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United States vs Europe: size comparison

Europe fits into the United States 1.64 times: about 2,320,000 sq mi (6,010,000 km²) versus 3,795,967 sq mi (9,831,510 km²). Here you can see both overlaid at their true size, with their population, density and end-to-end distance.

By the Mapsfera Team

Map of United States on top of Europe at true size

1.64× Europe fits into the United States 1.64 times

  • Europe about 2,320,000 sq mi below, in its real place
  • United States 3,795,967 sq mi on top, centered on Europe
Open in “True size map”

Drag the United States over Europe on a Mercator map and watch how it changes with latitude.

Lambert azimuthal equal-area projection centered on Europe: it preserves areas, so both appear in their true proportion. The United States has been rotated across the globe, without changing its shape or size, until its center sits on the center of Europe.

Svalbard, the Canary Islands, French Guiana and other faraway islands and territories of its countries are not shown on the map (2.7% of the area of Europe), but they are included in the figures.

Alaska and Hawaii are not shown on the map (16% of the area of the United States), but they are included in the figures.

The figures

Figure United States Europe
Area 3,795,967 sq mi 9,831,510 km² · World Bank about 2,320,000 sq mi 6,010,000 km² · sum of its countries
Population 342 million World Bank, 2025 601 million World Bank, 2025
Density 90 per sq mi 35 per km² 259 per sq mi 100 per km²
Size rank 3rd of 193 countries —
Mercator enlarges it ×2.3 centered at 40° N ×3.1 centered at 51° N

Which is bigger, the United States or Europe?

Here Europe means the countries that Natural Earth places in Europe, without Russia, because most of Russia is in Asia. Europe’s eastern border is a convention, not an official boundary: add the European part of Russia, up to the Urals, and Europe and the United States are about the same size.

The difference is about 1,480,000 sq mi (3,830,000 km²).

The United States is the 3rd-largest country in the world.

Without Svalbard, the Canary Islands, French Guiana and other faraway islands and territories of its countries, Europe covers about 2,240,000 sq mi (5,800,000 km²), measured on its outline.

Without Alaska and Hawaii, the United States covers about 3,060,000 sq mi (7,930,000 km²), measured on its outline.

Population and density

The United States has a population of 342 million and Europe 601 million (World Bank, 2025).

That’s 90 per sq mi (35 per km²) in the United States and 259 per sq mi (100 per km²) in Europe: Europe has 2.88 times as many people per square mile as the United States.

Although it’s smaller, Europe has more people: 76% more than the United States.

The population of Europe is the sum of its countries with World Bank data; Vatican City and Åland have none.

Why they look different on a regular world map

On the Mercator projection, used by Google Maps and many world maps, everything gets bigger the farther it is from the equator. The United States, centered at 40° N, comes out 2.3 times bigger than it really is overall; Europe, at 51° N, 3.1 times.

That’s why on those maps the gap looks smaller than it is: on paper the United States takes up 1.21 times the space of Europe, but in reality it’s 1.64 times.

That doesn’t happen on the map on this page: it uses an equal-area projection centered on Europe. To move them across a Mercator map yourself, open them in the True size map.

Frequently asked questions

Is the United States bigger than Europe?

Yes. The United States covers 3,795,967 sq mi (9,831,510 km²) and Europe about 2,320,000 sq mi (6,010,000 km²): the United States is 1.64 times as big.

How many times does Europe fit into the United States?

1.64 times: 3,795,967 sq mi (9,831,510 km²) divided by about 2,320,000 sq mi (6,010,000 km²). These are the same areas as in the True size map (World Bank and sum of its countries).

Which has more people, the United States or Europe?

Europe: 601 million people versus 342 million (76% more). Per square mile, 90 per sq mi (35 per km²) in the United States and 259 per sq mi (100 per km²) in Europe.

Why does Europe look bigger on maps?

Because of the Mercator projection: Europe is farther from the equator (centered at 51° N), and that map enlarges its area 3.1 times, versus 2.3 times for the United States. On an equal-area projection, like the map on this page, they appear in their true proportion.

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