Land area (sq. km) in China was reported at 9388210 sq. Km in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Land area (sq. km) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Russia is the largest country in the world by far, with a total area of just over 17 million square kilometers. After Antarctica, the next three countries are Canada, the U.S., and China; all between 9.5 and 10 million square kilometers. The figures given include internal water surface area (such as lakes or rivers) - if the figures were for land surface only then China would be the second largest country in the world, the U.S. third, and Canada (the country with more lakes than the rest of the world combined) fourth. Russia Russia has a population of around 145 million people, putting it in the top ten most populous countries in the world, and making it the most populous in Europe. However, it's vast size gives it a very low population density, ranked among the bottom 20 countries. Most of Russia's population is concentrated in the west, with around 75 percent of the population living in the European part, while around 75 percent of Russia's territory is in Asia; the Ural Mountains are considered the continental border. Elsewhere in the world Beyond Russia, the world's largest countries all have distinctive topographies and climates setting them apart. The United States, for example, has climates ranging from tundra in Alaska to tropical forests in Florida, with various mountain ranges, deserts, plains, and forests in between. Populations in these countries are often concentrated in urban areas, and are not evenly distributed across the country. For example, around 85 percent of Canada's population lives within 100 miles of the U.S. border; around 95 percent of China lives east of the Heihe–Tengchong Line that splits the country; and the majority of populations in large countries such as Australia or Brazil live near the coast.

Surface area (sq. km) in China was reported at 9562910 sq. Km in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Surface area (sq. km) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Russia is the largest country in Europe, and also the largest in the world, its total size amounting to 17 million square kilometers (km2). It should be noted, however, that over three quarters of Russia is located in Asia, and the Ural mountains are often viewed as the meeting point of the two continents in Russia; nonetheless, European Russia is still significantly larger than any other European country. Ukraine, the second largest country on the continent, is only 603,000 km2, making it about 28 times smaller than its eastern neighbor, or seven times smaller than the European part of Russia. France is the third largest country in Europe, but the largest in the European Union. The Vatican City, often referred to as the Holy Sea, is both the smallest country in Europe and in the world, at just one km2. Population Russia is also the most populous country in Europe. It has around 144 million inhabitants across the country; in this case, around three quarters of the population live in the European part, which still gives it the largest population in Europe. Despite having the largest population, Russia is a very sparsely populated country due to its size and the harsh winters. Germany is the second most populous country in Europe, with 83 million inhabitants, while the Vatican has the smallest population. Worldwide, India and China are the most populous countries, with approximately 1.4 billion inhabitants each. Cities Moscow in Russia is ranked as the most populous city in Europe with around 13 million inhabitants, although figures vary, due to differences in the methodologies used by countries and sources. Some statistics include Istanbul in Turkey* as the largest city in Europe with its 15 million inhabitants, bit it has been excluded here as most of the country and parts of the city is located in Asia. Worldwide, Tokyo is the most populous city, with Jakarta the second largest and Delhi the third.

In 2022, the estimated population density of China was around 150.42 people per square kilometer. That year, China's population size declined for the first time in decades. Although China is the most populous country in the world, its overall population density is not much higher than the average population density in Asia. Uneven population distribution China is one of the largest countries in terms of land area, and its population density figures vary dramatically from region to region. Overall, the coastal regions in the East and Southeast have the highest population densities, as they belong to the more economically developed regions of the country. These coastal regions also have a higher urbanization rate. On the contrary, the regions in the West are covered with mountain landscapes which are not suitable for the development of big cities. Populous cities in China Several Chinese cities rank among the most populous cities in the world. According to estimates, Beijing and Shanghai will rank among the top ten megacities in the world by 2030. Both cities are also the largest Chinese cities in terms of land area. The previous colonial regions, Macao and Hong Kong, are two of the most densely populated cities in the world.

Hong Kong HK: Population Density: People per Square Km data was reported at 7,039.714 Person/sq km in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 6,987.238 Person/sq km for 2016. Hong Kong HK: Population Density: People per Square Km data is updated yearly, averaging 5,743.636 Person/sq km from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2017, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7,039.714 Person/sq km in 2017 and a record low of 3,105.980 Person/sq km in 1961. Hong Kong HK: Population Density: People per Square Km data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Hong Kong SAR – Table HK.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.; ; Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates.; Weighted average;

Data componentsFolder “CRD v1.1” contains the recorded (5,143) reservoirs from yearbook and document data and all (97,435) reservoirs from CRD v1.1 (China Reservoir Database) two parts:• CRD_v11_all_reservoirs (in both shapefile format and the comma-separated values (csv) format): This database catalogs the location information of 97,435 reservoirs in China, with an aggregated area of 50,085.21 km2 and an estimated total storage capacity of 979.62 Gt. The attributes of all the CRD reservoirs (in all cases) include location information (province, prefecture, and county), inundation area, and estimated storage capacity, river order, discharge, and residence time of reservoirs.• CRD_v11_record_reservoirs (in both shapefile and csv): The 5,143 reservoirs in the CRD database were directly derived from the yearbook and other documents data, accounting for 59% and 82% of the total reservoir area and storage capacity of the CRD database, respectively. This reservoir information was mainly obtained through manual compilation. The attributes of the recorded reservoirs include name, province, prefecture, and county where the reservoir is located, water area, normal water level, storage capacity, reservoir class, main use, and regulation type. Data componentsFolder “CRD v1.1” contains the recorded (5,143) reservoirs from yearbook and document data and all (97,435) reservoirs from CRD v1.1 (China Reservoir Database) two parts:• CRD_v11_all_reservoirs (in both shapefile format and the comma-separated values (csv) format): This database catalogs the location information of 97,435 reservoirs in China, with an aggregated area of 50,085.21 km2 and an estimated total storage capacity of 979.62 Gt. The attributes of all the CRD reservoirs (in all cases) include location information (province, prefecture, and county), inundation area, and estimated storage capacity, river order, discharge, and residence time of reservoirs.• CRD_v11_record_reservoirs (in both shapefile and csv): The 5,143 reservoirs in the CRD database were directly derived from the yearbook and other documents data, accounting for 59% and 82% of the total reservoir area and storage capacity of the CRD database, respectively. This reservoir information was mainly obtained through manual compilation. The attributes of the recorded reservoirs include name, province, prefecture, and county where the reservoir is located, water area, normal water level, storage capacity, reservoir class, main use, and regulation type.

Macau MO: Population Density: People per Square Km data was reported at 20,546.766 Person/sq km in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 20,203.531 Person/sq km for 2016. Macau MO: Population Density: People per Square Km data is updated yearly, averaging 16,625.778 Person/sq km from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2017, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 21,398.950 Person/sq km in 2000 and a record low of 8,523.250 Person/sq km in 1961. Macau MO: Population Density: People per Square Km data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Macau SAR – Table MO.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.; ; Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates.; Weighted average;

Most studies on the geographical distribution of species have utilized a few well-known taxa in Europe and North America, with little research in China and its wide range of climate and forest types. We assembled large datasets to quantify the geographic ranges of tree species in China and to test several biogeographic hypotheses: 1) whether locally abundant species tend to be geographically widespread; 2) whether species are more abundant towards their range-centers; and 3) how abundances are correlated between sites. Local abundances of 651 species were derived from four tree plots of 20–25 ha where all individuals ≥1 cm in stem diameter were mapped and identified taxonomically. Range sizes of these species across China were then estimated from over 460,000 geo-referenced records; a Bayesian approach was used, allowing careful measures of error of each range estimate. The log-transformed range sizes had a bell-shaped distribution with a median of 703,000 km2, and >90% of 651 species had ranges >105 km2. There was no relationship between local abundance and range size, and no evidence for species being more abundant towards their range-centers. Finally, species’ abundances were positively correlated between sites. The widespread nature of most tree species in China suggests few are vulnerable to global extinction, and there is no indication of the double-peril that would result if rare species also had narrow ranges.

5.206.950 (km2) in 2021. Agricultural land refers to the share of land area that is arable, under permanent crops, and under permanent pastures. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded. Land under permanent crops is land cultivated with crops that occupy the land for long periods and need not be replanted after each harvest, such as cocoa, coffee, and rubber. This category includes land under flowering shrubs, fruit trees, nut trees, and vines, but excludes land under trees grown for wood or timber. Permanent pasture is land used for five or more years for forage, including natural and cultivated crops.

Rocky desertification, a pressing environmental concern in Southwest China, significantly impacts local living conditions and regional sustainability. Employing remote sensing on a macro scale, this study focuses on identifying and analyzing the spatial distribution and driving factors of rocky desertification. Conducted in Southwest China, using Landsat data from Google Earth Engine for 2020, the research quantitatively extracts information on rocky desertification patches through traditional methods. Excluding unlikely areas using land use data, spatial distribution features and driving factors are examined via GIS spatial analysis and a geodetector model. The main conclusions are as follows. Rocky desertification covers 217,530.4 km2 (accounting for 15.6% of Southwest China), with areas of slight, moderate, and severe rocky desertification at 81.3%, 7.1%, and 11.6%, respectively. Spatially, rocky desertification primarily occurs in areas where lithology is carbonate rock between clastic rocks and continuous limestone, slope exceeds 15°, elevation ranges is 1000–2000 m, land use types are grassland and woodland, precipitation is 80–120 mm, and population density is below 50 people/km2. Human activities have minimal influence. Geodetector analysis identifies lithology, land use type, and slope as primary driving factors, with interactive effects of lithology and land use type and slope and land use type jointly influencing rocky desertification formation in Southwest China. Methods The rocky desertification data were obtained from Landsat 8 operational land imager (OLI) image data provided by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) ("https://www.usgs.gov"), de-clouded based on the Google Earth Engine (GEE), and atmospherically corrected using ENVI5.3 Fast line-of-sight atmospheric analysis of spectral hypercubes (FLAASH) atmospheric correction tool with a spatial resolution of 30 m [37,38]. The land use type data with a spatial resolution of 1000 m were downloaded from the Resource and Environmental Science and Data Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences ("https://www.resdc.cn"). The land use types in these data mainly include watersheds, rivers, and urban industrial construction land, cultivated land, woodland, grassland, and unutilized land. The overall accuracy of this dataset reached 95.41%, which met the needs of this study. The digital elevation model (DEM) data for the study area were obtained from the Geospatial Data Cloud Platform of the Computer Network Information Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences ("http://www.gscloud.cn"), with a spatial resolution of 30 m. The precipitation data for 2020 were obtained from the China Meteorological Administration ("http://www.cma.gov.cn/"). The monthly average precipitation data of Southwest China for 2020 were obtained after kriging interpolation. The population density data were obtained from the 2020 Yearbook of the National and Local Government Statistical Bureau ("http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/ndsj/").

The data shows for each state/union territory the area, population by gender and population by urban/rural.

Note: The area figures of States and U.T's do not add up to area of India because : (i) The shortfall of 7 square km. area of Madhya Pradesh and 3 square km. area of Chhattisgarh is yet to be resolved by the Survey of India. (ii) Disputed area of 13 square km. between Pondicherry and Andhra Pradesh is neither included in Pondicherry nor in Andhra Pradesh. For All India: 1) The population figures excludes population of the area under unlawful occupation of Pakistan and China where Census could not be taken. 2) Area figures includes the area under unlawful occupation of Pakistan and China. The area includes 78,114 sq.km. under illegal occupation of Pakistan, 5,180 sq. km.illegally handed over by Pakistan to China and 37,555 sq.km. under illegal occupation of China.

Changing area of cultivated land loss in China during 2000–2020 (km2).

Net change of total cultivated land area in various regions of China since the 21st century (km2).

This dataset is collected from a residential area in Wuhan (China), which covers an area of 0.53km2, including about 20 million faces. We generated the mesh data from oblique aerial images with a ground sample distance (GSD) of 5cm. We manually annotated the dataset and divided it into 7 object categories, namely roof, façade, window, impervious surface, tree, vehicle and low vegetation.

The land cover data of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Tianshan Mountains 30 meters in 2020 visually shows the spatial distribution of different land covers, through statistical analysis it is concluded that the arable land cover is 51,350.99 km2, accounting for 6.11%; the forest land cover is 57,128.60 km2, accounting for 6.79%; the grassland cover is 348,837.53 km2, accounting for 41.47%; shrublands cover 16,057.98 km2, accounting for 1.91%; wetlands cover 2,216.33 km2, accounting for 0.26%; water bodies cover 10,649.11 km2, accounting for 1.27%; tundra cover 0 km2, accounting for 0%; man-made surface cover 3,566.19 km2, accounting for 0.42%; bare land coverage area is 300012.83 km2, accounting for 35.67%; glacier and permanent snow coverage area is 51298.96 km2, accounting for 6.10%. From the above quantitative indicators, it can be seen that the land cover of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Tianshan Mountains region in 2020 is mainly distributed by grassland and bare land, and the spatial pattern shows that there is more grassland in the northern region and more bare land in the southern region. The images used in this data are mainly 30-meter multispectral images, which are evaluated by the Institute of Air and Space Information Innovation of Chinese Academy of Sciences with an overall accuracy of 85.72% and a Kappa coefficient of 0.82. The data can be downloaded from http://www.globallandcover.com/.

The spatial resolutions of images were 30 m for multi-spectral bands and 15 m for the panorama band.

AGRI, agricultural land; BARE, bare ground; CLSH, closed shrubland; DBLF, deciduous broadleaved forest; ENLF, evergreen needle-leaved forest; GRAS, grassland; and OPSH, open shrub.

Area transfer matrix for 2003–2014 (km2).