True Size of Countries

Reviewed country profile

Russia

Russia is the world’s largest sovereign state by territorial surface area, spanning eastern Europe and northern Asia.

Russia territorial area

17,098,246 km²

Land and inland-water territorial surface area; EEZs, maritime claims, and map-projection display area are excluded.

Political-status classification: sovereign-state.

Map context and caveats

Much of Russia occupies high northern latitudes, so common cylindrical maps enlarge its displayed footprint. That projection effect is not part of the area measurement.

  • The country record uses Russia’s complete transcontinental territorial area rather than dividing it between Europe and Asia.
  • Territorial surface area excludes exclusive economic zones and other maritime claims.

Reviewed sources

Reviewed 31 July 2026

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