Papua New Guinea vs US size comparison
How Big Is Papua New Guinea Compared to the US?
The US is about 21 times the size of Papua New Guinea. Drag Papua New Guinea over the US below to see the difference at true size.
Hawaii and the territories are not drawn.
Printable Papua New Guinea vs US size comparison
Free to print or share: Papua New Guinea laid over the US at true size, with both areas, on one landscape A4 or US Letter page.
Key facts
- Area of Papua New Guinea
- 462,840 km² (178,703 sq mi)
- Area of the US
- 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi)
- Size difference
- The US is about 21 times bigger
- Closest US state in size
- California (423,965 km²)
- Population (2025)
- Papua New Guinea 10,762,817; the US 341,784,857
- Papua New Guinea's rank by area
- 55th-largest of 197
How big Papua New Guinea is compared with the US
The US is about 21 times the size of Papua New Guinea: 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi) against 462,840 km² (178,703 sq mi). Even the 48 contiguous states alone, without Alaska, could hold Papua New Guinea about 17 times. Papua New Guinea is bigger than 48 of the 50 US states and smaller than the other 2; the state closest in size is California (423,965 km²). It is the 55th-largest of the world's 197 countries, and the second-largest of 14 in Oceania; the US is the third-largest.
Papua New Guinea has about 11 million people (2025), the 92nd-most populous country in the world, against 342 million in the US. With 23.3 people per km² it is far emptier than the US (35 per km²): the US is about 1.49 times as crowded.
Papua New Guinea and the US on a world map
Papua New Guinea reaches from 12°S to 1°S; 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 Papua New Guinea about 1.01 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 48 times the size of Papua New Guinea, when it is really about 21 times. The equal-area map above shows the real difference.
Where Papua New Guinea is
Papua New Guinea's capital, Port Moresby, is 14,540 km (9,040 miles) from Washington, D.C. as the crow flies. Papua New Guinea borders one country: Indonesia.
Papua New Guinea and US in numbers
| Papua New Guinea | US | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | 462,840 km² 178,703 sq mi | 9,833,517 km² 3,796,741 sq mi | The US is 21× bigger |
| Population (2025) | 10,762,817 | 341,784,857 | The US has 32× more |
| Rank by area | 55th-largest | Third-largest | of 197 countries |
| People per km² | 23 | 35 | The US is 1.49× denser |
| Capital | Port Moresby | Washington, D.C. | 14,540 km apart |
| Neighbouring countries | 1 | 2 |
Papua New Guinea compared with US states
Frequently asked questions
Is Papua New Guinea bigger than the US?
No. The US is about 21 times the size of Papua New Guinea: 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi) against 462,840 km² (178,703 sq mi).
How many times would Papua New Guinea fit into the US?
About 21 times (21.25). Into the 48 contiguous states alone, about 17 times.
Which US state is Papua New Guinea closest in size to?
California (423,965 km²). Papua New Guinea is about the same size as California.
Is Papua New Guinea bigger than Texas?
No. Texas is about 1.5 times the size of Papua New Guinea.
Which has more people, Papua New Guinea or the US?
The US: about 342 million people in 2025, about 32 times the 11 million in Papua New Guinea.
Why does Papua New Guinea 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 Papua New Guinea, so it is stretched more. On a Mercator map the US looks about 48 times the size of Papua New Guinea, not 21.
Where does Papua New Guinea rank by size?
Papua New Guinea is the 55th-largest of the world's 197 countries by total area and the second-largest in Oceania. The US is the third-largest.
How far is Papua New Guinea from the US?
Papua New Guinea's capital, Port Moresby, is 14,540 km (9,040 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.