Is Australia bigger than the United States? The shocking truth about how these continental giants compare will change how you see both countries forever.
When comparing Australia vs USA size, many people are surprised to learn that Australia is approximately 80% the size of the contiguous United States (the “lower 48” states). However, when including Alaska and Hawaii, the United States is actually about 27% larger than Australia overall.
This misconception stems partly from map distortions that affect how we visualize these nations. Australia sits closer to the equator than much of the United States, causing the Mercator projection to make Australia appear smaller than it truly is relative to the USA.
Here is the USA overlaid over Australia and vica versa (we used our interactive Real Country Sizes map here to make this):
At 0:06, you can see that mainland USA (48 states; without Alaska and Hawaii) has a pretty similar size to Australia. If you add Alaska, however, you can see what happens in the video. Here are the real numbers:
Australia vs USA Size: By the Numbers
| Measurement | Australia | United States | Who Wins? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Area | 7,741,220 km² (2,988,902 mi²) | 9,833,517 km² (3,796,742 mi²) | 🇺🇸 USA by 27% |
| Land Area | 7,682,300 km² (2,966,151 mi²) | 9,147,593 km² (3,531,905 mi²) | 🇺🇸 USA by 19% |
| Water Area | 58,920 km² (22,750 mi²) | 685,924 km² (264,837 mi²) | 🇺🇸 USA by 1,064% |
| Coastline | 25,760 km (16,007 mi) | 19,924 km (12,380 mi) | 🇦🇺 Australia by 29% |
The United States is significantly larger than Australia in terms of total area and land area. Where Australia truly stands out is its status as both a country and a continent—the only nation on Earth that encompasses an entire continent.
When comparing Australia to the contiguous United States (excluding Alaska and Hawaii), the size difference narrows dramatically. The contiguous US covers approximately 8,080,464 km² (3,119,884 mi²), making it only about 5% larger than Australia.
Visualizing Australia vs USA Size
If you could place Australia over the United States, it would stretch roughly from Los Angeles to beyond Chicago, covering much of the American heartland. Its north-to-south span would reach from the Canadian border down to the Gulf of Mexico.
To drive across Australia at its widest point (east to west) would take approximately 41 hours of non-stop driving to cover about 4,000 km (2,485 mi). A similar coast-to-coast journey across the contiguous United States would take about 45 hours to travel 4,800 km (2,980 mi).
What many people don’t realize is that Australia is wider than the distance from London to Moscow, highlighting just how vast this island continent truly is.
Why Australia vs USA Size Comparisons Confuse People
Several factors contribute to misconceptions about these countries’ relative sizes:
- Map distortions: The Mercator projection shrinks areas near the equator (like Australia) relative to areas farther from it (like much of the USA).
- Overlooking Alaska: Many people mentally compare Australia only to the contiguous 48 states, forgetting that Alaska adds nearly 1.7 million km² to America’s total.
- Different shapes: Australia’s more compact shape versus America’s wider east-west span creates visual perception challenges.
Our interactive map allows you to drag these countries over each other to see their true size relationship without map distortions.
State vs State/Territory Size Comparisons
Australia is divided into six states and two major territories, while the United States has 50 states. This creates some interesting size comparisons:
- Western Australia (2,529,875 km²/976,790 mi²) is Australia’s largest state—it’s approximately 3.6 times larger than Texas and even bigger than Alaska. If Western Australia were an independent country, it would be the world’s 10th largest.
- Texas (695,662 km²/268,596 mi²), America’s second-largest state, is slightly smaller than New South Wales (809,952 km²/312,724 mi²), Australia’s fifth-largest state.
- Alaska (1,717,854 km²/663,268 mi²), America’s largest state, is still substantially smaller than Western Australia.
- Rhode Island (4,001 km²/1,545 mi²), America’s smallest state, could fit into the Australian Capital Territory (2,358 km²/910 mi²) almost twice.
This comparison reveals that Australian states are generally much larger than American states, with Western Australia being particularly massive.
The Desert Reality: Empty Space in Australia vs USA
Where Australia and the United States differ dramatically is in their habitable land:
- About 35% of Australia is desert, and another 40% is semi-arid grasslands
- Less than 10% of the Australian landmass receives more than 500mm (20 inches) of rainfall annually
- Approximately 85% of Australians live within 50km (31 miles) of the coast
- The United States has only four true deserts, covering about 5% of its land area
Australia’s interior remains largely uninhabited, while even America’s desert regions often support substantial populations (like Phoenix and Las Vegas) due to water management infrastructure.
Australia vs USA: Population Comparison
| Measurement | Australia | United States | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 25.7 million | 333 million | USA has 13× more people |
| Population Density | 3.3 people/km² (8.5/mi²) | 36 people/km² (93/mi²) | USA is 11× more densely populated |
Despite being about 80% the size of the contiguous United States, Australia has less than 8% of America’s population. Australia is one of the world’s most sparsely populated countries, with vast areas of its interior having fewer than 0.1 people per square kilometer.
Over 40% of Australia’s population lives in just two metropolitan areas: Sydney and Melbourne. By contrast, New York City and Los Angeles combined account for less than 4% of the US population.
Australia vs USA Size: Historical Context
Both countries have fascinating histories of exploration and settlement:
Australia:
- British settlement began in 1788 with the First Fleet at Sydney Cove
- The continent was gradually explored over the next century
- Federation in 1901 united the six British colonies into a single nation
- The Northern Territory was transferred from South Australia to Commonwealth control in 1911
United States:
- The original 13 colonies declared independence in 1776
- The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 doubled the nation’s size
- Westward expansion continued through the 19th century
- Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867
- Hawaii became a territory in 1898 and the 50th state in 1959
Is Australia Bigger Than the United States? Why It Matters
The size comparison between these nations shapes their development in several ways:
- Water resources: Australia is the driest inhabited continent, while the USA has vast freshwater resources
- Agricultural potential: Only about 6% of Australia is suitable for agriculture compared to 17% of the United States
- Infrastructure challenges: Both nations face the challenge of connecting widely separated population centers
- Natural hazards: Australia’s size and climate make it particularly vulnerable to bushfires and droughts
Australia’s massive size combined with its small population creates unique challenges and opportunities different from those faced by the more densely populated United States.
Want to explore more country size comparisons? Check out our detailed pages on the true size of the United States and the true size of Australia, or try our interactive map to create your own visual comparisons.
Australia vs USA Size: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia bigger than the USA?
No, the United States is about 27% larger than Australia in total area. The USA covers 9,833,517 km² (3,796,742 mi²) while Australia encompasses 7,741,220 km² (2,988,902 mi²). However, Australia is approximately 80% the size of the contiguous United States (the “lower 48” states).
Is Australia bigger than the contiguous United States (lower 48 states)?
No, but it’s close. The contiguous United States covers approximately 8,080,464 km² (3,119,884 mi²), which is only about 5% larger than Australia’s 7,741,220 km² (2,988,902 mi²).
Is any Australian state bigger than Texas?
Yes, three Australian states are larger than Texas (695,662 km²/268,596 mi²): Western Australia (2,529,875 km²), Queensland (1,852,642 km²), and South Australia (983,482 km²). Western Australia is even larger than Alaska, America’s biggest state.
Why does Australia have so much less population than the USA despite its large size?
Australia’s harsh climate limits habitable areas—about 35% is desert and another 40% is semi-arid. Limited water resources, high temperatures, and poor soil quality make much of the interior unsuitable for dense settlement. By contrast, most of the United States has adequate rainfall and more hospitable conditions for large human populations.
Is it true that most Australians live near the coast?
Yes, approximately 85% of Australia’s population lives within 50 kilometers (31 miles) of the coast. The interior of the country—known as the Outback—remains very sparsely populated due to harsh desert conditions and limited access to water.