How Big Is Africa Really? Size Comparisons to the USA, States and Countries
How Big Is Africa Really? Size Comparisons You’ll Never Forget
Africa is colossal—about 30.3 million km² (≈ 11.7 million mi²). That number is hard to feel, so here are simple, memorable comparisons to U.S. states, popular countries, and famous routes that put Africa’s scale in perspective.
%20site%20of%20the%20UN%20Mission%20in%20South%20Sudan%20(UNMISS),%20located%20in%20the%20Tomping%20area%20of%20Juba.jpg "Africa’s Vast Scale")
Africa vs the USA (and a Few States)
- Africa vs USA: Africa (~30.3M km²) is over 3× larger than the United States (~9.8M km²).
- Texas: Africa is ≈ 43.5× the size of Texas (695,662 km²).
- Ohio: Africa is ≈ 261× the size of Ohio (116,096 km²).
- Maryland: Africa is ≈ 1,197× the size of Maryland (25,314 km²).
Africa vs Popular Countries
Africa can contain the areas of the USA, China, India, and much of Europe—together. For a striking visual breakdown, see our explainer: The True Size of Africa.
Africa vs Greenland
Africa: ~30.3M km² vs Greenland: ~2.166M km². Africa is roughly 14× larger. (Map projections often make Greenland look huge—area numbers tell the real story.)
North–South & East–West: Long Distances in Africa
- North–South: Ras ben Sakka (Tunisia) to Cape Agulhas (South Africa) is ~8,000 km (~5,000 mi).
- Cairo → Cape Town: Straight line ~7,241 km; typical driving routes ~9,860 km (real trips take much longer with borders, road conditions, and rest).
The Sahara Desert vs the Contiguous United States
The Sahara covers ~9.2 million km². The contiguous U.S. is ~8 million km². That makes the Sahara alone slightly larger than the lower 48.
City Footprints: Nairobi, NYC & Others
Nairobi spans a land area comparable to New York City, though their layouts and geography differ. Smaller African capitals like Maseru (Lesotho), Accra (Ghana), and Lomé (Togo) have tighter urban footprints than NYC’s vast metro. In the U.S., a fast-growing city such as Huntsville, Alabama remains much smaller than Nairobi in both population and reach.
Key Takeaway
Africa’s scale rewrites mental maps. It’s larger than the USA, China, India, and much of Europe combined, with distances that rival transcontinental journeys. Once you see the numbers, you never forget them.
