When we look at a world map, one country always seems to stretch far and wide—Russia. It’s not an illusion. Russia is officially the largest country in the world.

In this blog, we’ll explore how big Russia really is, why it’s so large, how it compares to other countries, and what makes it special. Let’s break it down in the simplest way possible.

📌 So, Which Country is the Largest?

✅ Answer: Russia

• Russia is the largest country on Earth by land area.

• It covers approximately 17.1 million square kilometers (that’s 6.6 million square miles).

• To put that in perspective: Russia is bigger than the entire planet Pluto’s surface area!

📊 How Big is 17.1 Million Square Kilometers?

Let’s make that easier to imagine:

• 🗺️ Russia is nearly 2 times the size of the United States.

• It’s almost 1.7 times bigger than Canada, which is the 2nd-largest country.

• Russia covers more than 11% of the world’s land surface!

Here’s a quick comparison chart:

🌐 Why is Russia So Big?

There are a few historical and geographical reasons:

1. Expansion Over Centuries:
   Russia didn’t become big overnight. It grew over hundreds of years by expanding eastward, especially during the time of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union.

2. Geography and Climate:
   Much of Russia is made up of empty, cold land like Siberia. While it’s not all populated, it still counts as land area.

3. No Natural Borders:
   In some parts of the world, mountains, oceans, or deserts create natural boundaries. But in northern Asia, Russia could expand without many such limits.

🌍 Which Continents is Russia In?

• Russia is so big, it stretches across two continents:

  • Europe (the western part)

  • Asia (the eastern part)

• About 23% of Russia’s land is in Europe, while the rest is in Asia.

• The Ural Mountains act as the dividing line between European and Asian Russia.

Even though most of Russia’s land is in Asia, most of its people live in the European part—including big cities like Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

🕰️ Russia Has 11 Time Zones!

Yes, you read that right. Russia is so wide that it stretches across 11 time zones. That means:

• When it’s 9:00 AM in Moscow, it could be 8:00 PM in far eastern Russia.

• This can make nationwide events and communication a bit tricky!

🧭 Which Countries Border Russia?

Russia borders 16 countries—the most of any country in the world. These include:

• Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania

• Poland (via Kaliningrad), Belarus, Ukraine

• Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan

• Mongolia, China, North Korea

This makes Russia a very important player in international politics and trade.

🧊 A Lot of Russia is Cold and Empty

While Russia is huge, not all of it is easy to live in.

• Places like Siberia can be freezing, with temperatures dropping below -50°C (-58°F).

• Large parts of the land are covered in forests, mountains, and frozen ground (called permafrost).

• That’s why most Russians live in the west near Europe, where the weather is milder.

🏙️ Capital City of the Largest Country

• The capital of Russia is Moscow.

• It’s one of the largest cities in Europe with over 12 million people.

• Another famous city is Saint Petersburg, known for its culture and history.

✅ Confirmed by Trusted Sources (2025)

According to the latest 2025 data from reliable organizations like:

• CIA World Factbook

• United Nations

• World Bank

• Worldometer

➡️ Russia remains the #1 largest country in the world by land area.

🔁 Fun Facts

• 🧊 Lake Baikal in Russia is the deepest lake in the world.

• 🚂 Russia has the longest railway in the world—the Trans-Siberian Railway.

• 🌲 It has the largest forest area in the world, even more than the Amazon!

✍️ Final Thoughts

Russia is truly a land of extremes—extreme size, extreme weather, and extreme variety. Even though large parts of it are cold or unpopulated, it remains the largest and one of the most fascinating countries in the world.

Understanding how big Russia is can help us better understand global geography, politics, and even world history. Whether you're a student or a curious reader, remembering that Russia covers 1/9 of Earth's land surface is a fun and mind-blowing fact!