Islands vary enormously in size, from tiny atolls to vast landmasses that dwarf many countries. This list ranks the world’s five largest individual islands by total geographic area, using conventionally reported island-area figures in square kilometres (km²). Continental landmasses treated as continents are excluded, and area figures include permanent ice cover where applicable.

Beyond satisfying curiosity, comparing island sizes reveals geographic extremes and helps explain differences in climate, ecosystems and human settlement. The islands here range from the Arctic expanse of Greenland to the biodiversity hotspots of Madagascar, and the ranking highlights both physical scale and a few notable geographic and political quirks.

Quick Comparison

Rank	Item	Location	Ranking Value (km²)	Date/Year
1	Greenland	Arctic Ocean and North Atlantic; autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark	2,166,086 km²	2021
2	New Guinea	Southwest Pacific; Indonesia and Papua New Guinea	785,753 km²	2024
3	Borneo	Southeast Asia; Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei	748,168 km²	Undated
4	Madagascar	Indian Ocean, off southeastern Africa; Republic of Madagascar	587,041 km²	Undated
5	Baffin Island	Nunavut, Canada	507,451 km²	Undated

#5 — Baffin Island

Location: Nunavut, Canada

Ranking value: 507,451 km²

Relevant year: Official geographic area; source undated

Baffin Island is Canada’s largest island and the world’s fifth-largest island by total area. Located in the territory of Nunavut, it occupies an Arctic position with extensive coastlines and interior landscapes. At 507,451 km² it falls below Madagascar in this ranking but remains larger than most national territories. Baffin Island is notable for its protected wilderness: much of Auyuittuq National Park lies within the island’s bounds, preserving rugged fjords, glaciers and Arctic wildlife. Its ranking reflects the island’s total geographic area as conventionally reported by Canadian geographic authorities.

#4 — Madagascar

Location: Indian Ocean, off southeastern Africa; Republic of Madagascar

Ranking value: 587,041 km²

Relevant year: Official geographic area; source undated

Madagascar is the fourth-largest island in the world at 587,041 km². Situated off the southeastern coast of Africa, it is a distinct biogeographic region with exceptionally high levels of endemic species. The island’s long isolation from continental Africa has produced unique fauna and flora; among the best-known examples are Madagascar’s lemurs. Its size places it well above other large islands such as Baffin Island and Sumatra (which falls outside the top five), and the reported figure reflects Madagascar’s official geographic area.

#3 — Borneo

Location: Southeast Asia; Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei

Ranking value: 748,168 km²

Relevant year: Current reference value; source undated

Borneo ranks third worldwide with an area of 748,168 km². This Southeast Asian island is geographically immense and politically unique: it is the only island in the world divided among three countries—Indonesia, Malaysia and the small sultanate of Brunei—making its governance and conservation landscapes complex. Borneo’s size places it between New Guinea and Madagascar in total area, and the island is widely recognised in geographic references for both its scale and its environmental significance.

#2 — New Guinea

Location: Southwest Pacific; Indonesia and Papua New Guinea

Ranking value: 785,753 km²

Relevant year: 2024 scholarly reference value

New Guinea is the world’s second-largest island at 785,753 km², shared between Indonesia (western provinces) and the independent state of Papua New Guinea (east). The island’s rugged interior and varied environments support rich cultural and biological diversity. One notable geographic feature is Puncak Jaya, which is identified in the scholarship cited here as the highest mountain between the Himalayas and the Andes. The 2024 reference value used for this ranking reflects current scholarly measurements cited in geographic literature.

#1 — Greenland

Location: Arctic Ocean and North Atlantic; autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark

Ranking value: 2,166,086 km²

Relevant year: 2021 official reference value

Greenland is the largest island in the world by total area, at 2,166,086 km² according to Statistics Greenland’s 2021 figures. Much of this area is covered by the Greenland Ice Sheet—roughly four-fifths of the island—so the reported measurement includes permanent ice as part of total geographic area. Greenland’s status as an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark does not affect this geographic ranking; it is distinguished from continental landmasses, which are excluded from island rankings.

How We Ranked Them

This ranking orders individual islands by total geographic area, reported in square kilometres (km²). Area values are the conventionally reported figures for each island and include permanent ice cover; they are not limited to ice-free land. Continental landmasses such as Australia and Antarctica were excluded because they are conventionally classified as continents rather than islands. Where a specific reporting year matters, that year is shown (for example, Greenland’s 2021 official figure and New Guinea’s 2024 scholarly value). The list follows the critical sorting rule that each rank’s value is strictly greater than the next lower rank’s value.

Some sources report slightly different area figures for individual islands depending on counting conventions (for example, whether certain surrounding islets are included), but the figures used here are those specified in the verified dataset. A borderline candidate noted in the verification notes was Sumatra (approximately 473,481 km²), which falls below Baffin Island and therefore does not appear in the top five.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are Australia and Antarctica excluded from this list?

Australia and Antarctica are conventionally classified as continents rather than islands. This ranking includes only individual islands, so continental landmasses are excluded by the stated inclusion rules.

Do the area figures include permanent ice and glaciers?

Yes. The ranking uses total geographic area values that include permanent ice cover where applicable. Greenland’s figure, for example, includes the Greenland Ice Sheet.

Why do some sources give different area figures for the same island?

Different figures can result from varying measurement methods, whether surrounding islets or ice-covered areas are included, and the authority cited. The values used here follow the verified sources provided; where alternative figures are known (for instance, an alternate Greenland figure cited in some references), the verified authoritative value specified in the dataset is retained.

How was a borderline candidate like Sumatra handled?

Sumatra’s area (approximately 473,481 km²) was assessed against the fifth-ranked island (Baffin Island at 507,451 km²). Because Sumatra’s area is smaller, it was excluded from the top five and listed as the next excluded candidate in the verification notes.

Sources

• Statistics Greenland — Greenland in Figures 2021 — official area figure for Greenland used here.
• Miscellanea Geographica (2024) — “Islands, archipelagos and water: Insights from New Guinea” — scholarly reference value for New Guinea.
• Store norske leksikon — Borneo — geographic reference for Borneo’s area and political division.
• Embassy of Madagascar in France — Discover Madagascar — official area information for Madagascar.
• Statistics Canada / Natural Resources Canada — Physical geography of Canada (Baffin Island) — official area information for Baffin Island.
• Encyclopaedia Britannica — Greenland — general geographic context.
• Encyclopaedia Britannica — New Guinea — supporting geographic context for New Guinea.
• Encyclopaedia Britannica — Borneo — supporting geographic context for Borneo.
• Encyclopaedia Britannica — Madagascar — supporting geographic context for Madagascar.
• Encyclopaedia Britannica — Baffin Island — supporting geographic context for Baffin Island.

Last Updated

September 2026