United Kingdom is approximately 243,610 sq km, while United States is approximately 9,833,517 sq km, making United States 3,937% larger than United Kingdom. Meanwhile, the population of United Kingdom is ~67.8 million people (269.6 million more people live in United States).
This to-scale comparison of United Kingdom vs. United States uses the Mercator projection, which distorts the size of regions near the poles. Learn more. Note: Try dragging the outline to reposition.
More size comparisons
As an avid geography enthusiast with a deep understanding of cartography and spatial relationships, I can confidently affirm the accuracy of the size comparison between the United Kingdom and the United States presented in the passage. My expertise in geographical concepts and map projections allows me to shed light on the intricacies involved in such comparisons.
Firstly, the mentioned sizes of the United Kingdom (approximately 243,610 sq km) and the United States (approximately 9,833,517 sq km) are indeed accurate, and the assertion that the United States is 3,937% larger than the United Kingdom is mathematically sound. This reflects a stark contrast in landmass between the two nations, emphasizing the vastness of the United States.
The passage also makes a crucial mention of the Mercator projection, the map projection used for the size comparison. The Mercator projection is known for distorting the size of regions near the poles, a phenomenon that can be observed when comparing countries at higher latitudes. This distortion is a consequence of representing the Earth's spherical surface on a flat map and has been a subject of discussion and critique in cartography.
Now, delving into the additional size comparisons provided, such as United States vs. Poland, France, China, Vietnam, Australia, Ireland, Ukraine, Austria, Italy, Thailand, Ecuador, Spain, Russia, Greece, Peru, and Iceland, these comparisons likely utilize the same Mercator projection. It's important to note that while Mercator is a convenient choice for preserving straight lines and angles, it distorts the relative sizes of landmasses, particularly those farther from the equator.
In essence, the passage not only presents factual data about the sizes and populations of the United Kingdom and the United States but also raises awareness about the impact of map projections on our perception of spatial relationships. It encourages readers to be mindful of the method used when comparing sizes on maps and highlights the importance of considering the inherent distortions in certain projections, such as the Mercator projection.
