What is the Biggest Continent?
A continent is a really big piece of land on Earth, and it’s separated from other lands by water. Almost all of the land on Earth is part of a continent, except for some small islands that don’t belong to any continent. All the continents together cover 148 million square kilometers, which is the same as 57 million square miles. Let’s explore which continent is biggest in the world, which is the smallest and more.
Biggest Continent in the World
Asia is the biggest continent in the world. It stretches from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the western Pacific Ocean and is about 44.6 million square kilometers big. In Asia, there are 48 countries and three territories Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, which are all special administrative regions of China. In total, Asia has around 4.6 billion people. For all the Asian countries name, check this: List of Asian Countries.
Facts About Asia
- Asia’s size is so big that it can contain all the other continents with some space to spare!
- The largest country in Asia is Russia and the smallest is Maldives.
- Asia has the most countries.
- More people live in Asia than anywhere else in the world!
- Some of the world’s oldest civilizations, like the Indus Valley and Mesopotamia, started here.
Smallest Continent in the World
Australia is the smallest continent, located in the southern part of the world. It’s like a big island surrounded by oceans and seas. Australia includes itself, Papua New Guinea, and the island nation New Zealand. Also, there’s an imaginary line called the Tropic of Capricorn that goes through Australia.
All the Seven Continents – Largest to Smallest by Area
The seven continents, from largest to smallest in terms of area, are:
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Asia – 44,614,000 km2
Asia is not only the largest continent in terms of area but also the most populous continent in the world. Asia is almost 30% of the Earth’s total land area.
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Africa – 30,365,000 km2
Africa is the second-largest continent in the world by area, covering 20% of Earth’s land area. It is sometimes nicknamed the ‘Mother Continent’ because it is the oldest inhabited continent on Earth.
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North America – 24,230,000 km2
The third largest is North America. It is 16.5% of the Earth’s land Area. It is home to iconic landmarks such as the Grand Canyon and the Rocky Mountains.
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South America – 17,814,000 km2
The fourth largest is South America. It is 12% of the Earth’s land Area. It is often referred as the ‘Land of Contrasts’.
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Antarctica – 14,200,000 km2
Antarctica, the fifth largest in the world. It is 9% of the Earth’s land Area. It is the coldest and driest continent. People call it the ‘White Continent‘ because it’s covered in ice.
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Europe – 10,000,000 km2
Europe is the sixth largest in the world. It is 7% of the Earth’s land Area. Europe is known for its charming cities and rich heritage.
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Australia – 8,510,926 km2
Australia is the seventh largest in the world in terms of area. It is 5.5% of the Earth’s land Area. It is like a paradise with stunning beaches and unique wildlife.
All the Seven Continents – Largest to Smallest by Population
The seven continents, from largest to smallest in terms of population (as of 2023), are:
- Asia – 4.75 Billion
- Africa – 1.46 Billion
- Europe – 74 Million
- North America – 604 Million
- South America – 439 Million
- Australia – 46 Million
- Antarctica – 0
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