Brazil and the United States stand as giants among nations, both geographically and globally influential. As two of the largest countries in the world and prominent players in the Americas, understanding their size comparison is a frequently asked question. While both countries boast impressive landmasses, the nuances of their dimensions reveal interesting differences. Let’s delve into a detailed comparison to answer the question: How Big Is Brazil Compared To The Us?
Understanding the Total Area of the United States
The United States, a sprawling nation encompassing 50 states, extends across North America with two states, Alaska and Hawaii, lying outside the contiguous block. This vast country claims the title of the 4th largest globally by total area. When considering the total area, the US covers approximately 3.8 million square miles. Within this, the land area constitutes roughly 3.53 million square miles, solidifying its position as the 3rd largest country by land area worldwide, surpassed only by Russia and China. The contiguous United States, often referred to as the lower 48 states, covers around 3 million square miles. Alaska, the largest state, separated from the contiguous US by Canada, alone contributes a massive 663,268 square miles to the nation’s total.
It’s worth noting that figures for the total area of the US can vary slightly depending on the source. For example, the Encyclopaedia Britannica records it as 3,677,649 square miles, while The World Factbook lists it at 3,796,742 square miles. These variations are often due to different methodologies in measuring coastal and territorial waters.
Exploring Brazil’s Geographical Extent
Brazil, situated on the eastern side of South America, dominates a significant portion of the continent’s interior. It shares borders with nearly every South American nation, excluding only Chile and Ecuador, highlighting its central continental position. Beyond the mainland, Brazil also includes several archipelagoes in the Atlantic Ocean, such as Fernando de Noronha and Trindade and Martim Vaz, adding to its geographical diversity.
Brazil’s sheer size, coupled with its varied climate, diverse terrains, and abundant natural resources, makes it a geographically rich and complex country. In terms of size rankings, Brazil holds the 5th position globally for both total area and land area. Its total area spans approximately 3.3 million square miles, including around 21,411 square miles covered by water. Brazil proudly stands as the largest country in South America and also in the entire Southern Hemisphere. Furthermore, it represents the largest contiguous territory within the Americas, showcasing its solid and expansive landmass.
Side-by-Side Size Comparison: US vs. Brazil
When directly comparing the total areas, the United States emerges as larger than Brazil by roughly 500,000 square miles. However, a fascinating point arises when considering the contiguous United States. Brazil actually surpasses the contiguous US in size by approximately 300,000 square miles. This is because a significant portion of the US total area comes from Alaska, which is non-contiguous.
Another key difference lies in the proportion of water area within each country. The United States has a considerably larger water area, accounting for about 685,924 square miles, while Brazil’s water area is significantly smaller at around 21,441 square miles. This means that water bodies constitute a larger percentage of the US’s total area compared to Brazil.
While population isn’t directly related to geographical size, it’s an interesting point of comparison for these two large nations. The US, according to the US Census Bureau, has a population of approximately 327 million, ranking as the third-most populous country worldwide. Brazil, with a population of around 210 million, holds the fifth position in global population rankings.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when addressing “how big is Brazil compared to the US?”, the answer depends on the specific metric. In terms of total area, the United States is definitively larger than Brazil. However, when focusing solely on the contiguous landmass, Brazil is larger than the contiguous United States. Both nations are undeniably vast, contributing significantly to the global landscape and holding prominent positions in the ranking of the world’s largest countries. This size comparison highlights the importance of specifying “total area” versus “contiguous area” when discussing geographical dimensions.
