Iceland vs US size comparison
How Big Is Iceland Compared to the US?
The US is about 95 times the size of Iceland. Drag Iceland over the US below to see the difference at true size.
Hawaii and the territories are not drawn.
Printable Iceland vs US size comparison
Free to print or share: Iceland laid over the US at true size, with both areas, on one landscape A4 or US Letter page.
Key facts
- Area of Iceland
- 103,000 km² (39,769 sq mi)
- Area of the US
- 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi)
- Size difference
- The US is about 95 times bigger
- Closest US state in size
- Kentucky (104,651 km²)
- Population (2025)
- Iceland 392,404; the US 341,784,857
- Iceland's rank by area
- 106th-largest of 197
How big Iceland is compared with the US
The US is about 95 times the size of Iceland: 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi) against 103,000 km² (39,769 sq mi). Even the 48 contiguous states alone, without Alaska, could hold Iceland about 79 times. Iceland is bigger than 13 of the 50 US states and smaller than the other 37; the state closest in size is Kentucky (104,651 km²). It is the 106th-largest of the world's 197 countries, and the 17th-largest of 47 in Europe; the US is the third-largest.
Iceland has about 392,400 people (2025), the 174th-most populous country in the world, against 342 million in the US. With 3.8 people per km² it is far emptier than the US (35 per km²): the US is about 9.1 times as crowded.
Iceland and the US on a world map
Iceland reaches from 63°N to 67°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 Iceland about 5.6 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 39 times the size of Iceland, when it is really about 95 times. The equal-area map above shows the real difference.
Where Iceland is
Iceland's capital, Reykjavik, is 4,520 km (2,810 miles) from Washington, D.C. as the crow flies. Iceland is an island country with no land borders.
Iceland and US in numbers
| Iceland | US | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | 103,000 km² 39,769 sq mi | 9,833,517 km² 3,796,741 sq mi | The US is 95× bigger |
| Population (2025) | 392,404 | 341,784,857 | The US has 871× more |
| Rank by area | 106th-largest | Third-largest | of 197 countries |
| People per km² | 4 | 35 | The US is 9.1× denser |
| Capital | Reykjavik | Washington, D.C. | 4,520 km apart |
| Neighbouring countries | 0 | 2 |
Iceland compared with US states
Frequently asked questions
Is Iceland bigger than the US?
No. The US is about 95 times the size of Iceland: 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi) against 103,000 km² (39,769 sq mi).
How many times would Iceland fit into the US?
About 95 times (95.47). Into the 48 contiguous states alone, about 79 times.
Which US state is Iceland closest in size to?
Kentucky (104,651 km²). Iceland is about the same size as Kentucky.
Is Iceland bigger than Texas?
No. Texas is about 6.8 times the size of Iceland.
Which has more people, Iceland or the US?
The US: about 342 million people in 2025, about 871 times the 392,400 in Iceland.
Why does the US look so big on a world map?
Most world maps use the Mercator projection, which stretches places more the further they are from the Equator. Iceland is further from the Equator than the US, so it is stretched more. On a Mercator map the US looks about 39 times the size of Iceland, not 95.
Where does Iceland rank by size?
Iceland is the 106th-largest of the world's 197 countries by total area and the 17th-largest in Europe. The US is the third-largest.
How far is Iceland from the US?
Iceland's capital, Reykjavik, is 4,520 km (2,810 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.