Countries by Area

(Last Updated On: November 15, 2019)

Hey Sporclers,

When it comes to geography quizzes, size matters. We’ve seen some discussion pop-up regarding the sizes of various countries, particularly regarding USA vs. China, and thought we should chime in.

At Sporcle, we strive to make our quizzes both accurate and consistent. For that reason, we have opted to use the CIA World Factbook when verifying many geography quizzes, which we feel is a reliable resource.

We understand that there is some debate regarding how the UN and CIA calculate area for the USA, and that this method might include areas not accounted for with other countries. However, for the sake of consistency, we will continue to use the CIA World Factbook as the source for quizzes about area.

Geography isn’t always 100% clear cut. At the end of the day, we have to pick a reliable and reputable source and stick with it. But the wonderful thing about running a site that is all about being mentally stimulating is that quizzes and information like this prompt discussion and a better understanding of the world overall. Our goals at Sporcle are to distract, entertain, and inform. Quizzes and badges allow us to do just that.

Nothing here is meant to represent a US bias, it is meant to be consistent and as accurate across quizzes as we can be while also trying to facilitate good discussions about the world at large.

About the Author:

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Mark Heald is the Managing Editor of Sporcle.com. He enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and bemoaning the fact the Sonics left Seattle.

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