The World's 15 Largest Countries Quiz

As the world's largest country, Russia is approximately 17.1 million square kilometres in size.

It is commonly considered to have been founded in 862 AD with the establishment of the Rurik dynasty in Novgorod. However, the modern Russian Federation was established on December 26, 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. It has a semi-presidential republic form of government and the president is elected by popular vote to a six-year term.

Canada is approximately 9.98 million square kilometres.

As Canadian confederation was in 1867, it is one of the world's newer countries. Canada's system of government is both a federal parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. The system of government is based on the Westminster tradition, in which the British monarch, represented by the Governor General, is head of state, and the prime minister is the head of government and leader of the party in power. Canada has the longest coastline in the world and more lakes than all other countries combined.

The United States is approximately 9.83 million square kilometres.

The United States of America was founded in 1776 after the American War of Independence. Its form of government is a constitutional federal representative democracy. It operates as a republic where officials are elected by citizens to represent them.

China is approximately 9.6 million square kilometres.

China is one of the world's oldest civilizations, dating back to approximately 2070 BCE. The People's Republic of China was founded in 1949. Its form of government is a unitary, one-party socialist republic governed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Its president is elected by the National People's Congress and can rule indefinitely.

Brazil is approximately 8.5 million square kilometres in size and is the largest country in South America.

Brazil became a republic in 1889, but its official name, the Federative Republic of Brazil, was adopted in 1967. It is the only South American country that designates Portuguese as an official language, although significant Portuguese-communities exist in neighbouring countries. In Brazil, the president serves as both head of state and head of government.

Australia is approximately 7.7 million square kilometres.

The Commonwealth of Australia was founded in 1901 and is a federal parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. It is comprised of mainland Australia, the island of Tasmania, and more than 8200 smaller islands. Australia is the world's only country that is also a continent, and is the flattest and driest continent on the earth.

India is approximately 3.3 million square kilometres.

The Indian civilization dates back to approximately 3300 BCE. The current Republic of India, however, was founded in 1947. It is a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic with a parliamentary system of government. And it operates as a federal union of states with a dual polity, meaning it has central and state governments, with the president as the ceremonial Head of State and the prime minister as the head of government.

Algeria is approximately 2.4 million square kilometres.

The People's Democratic Republic of Algeria was founded in 1962; and is a unitary semi-presidential constitutional republic. The president, who is the head of state, is elected for a five-year term; while the prime minister is appointed as head of government. The prime minister does not have a fixed term, and can remain in office as long as they have the support of the president and parliament. Algeria is the biggest country in all of Africa.

Argentina is approximately 2.8 million square kilometres.

The Argentine Republic was founded in 1816. It is a federal presidential representative democratic republic, where the president serves as both head of state and head of government. Buenos Aries is the capital of the country as well as an autonomous district which enjoys a status similar to that of a province.

Kazakhstan is approximately 2.7 million square kilometres.

The Republic of Kazakhstan was founded in 1991, when the Soviet Union broke up. However, the foundation of the first Kazakh state, the Kazakh Khanate, is understood to have occurred in approximately 1465. Kazakhstan operates as a unitary republic headed by an elected president. The latter appoints a prime minister and cabinet. It is one of the world's few transcontinental countries occupying part of Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Kazakhstan is also the world's largest landlocked country.

D R Congo is approximately 2.3 million square kilometres.

Originally known as Congo Free State, then Belgian Congo, and then Democratic Republic of the Congo, it eventually became Zaire from 1971-1997. Then it became the Democratic Republic of the Congo again. It is a decentralized unitary semi-presidential republic, with the president being the head of state and the prime minister, appointed by the president, acting as head of government.

Saudi Arabia is approximately 2.15 million square kilometres.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was officially unified and established as an independent state on September 23, 1932 (17-21 Jumada I 1351 AH), by King Abdulaziz ibn Saud. It is an absolute monarchy ruled by the House of Saud under the principles of Islam. The king serves as both head of state and Prime Minister, having supreme authority with no elected national legislature. The Quran and Sunnah (the sayings and teachings of the Prophet Mohammed) act as the country's constitution. Saudi Arabia is the only country that has no permanent natural rivers or lakes.

Mexico is approximately 1.96 million square kilometres.

Its official name is the United Mexican States. It became independent from Spain after the Mexican War of Independence in 1821. Mexico is a federal presidential representative republic under the Constitution of Mexico. Each president is elected by popular vote and can only serve one term of six years, and is simultaneously head of state and head of government. Mexico is part of North America and is the northernmost Latin American country.

Indonesia is approximately 1.9 million square kilometres.

The Republic of Indonesia gained unconditional sovereignty from The Netherlands in 1949. It is a unitary presidential representative democratic republic, where the president of Indonesia serves as both the head of state and head of government. Based on the 1945 constitution, the system features a directly elected president, a bicameral legislature, and a multi-party system. Indonesia is the world's largest island country, comprised of over 17,000 islands, of which approximately 6500 are inhabited.

Sudan is approximately 1.8 million square kilometres.

Its official name is the Republic of the Sudan. It is the third largest country in Africa and has a population of over 51,000,000. It is home to over 200 pyramids, more than there are in Egypt. As of the writing of this quiz, there is a devastating civil war in Sudan which began in 2023.