UK vs US size comparison
How Big Is the UK Compared to the US?
The US is about 40 times the size of the UK. The UK is about 8.2 times as densely populated. Drag the UK over the US below to see the difference at true size.
Hawaii and the territories are not drawn.
Printable UK vs US size comparison
Free to print or share: the UK laid over the US at true size, with both areas, on one landscape A4 or US Letter page.
Key facts
- Area of the UK
- 243,610 km² (94,058 sq mi)
- Area of the US
- 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi)
- Size difference
- The US is about 40 times bigger
- Closest US state in size
- Michigan (250,486 km²)
- Population (2025)
- The UK 69,487,000; the US 341,784,857
- The UK's rank by area
- 78th-largest of 197
How big the UK is compared with the US
The US is about 40 times the size of the UK: 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi) against 243,610 km² (94,058 sq mi). Even the 48 contiguous states alone, without Alaska, could hold the UK about 33 times. The UK is bigger than 39 of the 50 US states and smaller than the other 11; the state closest in size is Michigan (250,486 km²). It is the 78th-largest of the world's 197 countries, and the 12th-largest of 47 in Europe; the US is the third-largest.
The UK has about 69 million people (2025), the 22nd-most populous country in the world, against 342 million in the US. With 285 people per km² it is about 8.2 times as crowded as the US (35 per km²), the 33rd-most densely populated country.
The UK and the US on a world map
The UK reaches from 50°N to 61°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 the UK about 2.93 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 32 times the size of the UK, when it is really about 40 times. The equal-area map above shows the real difference.
Where the UK is
The UK's capital, London, is 5,900 km (3,660 miles) from Washington, D.C. as the crow flies. The UK borders one country: Ireland.
UK and US in numbers
| UK | US | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | 243,610 km² 94,058 sq mi | 9,833,517 km² 3,796,741 sq mi | The US is 40× bigger |
| Population (2025) | 69,487,000 | 341,784,857 | The US has 4.9× more |
| Rank by area | 78th-largest | Third-largest | of 197 countries |
| People per km² | 285 | 35 | The UK is 8.2× denser |
| Capital | London | Washington, D.C. | 5,900 km apart |
| Neighbouring countries | 1 | 2 |
UK compared with US states
Frequently asked questions
Is the UK bigger than the US?
No. The US is about 40 times the size of the UK: 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi) against 243,610 km² (94,058 sq mi).
How many times would the UK fit into the US?
About 40 times (40.37). Into the 48 contiguous states alone, about 33 times.
Which US state is the UK closest in size to?
Michigan (250,486 km²). The UK is about the same size as Michigan.
Is the UK bigger than Texas?
No. Texas is about 2.86 times the size of the UK.
Which has more people, the UK or the US?
The US: about 342 million people in 2025, about 4.9 times the 69 million in the UK.
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. The UK is further from the Equator than the US, so it is stretched more. On a Mercator map the US looks about 32 times the size of the UK, not 40.
Where does the UK rank by size?
The UK is the 78th-largest of the world's 197 countries by total area and the 12th-largest in Europe. The US is the third-largest.
How far is the UK from the US?
The UK's capital, London, is 5,900 km (3,660 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.