1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Geography

Largest Islands in the World

The Largest Islands in Size and the Largest Islands by Population

By Matt Rosenberg, About.com

Greenland

The town of Ilulissat, Greenland. Greenland is the world's largest island in area but has a population of just over 56,000 people.

Uriel Sinai/Getty Images
Aug 21 2008
Below you will find a list of the largest islands in the world based on size or area followed by a list of the largest islands in the world based on population.

Largest Islands by Area

1. Greenland - North America - 840,004 square miles - 2,175,600 sq km
2. New Guinea - Oceania - 312,167 square miles - 808,510 sq km
3. Borneo - Asia - 287,863 square miles - 745,561 sq km
4. Madagascar - Africa - 226,657 square miles - 587,040 sq km
5. Baffin Island - North America - 195,927 square miles - 507,451 sq km
6. Sumatera (Sumatra) - Asia - 182,860 square miles - 473,606 sq km
7. Honshu - Asia - 87,805 square miles - 227,414, sq km
8. Great Britain - Europe - 84,354 square miles - 218,476 sq km
9. Victoria Island - North America - 83,897 square miles - 217,291 sq km
10. Ellesmere Island - North America - 75,787 square miles - 196,236 sq km

Source: Times Atlas of the World

Largest Islands by Population

1. Java - Indonesia - 124,000,000
2. Honshu - Japan - 103,000,000
3. Great Britain - United Kingdom - 56,800,000
4. Luzon - Philippines - 46,228,000
5. Sumatera (Sumatra) - Indonesia - 45,000,000
6. Taiwan - 22,200,000
7. Sri Lanka - 20,700,000
8. Mindanao - Philippines - 19,793,000
9. Madagascar - 18,600,000
10. Hispaniola - Haiti and the Dominican Republic - 17,400,000

Source: Wikipedia

Explore Geography

About.com Special Features

A Smarter Future

Tips that will help finance your education, excel in the classroom, and advance your career. More >

How to Ace the GRE

Being well prepared is the first step; here are more essential suggestions. More >

  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Geography
  4. Statistics, Lists, & Trivia
  5. Largest Islands - A List of the World's Largest Islands>

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.