continents, and mainland Australia is sometimes called both an island and a continent.
For this list, we're including the main parts of continents as "continental landmasses" so you can compare their size to islands. These sizes are close estimates for the four biggest landmasses. We're not counting man-made canals like the Panama Canal or Suez Canal because they aren't natural waterways that separate continents.
| Rank | Continental Landmass | Area | Nation(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (km2) | (sq mi) | |||
| 1 | Afro-Eurasia | 79,810,726 | 30,815,097 | 126 countries 7 de facto states |
| 2 | Americas | 37,699,623 | 14,555,910 | 22 countries French Guiana |
| 3 | Antarctica | 12,272,800 | 4,738,556 | None |
| 4 | Australia | 7,591,608 | 2,931,136 | Australia |
The World's Largest Islands
Islands are pieces of land completely surrounded by water, but they are smaller than continents. Here's a list of the biggest islands on Earth!
Islands Over 100,000 km2 (38,610 sq mi)
These are the truly giant islands, some of them are so big they have many different countries or parts of countries on them!
| Rank | Island | Area | Nation(s) (subnational divisions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (km2) | (sq mi) | |||
| 1 | Greenland (main island) | 2,130,800 | 822,706 | Greenland |
| 2 | New Guinea | 785,753 | 303,381 | Indonesia (Papua and Central, Highland, South, West and Southwest Papua) Papua New Guinea (Highlands, Momase, and Southern regions) |
| 3 | Borneo | 748,168 | 288,869 | Brunei Indonesia (Central, East, North, South, and West Kalimantan) Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) |
| 4 | Madagascar (main island) | 587,041 | 226,658 | Madagascar |
| 5 | Baffin Island | 507,451 | 195,928 | Canada (Nunavut) |
| 6 | Sumatra | 443,065 | 171,068 | Indonesia (Aceh, Bengkulu, Jambi, Lampung, Riau, North, South, and West Sumatra provinces) |
| 7 | Honshu | 227,938 | 88,007 | Japan (Chūbu, Chūgoku, Kansai, Kantō, and Tōhoku regions) |
| 8 | Victoria Island | 217,291 | 83,896 | Canada (Northwest Territories and Nunavut) |
| 9 | Great Britain | 209,331 | 80,823 | United Kingdom (England, Scotland, and Wales) |
| 10 | Ellesmere Island | 196,236 | 75,767 | Canada (Nunavut) |
| 11 | Sulawesi | 180,681 | 69,761 | Indonesia (Gorontalo, Central, North, South, Southeast, and West Sulawesi) |
| 12 | South Island/Te Waipounamu | 145,836 | 56,308 | New Zealand (Canterbury, Marlborough, Nelson, Otago, Southland, Tasman, and the West Coast) |
| 13 | Java | 138,794 | 53,589 | Indonesia (Banten, Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Central, East, and West Java) |
| 14 | North Island/Te Ika-a-Māui | 111,583 | 43,082 | New Zealand (Auckland, the Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Manawatū-Whanganui, Northland, Taranaki, Waikato, and Wellington) |
| 15 | Luzon (main island) | 109,965 | 42,458 | Philippines (Bicol, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Cordillera, Ilocos, and the National Capital Region) |
| 16 | Newfoundland | 108,860 | 42,031 | Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador) |
| 17 | Cuba (main island) | 105,806 | 40,852 | Cuba |
| 18 | Iceland (main island) | 101,826 | 39,315 | Iceland |
Islands from 25,000 to 100,000 km2 (9,653 to 38,610 sq mi)
These islands are still very large, often home to many cities and towns.
| Rank | Island | Area | Nation(s) (subnational divisions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (km2) | (sq mi) | |||
| 19 | Mindanao (main island) | 97,530 | 37,657 | Philippines (Caraga, Davao, Bangsamoro, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen, and Zamboanga Peninsula) |
| 20 | Ireland | 84,421 | 32,595 | Ireland United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) |
| 21 | Hokkaido | 77,982 | 30,109 | Japan (Hokkaidō region and prefecture) |
| 22 | Hispaniola | 73,929 | 28,544 | Dominican Republic Haiti |
| 23 | Sakhalin | 72,493 | 27,989 | Russia (Sakhalin) |
| 24 | Banks Island | 70,028 | 27,038 | Canada (Northwest Territories) |
| 25 | Sri Lanka (main island) | 65,268 | 25,200 | Sri Lanka |
| 26 | Tasmania (main island) | 65,022 | 25,105 | Australia (Tasmania) |
| 27 | Devon Island | 55,247 | 21,331 | Canada (Nunavut) |
| 28 | Alexander Island | 49,070 | 18,946 | None |
| 29 | Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego | 47,992 | 18,530 | Argentina (Tierra del Fuego) Chile (Magallanes) |
| 30 | Severny Island (northern Novaya Zemlya) | 47,079 | 18,177 | Russia (Arkhangelsk) |
| 31 | Berkner Island | 43,873 | 16,939 | None |
| 32 | Axel Heiberg Island | 43,178 | 16,671 | Canada (Nunavut) |
| 33 | Melville Island | 42,149 | 16,274 | Canada (Northwest Territories and Nunavut) |
| 34 | Southampton Island | 41,214 | 15,913 | Canada (Nunavut) |
| 35 | Marajó | 40,100 | 15,483 | Brazil (Pará) |
| 36 | Spitsbergen | 38,981 | 15,051 | Norway (Svalbard) |
| 37 | Kyūshū | 36,782 | 14,202 | Japan (Kyūshū region) |
| 38 | New Britain | 35,145 | 13,570 | Papua New Guinea (East New Britain Province and West New Britain Province) |
| 39 | Taiwan (main island) | 34,507 | 13,323 | Taiwan |
| 40 | Prince of Wales Island | 33,339 | 12,872 | Canada (Nunavut) |
| 41 | Yuzhny Island (southern Novaya Zemlya) | 33,246 | 12,836 | Russia (Arkhangelsk) |
| 42 | Hainan (main island) | 33,210 | 12,822 | China (Hainan Province) |
| 43 | Vancouver Island | 31,285 | 12,079 | Canada (British Columbia) |
| 44 | Timor | 28,418 | 10,972 | East Timor Indonesia (East Nusa Tenggara) |
| 45 | Sicily | 25,711 | 9,927 | Italy (Sicily) |
Islands from 10,000 to 25,000 km2 (3,861 to 9,653 sq mi)
These islands are still quite large, often bigger than many countries!
| Rank | Island | Area | Nation(s) (subnational divisions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (km2) | (sq mi) | |||
| 46 | Somerset Island | 24,786 | 9,570 | Canada (Nunavut) |
| 47 | Kotelny Island | 24,000 | 9,266 | Russia (Sakha) |
| 48 | Sardinia | 23,949 | 9,247 | Italy (Sardinia) |
| 49 | Bananal | 20,000 | 7,398 | Brazil (Tocantins) |
| 50 | Shikoku | 18,296 | 7,064 | Japan (Shikoku region) |
| 51 | Halmahera | 18,040 | 6,965 | Indonesia (North Maluku) |
| 52 | Seram | 17,454 | 6,739 | Indonesia (Maluku) |
| 53 | Grande Terre | 16,648 | 6,428 | New Caledonia (sui generis collectivity of France) |
| 54 | Bathurst Island | 16,042 | 6,194 | Canada (Nunavut) |
| 55 | Prince Patrick Island | 15,848 | 6,119 | Canada (Northwest Territories) |
| 56 | Thurston Island | 15,700 | 6,062 | None (unclaimed island of Antarctica) |
| 57 | Nordaustlandet | 14,467 | 5,586 | Norway (Svalbard) |
| 58 | Sumbawa | 14,386 | 5,554 | Indonesia (West Nusa Tenggara) |
| 59 | October Revolution Island | 14,204 | 5,484 | Russia (Krasnoyarsk Krai) |
| 60 | Flores | 14,154 | 5,465 | Indonesia (East Nusa Tenggara) |
| 61 | King William Island | 13,111 | 5,062 | Canada (Nunavut) |
| 62 | Negros | 13,075 | 5,048 | Philippines (Western Visayas and Central Visayas) |
| 63 | Samar | 12,849 | 4,961 | Philippines (Eastern Visayas) |
| 64 | Palawan | 12,189 | 4,706 | Philippines (Mimaropa) |
| 65 | Panay | 12,011 | 4,637 | Philippines (Western Visayas) |
| 66 | Yos Sudarso (Dolak) | 11,742 | 4,534 | Indonesia (Papua) |
| 67 | Bangka | 11,413 | 4,407 | Indonesia (Bangka Belitung Islands) |
| 68 | Ellef Ringnes Island | 11,295 | 4,361 | Canada (Nunavut) |
| 69 | Bolshevik Island | 11,206 | 4,327 | Russia (Krasnoyarsk Krai) |
| 70 | Jamaica (main island) | 11,190 | 4,320 | Jamaica |
| 71 | Bylot Island | 11,067 | 4,273 | Canada (Nunavut) |
| 72 | Sumba | 10,711 | 4,136 | Indonesia (East Nusa Tenggara) |
| 73 | Mindoro | 10,572 | 4,082 | Philippines (Mimaropa) |
| 74 | Viti Levu | 10,531 | 4,066 | Fiji (Central Division and Western Division) |
| 75 | Hawaiʻi (Big Island) | 10,434 | 4,029 | United States (Hawaii) |
| 76 | Cape Breton Island | 10,311 | 3,981 | Canada (Nova Scotia) |
Islands from 5,000 to 10,000 km2 (1,930 to 3,861 sq mi)
These islands are still quite big, often with unique wildlife and cultures.
| Rank | Island | Area | Nation(s) (subnational divisions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (km2) | (sq mi) | |||
| 77 | Prince Charles Island | 9,521 | 3,676 | Canada (Nunavut) |
| 78 | Bougainville Island | 9,318 | 3,598 | Papua New Guinea (Autonomous Region of Bougainville) |
| 79 | Kodiak Island | 9,311 | 3,595 | United States (Alaska) |
| 80 | Cyprus (main island) | 9,234 | 3,565 | Cyprus, Akrotiri and Dhekelia Sovereign Base Areas of the United Kingdom and Northern Cyprus |
| 81 | Puerto Rico (main island) | 8,868 | 3,424 | Puerto Rico insular area of the United States |
| 82 | Komsomolets Island | 8,812 | 3,402 | Russia (Krasnoyarsk Krai) |
| 83 | Corsica | 8,741 | 3,375 | France (Corsica) |
| 84 | Disko Island | 8,612 | 3,325 | Greenland |
| 85 | Carney Island | 8,500 | 3,282 | None (unclaimed island of Antarctica) |
| 86 | Chiloé Island | 8,478 | 3,273 | Chile (Los Lagos Region) |
| 87 | Buru | 8,473 | 3,271 | Indonesia (Maluku) |
| 88 | Crete | 8,350 | 3,224 | Greece (Crete) |
| 89 | Anticosti Island | 7,941 | 3,066 | Canada (Quebec) |
| 90 | Bahr al Jabal Island | 7,929 | 3,061 | South Sudan |
| 91 | Roosevelt Island | 7,910 | 3,054 | None (Antarctic territorial claim by New Zealand). Status as an island is disputed. |
| 92 | Wrangel Island (Vrangelya) | 7,866 | 3,037 | Russia (Chukotka Autonomous Okrug) |
| 93 | Tupinambarana (western part) | 7,700 | 2,973 | Brazil (Amazonas) (if taken as one fluvial island) |
| 94 | New Ireland | 7,405 | 2,859 | Papua New Guinea (New Ireland Province) |
| 95 | Leyte | 7,368 | 2,845 | Philippines (Eastern Visayas) |
| 96 | East Falkland | 7,040 | 2,718 | Falkland Islands (a British Overseas Territory administered by the United Kingdom and disputed by Argentina) |
| 97 | Zealand | 7,031 | 2,715 | Denmark (Zealand and Capital Region) |
| 98 | Cornwallis Island | 6,995 | 2,701 | Canada (Nunavut) |
| 99 | Prince of Wales Island | 6,675 | 2,577 | United States (Alaska) |
| 100 | Grande Terre (Kerguelen) | 6,617 | 2,555 | French Southern and Antarctic Lands, an overseas territory of France |
| 101 | Siple Island | 6,390 | 2,467 | None (unclaimed island of Antarctica) |
| 102 | Graham Island | 6,361 | 2,456 | Canada (British Columbia) |
| 103 | New Siberia (Novaya Sibir) | 6,201 | 2,394 | Russia (Sakha Republic) |
| 104 | Melville Island | 5,765 | 2,226 | Australia (Northern Territory) |
| 105 | Prince Edward Island | 5,620 | 2,170 | Canada (Prince Edward Island) |
| 106 | Vanua Levu | 5,587 | 2,157 | Fiji (Northern Division) |
| 107 | Wellington Island | 5,556 | 2,145 | Chile (Magallanes and Antártica Chilena Region) |
| 108 | Coats Island | 5,498 | 2,123 | Canada (Nunavut) |
| 109 | Bali | 5,416 | 2,091 | Indonesia (Bali) |
| 110 | Chichagof Island | 5,388 | 2,080 | United States (Alaska) |
| 111 | Guadalcanal | 5,353 | 2,067 | Solomon Islands (Guadalcanal Province and Capital Territory) |
| 112 | Amund Ringnes Island | 5,255 | 2,029 | Canada (Nunavut) |
| 113 | Bolshoy Lyakhovsky Island | 5,157 | 1,991 | Russia (Sakha Republic) |
| 114 | St. Lawrence Island | 5,135 | 1,983 | United States (Alaska) |
| 115 | Riesco Island | 5,110 | 1,973 | Chile (Magallanes and Antártica Chilena Region) |
| 116 | Edgeøya | 5,073 | 1,959 | Norway (Svalbard) |
| 117 | Mackenzie King Island | 5,048 | 1,949 | Canada (Northwest Territories and Nunavut) |
| 118 | Trinidad | 5,009 | 1,934 | Trinidad and Tobago |
| 119 | Caviana | 5,000 | 1,931 | Brazil (Pará) |
Islands from 2,500 to 5,000 km2 (965 to 1,930 sq mi)
These islands are still significant in size, often with unique ecosystems.
| Rank | Island | Area | Nation(s) (subnational divisions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (km2) | (sq mi) | |||
| 120 | Kolguyev Island | 4,968 | 1,918 | Russia (Nenets Autonomous Okrug) |
| 121 | Gurupá | 4,864 | 1,878 | Brazil (Pará) |
| 122 | Isabela Island | 4,711 | 1,819 | Ecuador (Galápagos Province) |
| 123 | North Jutlandic Island (Vendsyssel-Thy) | 4,685 | 1,809 | Denmark (North Denmark) (physically part of the Jutland peninsula until 1825) |
| 124 | Lombok | 4,625 | 1,786 | Indonesia (West Nusa Tenggara) |
| 125 | West Falkland | 4,531 | 1,750 | Falkland Islands (a British overseas territory administered by the United Kingdom and disputed by Argentina) |
| 126 | Belitung | 4,478 | 1,729 | Indonesia (Bangka-Belitung Islands) |
| 127 | Cebu | 4,468 | 1,725 | Philippines (Central Visayas) |
| 128 | Adelaide Island | 4,463 | 1,723 | None (Antarctic territorial claims by Argentina Chile and United Kingdom) |
| 129 | Stefansson Island | 4,463 | 1,723 | Canada (Nunavut) |
| 130 | Madura Island | 4,429 | 1,710 | Indonesia (East Java) |
| 131 | Buton | 4,408 | 1,702 | Indonesia (South East Sulawesi) |
| 132 | Kangaroo Island | 4,374 | 1,689 | Australia (South Australia) |
| 133 | Admiralty Island | 4,362 | 1,684 | United States (Alaska) |
| 134 | Nunivak Island | 4,209 | 1,625 | United States (Alaska) |
| 135 | Unimak Island | 4,119 | 1,590 | United States (Alaska) |
| 136 | Hoste Island | 4,117 | 1,589 | Chile (Magallanes and Antártica Chilena Region) |
| 137 | Spaatz Island | 4,100 | 1,583 | None (Antarctic territorial claims by Chile and United Kingdom) |
| 138 | Baranof Island | 4,065 | 1,569 | United States (Alaska) |
| 139 | Nias | 4,048 | 1,563 | Indonesia (North Sumatra) |
| 140 | Espiritu Santo | 3,956 | 1,527 | Vanuatu (Sanma Province) |
| 141 | Milne Land | 3,913 | 1,511 | Greenland |
| 142 | Malaita | 3,836 | 1,481 | Solomon Islands (Malaita Province) |
| 143 | Siberut | 3,829 | 1,478 | Indonesia (West Sumatra) |
| 144 | Bohol | 3,821 | 1,475 | Philippines (Central Visayas) |
| 145 | South Georgia | 3,718 | 1,436 | South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands part of the British Overseas Territories territories under sovereignty of the United Kingdom |
| 146 | Euboea | 3,707 | 1,431 | Greece (Central Greece) |
| 147 | Santa Inés Island | 3,688 | 1,424 | Chile (Magallanes and Antártica Chilena Region) |
| 148 | Mallorca | 3,667 | 1,416 | Spain (Balearic Islands) |
| 149 | Santa Isabel Island | 3,665 | 1,415 | Solomon Islands (Isabel Province) |
| 150 | Long Island | 3,629 | 1,401 | United States (New York) |
| 151 | Socotra | 3,607 | 1,393 | Yemen (Socotra Governorate) |
| 152 | Wetar | 3,600 | 1,380 | Indonesia (Maluku) |
| 153 | Tupinambarana (northern part) | 3,600 | 1,380 | Brazil (Amazonas) |
| 154 | Traill Island | 3,542 | 1,368 | Greenland |
| 155 | Bear Island | 3,500 | 1,351 | None (Antarctic territorial claims by Argentina Chile and United Kingdom) |
| 156 | North Andros Island | 3,439 | 1,328 | Bahamas (North Andros and Central Andros) |
| 157 | Rothschild Island | 3,338 (est) | 1,289 | None (Antarctic territorial claims by Argentina Chile and United Kingdom) |
| 158 | Vaygach Island | 3,329 | 1,285 | Russia (Arkhangelsk Oblast) |
| 159 | Smyley Island | 3,287 (est) | 1,269 | None (Antarctic territorial claims by Chile and United Kingdom) |
| 160 | Masbate Island | 3,268 | 1,262 | Philippines (Bicol Region) |
| 161 | Makira (San Cristóbal) | 3,190 | 1,232 | Solomon Islands (Makira-Ulawa Province) |
| 162 | Etorofu Island/Iturup | 3,167 | 1,223 | Territorial dispute initially part of Japan (Hokkaidō region and prefecture) then claimed by Russia (Sakhalin Oblast) |
| 163 | Mansel Island | 3,180 | 1,228 | Canada (Nunavut) |
| 164 | Yamdena | 3,100 | 1,197 | Indonesia (Maluku) |
| 165 | Waigeo | 3,060 | 1,181 | Indonesia (West Papua) |
| 166 | Akimiski Island | 3,001 | 1,159 | Canada (Nunavut) |
| 167 | Gotland | 2,994 | 1,156 | Sweden (Gotland) |
| 168 | Funen | 2,985 | 1,153 | Denmark (Southern Denmark) |
| 169 | Choiseul Island | 2,971 | 1,147 | Solomon Islands (Choiseul Province) |
| 170 | Revillagigedo Island | 2,965 | 1,145 | United States (Alaska) |
| 171 | Taliabu | 2,913 | 1,125 | Indonesia (North Maluku) |
| 172 | Muna Island | 2,889 | 1,115 | Indonesia (South East Sulawesi) |
| 173 | Zemlya Georga | 2,821 | 1,089 | Russia (Arkhangelsk Oblast) |
| 174 | Kupreanof Island | 2,813 | 1,086 | United States (Alaska) |
| 175 | Borden Island | 2,794 | 1,079 | Canada (Northwest Territories and Nunavut) |
| 176 | North Andaman Island | 2,781 | 1,074 | India (Andaman and Nicobar Islands) |
| 177 | Manitoulin Island | 2,766 | 1,068 | Canada (Ontario) (world's largest freshwater lake island) |
| 178 | Unalaska Island | 2,722 | 1,051 | United States (Alaska) |
| 179 | Saaremaa | 2,672 | 1,032 | Estonia (Saaremaa) |
| 180 | Moresby Island | 2,608 | 1,007 | Canada (British Columbia) |
| 181 | James Ross Island | 2,598 | 1,003 | None (Antarctic territorial claims by Argentina Chile and United Kingdom) |
| 182 | Obira | 2,542 | 981 | Indonesia (North Maluku) |
| 183 | Réunion (main island) | 2,535 | 979 | France (Réunion overseas department) |
More About Islands
- Lake island
- List of Antarctic and subantarctic islands
- List of countries and dependencies by area
- List of countries by largest island
- List of divided islands
- List of islands by highest point
- List of islands by name
- List of islands by population
- List of islands by population density
- Lists of islands by continent and country
- Recursive islands and lakes
- River island
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List of islands by area Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.