This list includes all islands in the world larger than 2,500 km2 (970 sq mi) and most of the islands over 1,000 km2 (390 sq mi), sorted in descending order by area. For size and location reference, four very large continental landmasses are also shown.
Continental landmasses
Continental landmasses are not usually classified as islands despite being completely surrounded by water.[Note 1] However, because the definition of continent varies between geographers, the Americas are sometimes defined as two separate continents while mainland Australia is sometimes defined as an island as well as a continent. Nevertheless, for the purposes of this list, mainland Australia along with the other major landmasses have been listed as continental landmasses for comparison. The figures are approximations and are for the four major continental landmasses only.[Note 2] The artificial Panama and Suez canals are disregarded, as they are not natural waters that separate the continents.
Rank | Continental landmass[Note 3] | Area | Nation(s) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
(km2) | (sq mi) | |||
1 | Afro-Eurasia | 79,810,726[Note 4] | 30,815,094 | 126 countries[Note 8] |
2 | Americas | 37,699,623[Note 11] | 14,555,906 | 22 countries[Note 13] |
3 | Antarctica[Note 15] | 12,272,800[Note 16] | 4,738,600 | None[Note 18] |
4 | Australia[Note 19] | 7,591,608[Note 20] | 2,931,136 | Australia |
Islands
Islands 100,000 km2 (38,600 sq mi) and greater
Islands 25,000–100,000 km2 (9,700–38,600 sq mi)
Islands 10,000–25,000 km2 (3,900–9,700 sq mi)
Islands 5,000–10,000 km2 (1,900–3,900 sq mi)
Islands 2,500–5,000 km2 (970–1,930 sq mi)
Rank | Island | Area [11] | Nation(s) (subnational divisions) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
(km2) | (sq mi) | |||
120 | Kolguyev Island | 4,968 | 1,918 | Russia (Nenets Autonomous Okrug) |
121 | Gurupá | 4,864[24] | 1,878 | Brazil (Pará) |
122 | Isabela Island | 4,711 | 1,819 | Ecuador (Galápagos Province) |
123 | North Jutlandic Island (Vendsyssel-Thy) | 4,685[23] | 1,809 | Kingdom of Denmark (Denmark proper) / 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 | 1,749 | Falkland Islands (a British overseas territory administered by the United Kingdom and disputed by Argentina[Note 38]) |
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[15] | 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[24] | 1,625 | United States (Alaska) |
135 | Unimak Island | 4,119 | 1,590 | United States (Alaska) |
136 | Hoste Island | 4,117[24] | 1,590 | Chile (Magallanes and Antártica Chilena Region) |
137 | Spaatz Island | 4,100[24] | 1,600 | None (Antarctic territorial claims by Chile and United Kingdom) |
138 | Baranof Island | 4,065 | 1,570 | 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 | Kingdom of Denmark (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[24] | 1,401 | United States (New York) |
151 | Socotra | 3,607 | 1,393 | Yemen (Socotra Governorate) |
152 | Wetar | 3,600[24] | 1,400 | Indonesia (Maluku) |
153 | Tupinambarana (northern part) | 3,600 | 1,400 | Brazil (Amazonas) |
154 | Traill Island | 3,542 | 1,368 | Kingdom of Denmark (Greenland) |
155 | Bear Island | 3,500[24] | 1,400 | 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[24] | 1,262 | Philippines (Bicol Region) |
161 | Makira (San Cristóbal) | 3,190 | 1,230 | Solomon Islands (Makira-Ulawa Province) |
162 | Etorofu Island/Iturup | 3,167[16] | 1,223 | Territorial dispute initially part of Japan (Hokkaidō region and prefecture) then claimed by Russia (Sakhalin Oblast) |
163 | Mansel Island | 3,180[15] | 1,230 | Canada (Nunavut) |
164 | Yamdena | 3,100[24] | 1,200 | Indonesia (Maluku) |
165 | Waigeo | 3,060[24] | 1,180 | Indonesia (West Papua) |
166 | Akimiski Island | 3,001[15] | 1,159 | Canada (Nunavut) |
167 | Gotland | 2,994[25] | 1,156 | Sweden (Gotland) |
168 | Funen | 2,985[23] | 1,153 | Kingdom of Denmark (Denmark proper) / 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[15] | 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[26] | 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[15] | 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) |
Islands 1,000–2,500 km2 (390–970 sq mi)
This section of the list might not be complete but covers almost all of the islands in the world over 1,000 km2 (390 sq mi). The area of some Antarctic islands is uncertain.
See also
- 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
Notes
References
Citations
- Haug, Per Ivar (August 2005). "Islands of Greenland". Gazetteer of Greenland. Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Archived from the original on 2011-06-15.
- "Islands by Land Area". Island Directory Tables. United Nations Environment Programme. 18 February 1998.
- "The Atlas of Canada". Natural Resources Canada. 4 June 2015.
- "World Island Information". Joshua Calder. 2010.