Rhode Island, often jokingly referred to as “little more than a smudge,” is the smallest state in the United States. But how does it size up against other small countries worldwide, specifically Liechtenstein? This article explores the surprising size comparison between Rhode Island and several small sovereign nations, including Liechtenstein.
Rhode Island’s Size Compared to Other Small Countries
While Rhode Island may be small compared to Texas, with farms larger than the entire state, it’s a giant compared to several independent nations. A Reddit post highlighted seven countries smaller than Rhode Island: Singapore, Malta, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Nauru, Barbados, and San Marino. When superimposed on a map of Rhode Island, these seven countries don’t even cover the entire state.
Malta, at only 122 square miles, is dwarfed by Rhode Island’s 1,200 square miles. Nauru, the smallest of the seven, is a mere 8.1 square miles, roughly the size of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Even Little Compton, Rhode Island, at 29 square miles, can fit three Naurus within its borders.
Liechtenstein vs. Rhode Island: A Size Comparison
Liechtenstein, nestled between Switzerland and Austria, is known for its picturesque alpine scenery and financial services. At 62 square miles, Liechtenstein is considerably smaller than Rhode Island. In fact, Liechtenstein could fit comfortably within the town of Westerly, Rhode Island, with room to spare.
Rhode Island’s Size Compared to Even More Countries
Even more surprisingly, the original Reddit post overlooked a few other countries smaller than Rhode Island. Luxembourg, at 998 square miles, is smaller. Monaco (499 acres) and Vatican City (109 acres) are so small they aren’t even measured in square miles.
Conclusion: Rhode Island’s Surprising Size
Rhode Island’s status as the smallest state can be misleading. While small compared to other U.S. states, it’s significantly larger than at least ten sovereign nations. This size comparison provides a new perspective on Rhode Island’s place in the world, proving that even the smallest can be surprisingly big.
