Largest Continent in the World by Area and Population

Discover the Largest continents in the world by area and Largest continents in the world by population in 2024. Explore a Largest continent in the world map to identify the Largest continent in the world by country, with a focus on Largest continent in the world Africa and Largest continent in the world Asia, the two prominent contenders for the title of the largest continent.

Asia is the largest continent in the world. It has an area of 44,580,000 sq. km and a population of 4,663,000,000 people. There are a total of 7 continents in the world. Check the list of Largest Continent in the World by Area and Population below.

Largest Continent in the World

Largest Continents in the World by Area

Asia is the largest continent with an area of 44,580,000 sq. km. Australia is the smallest continent in the world with an area of 8,600,000 sq. km. Here is the list of largest continent in the world.

Rank	Continent	Area (sq km)
1	Asia	44,580,000
2	Africa	30,370,000
3	North America	24,710,000
4	South America	17,840,000
5	Antarctica	14,200,000
6	Europe	10,180,000
7	Australia	8,600,000

Largest Continents in the World by Population

Asia is the largest continenet in the world with a population of 4,663,000,000 people. While Antarctica is the smallest continent in the world as it has only 1000 population. Following are the population wise largest continent in the world.

Rank	Continent	Population
1	Asia	4,663,000,000
2	Africa	1,340,000,000
3	Europe	747,000,000
4	North America	592,000,000
5	South America	430,000,000
6	Australia/Oceania	25,000,000
7	Antarctica	1000 – 5000

Note: Antarctica has 0 population due to Extreme Climate challenge. This continent experiences incredibly low temperatures, with the lowest temperature ever recorded on Earth (-128.6°F or -89.2°C) occurring there. So there are only seasonal population of 1,000-5,000 people for research and study purposes.

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• Continents in the world
• Smallest continents in the world

Largest Continent in the World 2024

• Asia: Remains the largest both in terms of area and population as of 2024.

Largest Continent in the World Map

• Maps highlight Asia as the most extensive continent, dominating the Eastern Hemisphere.
• Africa and North America are also prominently large on any world map.

Largest Continent in the World by Country

• Africa: Leads with the number of recognized sovereign states, totaling 54 countries.
• Asia: Follows with 49 countries, hosting diverse cultures and economies.

Largest Continent in the World Africa

• Known for its vast deserts, dense jungles, and rich cultural heritage.
• Africa’s Sahara Desert is the largest hot desert in the world.

Largest Continent in the World Asia

• Asia is not only the largest by area but also the cradle of ancient civilizations.
• Home to the world’s highest point, Mount Everest, and the deepest lake, Lake Baikal.

Largest Continent in the World: Asia

Asia is the largest continent in the world. It contains 30% of total area of earth. It has 4.6 billion people, constituting about 60% of the global population. It has historical ancient civilizations like China, India, and Mesopotamia.

Asia

India is the largest country in Asia with a population of 140.76 crores. While, Russia is the largest country with an area of 16,376,870 sq. km.

Aspect	Value
Area	44,579,000 km² (17,212,000 sq mi)
Population	4,694,576,167 (As of 2021)
Population Density	100/km² (260/sq mi)

Second Largest Continent in the World: Africa

Africa is the Second Largest Continent in the World with an area of 30 million sq km. It has a population of more than 1.3 billion people. Africa’s geography ranges from vast deserts, such as the Sahara, to lush rainforests, like those in the Congo Basin.

Africa

The largest country in Africa, both by area and population, is Algeria. It covers an extensive land area of approximately 2,381,741 square kilometers (919,595 square miles) and is home to more than 44 million people.

Aspect	Value
Area	30,370,000 km² (11,730,000 sq mi)
Population	1,393,676,444 (As of 2021)
Population Density	46.1/km² (119.4/sq mi)

Third Largest Continent in the World: North America

North America is the Third Largest Continent in the World, after Asia and Africa. It is situated in the northern hemisphere and is made up of three major countries: Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The continent is known for its diverse landscapes, including vast forests, mountains, and deserts.

North America

Asoect	Value
Area	24,709,000 km² (9,540,000 sq mi)
Population	592,296,233 (As of 2021)
Population Density	25.7/km² (66.4/sq mi)

North America has a rich history shaped by indigenous peoples, European colonization, and subsequent cultural diversity. It is a hub of economic activity, with developed industries, advanced technology, and diverse societies. The continent’s natural wonders, such as the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls, attract millions of visitors each year.

Fourth Largest Continent in the World: South America

South America

Aspect	Value
Area	17,840,000 km² (6,890,000 sq mi)
Population	434,254,119 (As of 2021)
Population Density	21.4/km² (56.0/sq mi)

Fifth Largest Continent in the World: Antarctica

Antarctica is a vast, icy continent located at the southernmost part of the Earth. It’s the Fifth Largest Continent in the World, covering about 14 million square kilometers. Mostly covered by thick ice, it’s home to the South Pole. Despite its harsh conditions, various organisms, like seals and penguins, thrive in its unique ecosystem.

Antarctica

Aspect	Value
Area	14,200,000 km² / 5,500,000 sq mi
Population	1,300 to 5,100 (seasonal)
Population Density	0.00009/km² to 0.00036/km² (seasonal)

Antarctica plays a crucial role in regulating Earth’s climate by influencing ocean currents. While no permanent human population resides there, numerous countries conduct scientific research in the region. The Antarctic Treaty, signed by many nations, aims to preserve the area for scientific exploration and environmental protection, fostering international cooperation.

Largest Continent in the World – FAQs

What are the top 7 largest continents in the world by area?

The top 7 continents, ranked from largest to smallest by area, are Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.

Which is the world’s largest continent?

Asia is the world’s largest continent, covering an area of 44,579,000 square kilometers.

How do continents rank by size?

1. Asia
2. Africa
3. North America
4. South America
5. Antarctica
6. Europe
7. Australia

What are the population sizes of the largest continents?

Asia has the largest population with approximately 4.6 billion people, followed by Africa with 1.3 billion, and North America with 369 million.

Which continent makes up 60% of the global population?

Asia, being the largest continent, also makes up about 60% of the world’s population.

How does the size of Australia compare to other continents?

Australia is the smallest continent, both in terms of area and population, among the seven continents.

Which is the largest continent in the world?

Asia is the largest continent in the world with an area of 44,580,000 sq. km and a population of 4,663,000,000 people.

Which is smallest continent in the world?

Australia is the smallest country in the world with an area of 8,600,000 sq. km.

What is the total land area of Asia?

Asia spans a vast land area of approximately 44.58 million square kilometers.

How many countries are there in Asia?

Asia is home to numerous countries, totaling 49 recognized countries.

Which is most populated country in Asia?

China and India are the most populous countries in Asia, each with over a billion people.

Which is smallest country in Asia?

The Maldives is the smallest country in Asia with an area of 297.8 km².