Guatemala vs US size comparison
How Big Is Guatemala Compared to the US?
The US is about 90 times the size of Guatemala. Guatemala is about 4.9 times as densely populated. Drag Guatemala over the US below to see the difference at true size.
Hawaii and the territories are not drawn.
Printable Guatemala vs US size comparison
Free to print or share: Guatemala laid over the US at true size, with both areas, on one landscape A4 or US Letter page.
Key facts
- Area of Guatemala
- 108,889 km² (42,042 sq mi)
- Area of the US
- 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi)
- Size difference
- The US is about 90 times bigger
- Closest US state in size
- Tennessee (109,116 km²)
- Population (2025)
- Guatemala 18,687,881; the US 341,784,857
- Guatemala's rank by area
- 105th-largest of 197
How big Guatemala is compared with the US
The US is about 90 times the size of Guatemala: 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi) against 108,889 km² (42,042 sq mi). Even the 48 contiguous states alone, without Alaska, could hold Guatemala about 74 times. Guatemala is bigger than 14 of the 50 US states and smaller than the other 36; the state closest in size is Tennessee (109,116 km²). It is the 105th-largest of the world's 197 countries, and the seventh-largest of 23 in North America; the US is the third-largest.
Guatemala has about 19 million people (2025), the 70th-most populous country in the world, against 342 million in the US. With 172 people per km² it is about 4.9 times as crowded as the US (35 per km²), the 57th-most densely populated country.
Guatemala and the US on a world map
Guatemala reaches from 14°N to 18°N; the US from 19°N to 71°N, with Hawaii in the south and Alaska in the far north. Most world maps use the Mercator projection, which enlarges places more the further they are from the Equator. It draws Guatemala about 1.08 times its real size and the US about 2.3 times (Alaska far more than Florida). So on a normal world map the US looks about 192 times the size of Guatemala, when it is really about 90 times. The equal-area map above shows the real difference.
Where Guatemala is
Guatemala's capital, Guatemala City, is 3,000 km (1,870 miles) from Washington, D.C. as the crow flies. Guatemala borders 4 countries: Belize, Honduras, Mexico and El Salvador.
Guatemala and US in numbers
| Guatemala | US | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | 108,889 km² 42,042 sq mi | 9,833,517 km² 3,796,741 sq mi | The US is 90× bigger |
| Population (2025) | 18,687,881 | 341,784,857 | The US has 18× more |
| Rank by area | 105th-largest | Third-largest | of 197 countries |
| People per km² | 172 | 35 | Guatemala is 4.9× denser |
| Capital | Guatemala City | Washington, D.C. | 3,000 km apart |
| Neighbouring countries | 4 | 2 |
Guatemala compared with US states
Frequently asked questions
Is Guatemala bigger than the US?
No. The US is about 90 times the size of Guatemala: 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi) against 108,889 km² (42,042 sq mi).
How many times would Guatemala fit into the US?
About 90 times (90.31). Into the 48 contiguous states alone, about 74 times.
Which US state is Guatemala closest in size to?
Tennessee (109,116 km²). Guatemala is about the same size as Tennessee.
Is Guatemala bigger than Texas?
No. Texas is about 6.4 times the size of Guatemala.
Which has more people, Guatemala or the US?
The US: about 342 million people in 2025, about 18 times the 19 million in Guatemala.
Why does Guatemala look so small on a world map?
Most world maps use the Mercator projection, which stretches places more the further they are from the Equator. The US is further from the Equator than Guatemala, so it is stretched more. On a Mercator map the US looks about 192 times the size of Guatemala, not 90.
Where does Guatemala rank by size?
Guatemala is the 105th-largest of the world's 197 countries by total area and the seventh-largest in North America. The US is the third-largest.
How far is Guatemala from the US?
Guatemala's capital, Guatemala City, is 3,000 km (1,870 miles) from Washington, D.C. in a straight line.
Sources
- Areas: CIA World Factbook (total area, land and water). US states: US Census Bureau.
- Populations: World Bank, World Development Indicators (2025).
- Outlines are drawn on an equal-area projection, so their sizes on the map match their real areas.