Top 15 Largest Islands in the World
This ranking is based on total island area from authoritative geographic databases. Island size reflects geographical scale and ecological significance, crucial for studying plate tectonics, biodiversity, and human settlement patterns.
Interesting Facts & Summary
As the undisputed 'colossus' of islands, Greenland spans approximately 2.16 million square kilometers, making it more than 2.5 times larger than the runner-up, New Guinea. An intriguing fact: although it is classified as an island, 80% of its surface is shrouded in a massive ice sheet. If that ice were to melt entirely, the bedrock would rebound from the reduced pressure, potentially fragmenting the landmass into an archipelago. Compared to others on this list, Greenland boasts an extraordinarily low population density, with roughly 0.03 people per square kilometer, embodying the essence of extreme wilderness.
| Rank | Name | Area (km²) | Country/Region |
|---|---|---|---|
Greenland | 2166086 | Denmark (autonomous territory) | |
New Guinea | 785753 | Indonesia and Papua New Guinea | |
Borneo | 748168 | Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei | |
| 4 | Madagascar | 587041 | Madagascar |
| 5 | Baffin Island | 507451 | Canada |
| 6 | Sumatra | 473481 | Indonesia |
| 7 | Honshu | 227960 | Japan |
| 8 | Great Britain | 209331 | United Kingdom |
| 9 | Victoria Island | 217291 | Canada |
| 10 | Ellesmere Island | 196236 | Canada |
| 11 | Sulawesi | 174600 | Indonesia |
| 12 | South Island | 150437 | New Zealand |
| 13 | Java | 138794 | Indonesia |
| 14 | North Island | 113729 | New Zealand |
| 15 | Luzon | 109965 | Philippines |