United States Ranks Third Globally in Land Area, Surpassing Canada When Inland Water Excluded
The United States ranks as the third-largest country globally by land area, encompassing 3,531,837 square miles, which accounts for 7.0% of the world's total land. This ranking places the U.S. ahead of Canada, which is fourth with 3,393,335 square miles, when inland water bodies are excluded from the calculation. While Canada is larger in total surface area, its extensive network of lakes alters its position when only land area is considered. Russia holds the top spot with 6,323,142 square miles, representing 12.6% of the global land area, followed by China at 3,624,807 square miles, or 7.2%. The five largest countries—Russia, China, the U.S., Canada, and Brazil—collectively account for approximately 40% of the world's land area. Africa, despite not having a single dominant country in terms of land size, is home to 21 of the world's 50 largest countries, more than any other region. 
