Largest Island in the World 2023 - Top 10 List (With Area)
by Subhashree M
Updated Mar 30, 2023
Largest Island in the World 2023
The largest island in the world, Greenland, is located in the North Atlantic Ocean and is an autonomous territory of Denmark. It spans an area of 2,175,600 square kilometers and is home to a variety of animals, including polar bears, walruses, and musk oxen. New Guinea is the second largest island in the world, located in the South Pacific Ocean. With an area of 785,753 square kilometers, it is the largest tropical island and has over 800 different languages and cultures. Borneo is the third largest island in the world, located in the South China Sea. It is divided into three countries: Brunei, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It is known for its ancient rainforests and is an important habitat for endangered species, such as the orangutan. Other large islands, such as Madagascar, Baffin Island, Great Britain, and Honshu, are unique in their geography, climate, and culture. They offer diverse experiences for travelers.
Top 10 Largest Islands in the World 2023
S.No
Largest Island in the world
Area (km²)
1
Greenland
2,166,086
2
New Guinea
785,753
3
Borneo
748,168
4
Madagascar
587,041
5
Baffin Island
507,451
6
Sumatra
473,481
7
Honshu
225,800
8
Victoria Island
217,891
9
Great Britain
209,331
10
Ellesmere Island
113,000
1. Greenland
Greenland, the largest island in the world, is situated in the North Atlantic, between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. With a total area of 2.166 million km², this island is a constituent part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Approximately 80% of Greenland is covered by the massive Greenland ice sheet. This island also provides a natural habitat for a diverse range of Arctic wildlife, such as polar bears, Arctic foxes, seals, walruses, and narwhals.Greenland is three times larger than Texas and it is a part of Denmark, even though it is governed by a home-rule system that oversees domestic affairs. The majority of the island's population comprises Inuit people.
2. New Guinea
The world's second largest island, New Guinea, is situated in the western Pacific Ocean, spanning over an area of 785,753 km², which is jointly shared by Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. This island is renowned for its tropical rainforest and for providing a natural habitat to a wide range of wildlife, including the largest butterfly in the world, the Queen Alexandra's Birdwing. With annual rainfall exceeding 300 inches, the Fly-Digul shelf of New Guinea, along with the surrounding highlands, experience some of the heaviest rainfall on the planet, which also makes it one of the least populated areas.
3. Borneo
Borneo, the world's third largest island, can be found in the Malay Archipelago of Southeast Asia. With a total area of 748,168 km², it is jointly shared by Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. This remarkable island is renowned for hosting some of the oldest rainforests on the planet, providing a natural habitat for an impressive array of wildlife, such as orangutans, elephants, and crocodiles. Moreover, the island's dense rainforests feature an exceptional variety of flora and fauna, including the Rafflesia arnoldii - the world's largest flower, commonly referred to as the "monster flower."
4. Madagascar
Madagascar, the world's fourth largest island, can be found off the coast of East Africa, spanning over an area of 587,041 km². This island boasts a unique biodiversity, housing a diverse range of wildlife such as lemurs, chameleons, and over 350 species of birds. Furthermore, Madagascar is known for its tropical plants and is a favored destination for ecotourism. Madagascar, located only 250 miles off the African coast, provides a natural habitat for some of the world's most unusual wildlife, including almost 40 species of lemurs, all of which are native to Madagascar, and 800 species of butterflies.
5. Baffin Island
Baffin Island, which is the world's fifth-largest island, is situated in the Arctic Ocean, off the coast of Canada. This island has an area of 507,451 km² and provides a natural habitat for diverse wildlife such as polar bears, muskoxen, and caribou. Furthermore, Baffin Island houses various archaeological sites and is a well-known destination for Arctic exploration.
6. Sumatra
Located in western Indonesia, Sumatra is the world’s sixth largest island, encompassing an area of 473,481 square kilometers. This island is a habitat to a variety of fauna, including tigers, elephants, and orangutans. In addition, it is also home to various active volcanoes and has become a popular ecotourism destination. Sumatra's three national parks, namely Mount Leuser, Kerinci Seblat, and Bukit Barisan Selatan, were declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2004.
7. Honshu
Honshu, which is the largest of Japan's four main islands, is also the seventh-largest island in the world. With an area of 225,800 km², it is the most populous island in Japan. Honshu boasts numerous cultural sites, such as the ancient capital city of Kyoto, and is a popular tourist destination. The island also features some of Japan's natural wonders, including Mount Fuji, the country's highest mountain, and Lake Biwa, its largest lake.
8. Victoria Island
Victoria Island, the eighth largest island in the world, is situated in the Canadian Arctic and spans an area of 217,891 km². It hosts a diverse range of wildlife such as polar bears, caribou, and muskoxen, and is home to numerous archaeological sites, making it a favored destination for those interested in Arctic exploration. Interestingly, this island is unique in that it contains the largest island within an island within an island, adding to its appeal and intrigue.
9. Great Britain
The United Kingdom is situated in Great Britain, which is the ninth largest island globally, located off the coast of Europe, and spans an area of 209,331 km². Great Britain is also renowned for its rich historical sites, including the iconic Stonehenge, making it a favored destination for tourists. Great Britain is a political term that refers to the combination of three countries: England, Scotland, and Wales. It is often used interchangeably with the United Kingdom, although the United Kingdom also includes Northern Ireland. Great Britain is an island located off the northwest coast of Europe and is the ninth-largest island in the world.
10. Ellesmere Island
Ellesmere Island, situated in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, is the world's tenth-largest island and spans an area of 113,000 km². This island serves as a habitat for various wildlife, such as polar bears, caribou, and muskoxen. It was named after Francis Egerton, 1st earl of Ellesmere, in 1852. Interestingly, Vikings are thought to have visited this barren island in the 10th century.
Which is the Largest Island in the World?
Greenland, the world's largest island, falls short of being a continent due to its population size. Situated in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, it is an autonomous territory of Denmark and mostly uninhabited despite its vast size. With a population of just over 50,000, the island is mostly covered by inhospitable glaciers and ice sheets, making fishing, sealing, and whaling the primary means of survival for the population. Many people visit Greenland to explore the Northeast Greenland National Park, which is the largest national park in the world. The island covers a total land area of 2.16 million sq. km, including some small, offshore islands. It lies in the far north, to the east of Baffin Bay, across which is northern Canada. The island is traversed by the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, and most of its area is covered by a vast sheet of ice measuring 1.8 million sq. km. The majority of the island's population are Inuit, and it is under Danish sovereignty, although it has autonomy to govern its own internal affairs.
Largest Island in the World 2023-FAQ
The largest island in the world is Greenland, located between the North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean, with a total land area of 2.16 million square kilometers.
The main industries in Greenland are fishing, sealing, and whaling.
New Guinea, spanning an area of 785,753 square kilometers (303,381 square miles), is positioned in the Western Pacific Ocean and is recognized as the second-largest island globally, following Greenland. The island is almost evenly divided between Papua New Guinea to the east and Indonesia to the west, with both countries sharing administration responsibilities.
There are no roads between towns or settlements in Greenland.
The Northeast Greenland National Park is the world's largest national park, located in Greenland and covering an area of over 972,000 square kilometers.