What are Europe's largest countries? We list Europe's largest countries by population and by area. For the most part, it is perhaps as you would expect, but some countries are surprising. For example, where do you think Sweden will end up on the list?
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ShareEurope's largest countries by population
A few days ago we wrote a list of Europe's largest citieswhich made us curious to explore which are Europe's largest countries. We first list Europe's largest countries by population. We start at number 10 and count down to number 1.
We have included both Russia and Turkey because these countries are partly in Europe, and because they are included in several lists of Europe's most populated countries. Sweden does not make the top 10, but would rank 17th (if you count Kazakhstan to Europe, otherwise in 16th place).
10. Romania
In 10th place is Romania, with 19 million inhabitants (2017). The largest city in Romania is Bucharest, with around 2.1 million inhabitants.
9 - Poland
Poland is home to more than 38 million people (2017), making it one of the ten largest countries in Europe in terms of population. The largest city is Warsaw with 1.7 million inhabitants.
8. Ukraine
Ukraine is home to about 42 million people (2017), placing it in eighth place. The largest city is Kiev with just over 2.9 million inhabitants.
7. Spain
Spain is home to around 46 million people (2017), making it a large European country. The largest city is Madrid with 3.2 million inhabitants.
6. Italy
Italians number around 60 million (2016), which puts them in sixth place on this list. The largest city is Rome with over 2.8 million inhabitants.
5. Great Britain
The UK is home to around 65 million people (2016), making the English almost as numerous as the French. The largest city is London with 9.1 million inhabitants.
4. France
The French population is around 67 million (2018), making France one of the largest countries in Europe in terms of population. The largest city in France is Paris with just over 2.1 million inhabitants.
3. Turkey
Turkey has around 79 million inhabitants (2016) and therefore ranks third on the list. However, it should be noted that most of the country is actually in Asia. The largest city in Turkey is Istanbul with 15 million inhabitants.
2. Germany
Germany has around 82 million inhabitants (2017), making it an honourable second place. The largest city in Germany is Berlin with about 3.7 million inhabitants.
1. Russia
With around 146 million inhabitants (2017), Russia is by far the most populous country in Europe. On the other hand, not all these inhabitants live in Europe, as the country spans both Europe and Asia. The largest city in Russia is Moscow, with just over 13.1 million inhabitants.
Europe's largest countries by area
What are the largest countries in Europe in terms of surface area? Some countries are large in terms of area and population, but there are also some large but sparsely populated countries... like Sweden! We start with the tenth largest country in terms of surface area and count down to number 1. In this list, we have included the countries included in the Wikipedia list, which includes Russia but not Turkey (which has most of its surface area in Asia).
10. Italy
The boot-shaped country of Italy ranks 10th on the list of Europe's largest countries by area, with a surface area of 301,318 kilometres.2.
9 - Poland
Poland is a large country, both in terms of population and area. The country has an area of 312 685 km2 which puts it in ninth place.
8. Finland
Our neighbour Finland is sometimes referred to as the land of a thousand lakes and has an area of 338 145 km2which is good enough for eighth place on the list.
7. Germany
Germany is one of the most densely populated countries, but in terms of surface area, it only ranks 7th with 357,050 kilometres.2.
6. Norway
In sixth place is our beautiful neighbour Norway, with fjords, mountains and a total area of 385 155 km.2.
5. Sweden
In fifth place is ... Sweden! Our 'small' country is not so small in terms of surface area, with a total of 449 964 km.2.
4. Spain
The fourth largest country in Europe is Spain, with 498,468 kilometres.2. The Canary Islands are not included in this area.
3. France
The third largest country by surface area is France with 551 695 km2. This area does not include France's overseas territories.
2. Ukraine
The second largest country in Europe in terms of surface area is Ukraine, with 603,700 kilometres.2. However, the country has lost some territory since the Crimean peninsula became Russian.
1. Russia
Russia is the largest country in Europe by area, covering 3,960,000 kilometres.2. In fact, most of the country is not in Europe, but in Asia.
Which of Europe's largest countries have you visited?
We (at least one of us) have visited every country on the list except Romania. Peter has only made a brief visit to Turkey during a stopover (they had a drink in a hotel!), so I guess that counts for something. Which of Europe's biggest countries have you visited? Did any of the countries on the list surprise you?
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Veiken says:
Turkey disappears as a European country because 97% is in Asia. The other three per cent make Turkey a small country in Europe! How do I calculate?
Otherwise, I have not visited Russia and Ukraine if stopovers do not count. In that case, I have visited all ten!
30 March 2019 - 7:05
Veiken says:
Sorry, punctuation. Lilleputtland it is!
30 March 2019 - 7:06
Helena says:
It's not easy to decide how to count, and you have a point! We counted Istanbul as Europe's largest city, and Turkey is often included in Europe. Russia is also included, even though a large part of it is in Asia. But, just as you write, most of Turkey is in Asia, which means that there is a doubt about how to count.
31 March 2019 - 8:37
Maria/ Magnolia Magis says:
Good morning! So many people in the world! I am happy to live in Sweden! We would probably fit best in Norrland really, loners as we are...? Yes, that's a lot of countries we've been to, that's what you get with a bus or campervan and around Europe. But still, it's almost only everyone on the western half... Eastern Europe we have left! Have a nice weekend!
30 March 2019 - 7:15
Helena says:
Yes, it is a bit nice sometimes to live in a more sparsely populated country 😉 And then you have a lot to discover in Eastern Europe, wonderful! 🙂
31 March 2019 - 8:38
TravelAnna says:
Interesting lists! I have been to all but two countries: Russia and Ukraine. My very first trip abroad was to Romania in the 70s. 🙂
The image of you in Sweden was particularly lovely!
30 March 2019 - 10:02
Helena says:
Ah, how nice that your first trip abroad was to Romania, a bit different! I think my first trip abroad was to Denmark 😉.
31 March 2019 - 8:39
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:
We have not been to Russia, Ukraine and Romania and they are not high on our wish list either.
Even though I know that Sweden is a large country, it still feels like 'little Sweden'.
30 March 2019 - 11:53
Helena says:
Can agree that Sweden often feels like "little" Sweden. Even though I know it's a lot of miles, I was almost a little surprised that it was so high on the list in size 😉.
31 March 2019 - 8:40
Ruth in Virginia says:
In all countries except Turkey (agree with Veiken there),
but Russia and Ukraine did not exist
at that time but were part of the Soviet Union.
-made a detour to Uzbekistan from Yalta in Crimea.
30 March 2019 - 14:03
Helena says:
Geography is changing ... When we were in Yalta in Crimea, it belonged to Ukraine ...
31 March 2019 - 8:41
Marianne - Glimpses of the world says:
I have not visited Russia, Ukraine and Romania. Of these, Romania is probably at the top of the wish list at the moment. And a trip with the Trans-Mongolian railway, and it goes a long way through Russia...?
30 March 2019 - 15:14
Helena says:
The Transmongolian railway is an experience! 🙂
31 March 2019 - 8:41
Ann-Louise Paulsson says:
I love lists like this! Of the countries on both lists, only Romania, Ukraine, Turkey and Russia have not been visited.
30 March 2019 - 16:22
Helena says:
Then you have managed to do a lot! But still always nice that there is a little left to discover 🙂 ðŸ™'
31 March 2019 - 8:42
Maud says:
has been to all European countries except Russia, Ukraine, Romania and Finland.
26 May 2019 - 17:39
Jonathan says:
How did you find out about all this
17 March 2020 - 16:43