Revealing the real size of our world, one country at a time
TrueCountrySizes exists to correct one of geography's most persistent misconceptions: the dramatic size distortions caused by the Mercator projection, the map most commonly used in classrooms and online.
By allowing users to drag countries around an interactive map and see them resize based on latitude, we provide an immediate, visceral understanding of how map projections distort our perception of the world.
Our goal is simple: Help people understand the true relative sizes of countries, continents, and regions to foster better global awareness and geographic literacy.
Map distortions have real consequences. When Greenland appears larger than Africa on traditional maps (despite Africa being 14 times larger), it shapes how we understand global geography, resources, and geopolitics. Students worldwide grow up with fundamentally incorrect mental models of Earth's geography.
The Mercator projection, created in 1569 for nautical navigation, preserves angles but massively distorts size—especially near the poles. Countries like Canada, Russia, and Greenland appear far larger than they actually are, while equatorial regions like Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia appear smaller.
Understanding true geographic proportions helps people better comprehend global issues like population density, resource distribution, climate change impacts, and international relations. Accurate geographic knowledge is fundamental to being an informed global citizen.
Drag and drop countries to any location on the map and watch them resize in real-time based on their distance from the equator. See exactly how latitude affects apparent size on Mercator projections.
Switch to a 3D globe to see countries in their true proportions without any projection distortion. This provides the "aha moment" that reveals how flat maps deceive us.
Access hundreds of pre-configured country comparisons with detailed statistics, surprising facts, and educational context. Perfect for students, teachers, and anyone curious about geography.
Comprehensive lesson plans, worksheets, and activities designed for educators. Aligned with geography standards and perfect for demonstrating map projections in the classroom.
TrueCountrySizes is built using modern web technologies to ensure fast, accurate, and accessible geographic visualization:
We use authoritative, public domain geographic data from:
Geography and social studies teachers use our tool to demonstrate map projections and engage students with interactive learning.
From elementary to university level, students use TrueCountrySizes for homework, projects, and to satisfy their curiosity about the world.
Anyone interested in geography, travel, or understanding our world better finds value in exploring true country sizes.
TrueCountrySizes will always be free to use. Geographic education should be accessible to everyone, everywhere.
We use the best available data sources and constantly verify our calculations to ensure the information we provide is accurate and reliable.
Every feature we build is designed to enhance understanding and learning. We prioritize educational value over everything else.
We regularly update our data, add new features based on user feedback, and expand our educational resources.
TrueCountrySizes was created to address the widespread geographic misconceptions caused by the Mercator projection. By providing an interactive tool that shows how countries change size based on latitude, we help people understand the true relative sizes of nations and continents.
Yes, TrueCountrySizes is completely free to use and will always remain free. We believe geographic education should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their location or economic situation.
We use authoritative data from Natural Earth, World Bank, and other trusted sources. Our geodesic calculations are accurate to within 0.1% for large countries and 0.5% for smaller nations. All data sources and methodologies are documented on ourdata sources page.
Absolutely! We encourage educational use and provide free lesson plans, worksheets, and activities specifically designed for classroom use. Visit oureducators page for comprehensive teaching resources.
Have questions, suggestions, or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.