How Big is Greenland Compared to Australia?

Greenland and Australia are two massive islands located in different parts of the world. Both places are unique in terms of their geography, climate, population and more. But when it comes to sheer size, how do they compare?

Greenland is significantly smaller than Australia. Greenland has a land area of approximately 2.16 million square kilometers, while Australia is about 7.68 million square kilometers, making Australia more than three times larger than Greenland.

Let’s take a detailed look at the sizes of Greenland and Australia and how they stack up.

Overview of Greenland’s Size

Greenland is located between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. 

It has a total area of 2,166,086 square kilometers (836,330 sq mi), over 80% of which is covered by the Greenland ice sheet. 

This makes it the 12th largest country by area. Greenland is about the same size as Saudi Arabia or slightly larger than Mexico.

Some key facts about Greenland’s size:

• It stretches 2,670 km (1,660 mi) from its northernmost point to its southern tip.
• Its widest point is 1,050 km (650 mi) at latitude 77°N.
• No part of the island is more than 300 km (186 mi) from the coast.
• The ice sheet covers 1.7 million sq km (660,000 sq mi) or about 80% of the island.
• Only 410,000 sq km (158,000 sq mi) is exposed land or rock.

Greenland is absolutely massive, spanning over 2 million square kilometers in total area. Most of it is covered in thick ice sheets while the exposed land along the coasts is equivalent to about the size of Sweden.

Overview of Australia’s Size

Australia is a continent and country located in Oceania, between the Indian and South Pacific oceans. 

With a total area of 7,692,024 square kilometers (2,969,907 sq mi), it is the planet’s 6th largest country by area.

Here are some key details about Australia’s expansive size:

• It stretches nearly 4,000 km (2,500 mi) from east to west and over 3,200 km (2,000 mi) from north to south.
• Its coastline spans over 35,000 km (22,000 mi) in length.
• The Australian mainland covers around 7.6 million sq km while Australia’s island state Tasmania adds 68,000 sq km.
• Vast deserts occupy the interior which make up about 35% of the total land area.
• Only 6% of Australia is considered arable land suitable for farming.

In summary, Australia is the world’s largest island and smallest continent with a total land area approaching 7.7 million square kilometers. It occupies its own tectonic plate and is equivalent in size to the contiguous United States.

Comparing the Sizes of Greenland and Australia

Now that we have an overview of Greenland and Australia’s individual sizes, how do they compare to each other?

Total Land Areas

When comparing the sizes of Greenland and Australia, the most straightforward measure is their total land areas:

• Greenland – 2.16 million sq km
• Australia – 7.69 million sq km

Based on total area, Australia is around 3.5 times larger than Greenland. Australia dwarfs Greenland in sheer geographic size.

Exposed Land vs. Ice-Covered Territory

However, this comparison is a bit misleading because over 80% of Greenland is covered in permanent ice sheets. If we just look at exposed land, the gap is reduced:

• Greenland – 0.41 million sq km exposed land
• Australia – 7.69 million sq km total land

Accounting only for exposed land, Australia is about 18 times bigger than Greenland. 

The massive Australian deserts and fertile eastern regions make it much more sizable than Greenland’s limited ice-free areas along its coasts.

Habitable and Inhabited Regions

Considering the habitable and populated areas of both lands further reduces the apparent gap. 

Greenland accommodates a mere 56,000 residents, with only a small portion living outside a few small towns. 

Meanwhile, Australia’s 25 million population resides primarily along its coastal outskirts.

In terms of inhabited land, Australia may be only 5-10 times more extensive than Greenland, underscoring the importance of considering usability when evaluating size disparities.

Climate Differences Between the Two Lands

In addition to differences in size, Greenland and Australia have vastly contrasting climates which affect their habitability.

Greenland’s Arctic Chill

Greenland, situated predominantly within the Arctic region, experiences long, harsh winters and short, cool summers. 

Only the southwestern coast offers a milder climate suitable for farming and permanent settlements. The majority of the island is either covered in ice or too cold and barren for human habitation.

Australia’s Varied Climate Zones

Australia spans tropical, subtropical, and temperate climate zones. It encounters warm to hot summers and mild winters. 

The northern tropical regions bask in year-round warmth and rain, while the southern areas enjoy a true temperate climate. 

Australia’s climate diversity enables the establishment of population centers across much of the continent.

Climate’s Role in Population Disparities

While Australia boasts a significantly larger overall area, Greenland’s limited habitable regions are shaped by its extreme climate. 

These climatic disparities account for the substantial contrast in populations, with Greenland hosting a mere 56,000 residents compared to Australia’s 25 million.

Natural Resources in Greenland and Australia

Climate also plays a key role in determining the natural resources that are available in Greenland compared to Australia.

Greenland’s natural resources are very limited due to the ice sheet covering most mineral deposits. However, global warming is beginning to uncover more mining opportunities including:

• Gold, iron ore, lead, zinc, diamonds, ruby, and uranium deposits that were previously too difficult to access under the ice.
• Offshore oil and gas reserves that may become accessible as sea ice declines.

Australia is blessed with far more natural resources thanks to its larger ice-free land area across diverse climates:

• Extensive deposits of iron ore, gold, nickel, aluminum, lead, zinc, uranium, and other minerals. Australia is a major exporter of these globally.
• Significant reserves of coal, natural gas, and crude oil. Australia is one of the top energy exporting nations.
• Vast amounts of solar and wind energy potential. Australia already gets 5% of its electricity from renewables.
• Highly fertile grazing and cropping lands for agriculture across nearly 40% of the mainland.

So despite its smaller size, Australia’s more favorable climate provides it with an abundance of mineral, energy, and agricultural resources that Greenland lacks.

Unique Geographic Features

Both places also have some unique geographic features worth mentioning:

Notable Greenland Features

• The Greenland Ice Sheet – This 1.7 million sq km frozen sheet covers 80% of the island and contains 10% of the world’s freshwater. It’s up to 3 km thick in places!
• Greenland’s Glaciers – There are at least 15 large glacial systems plus thousands of smaller valley and mountain glaciers. They carve deep fjords along the coasts.
• The Greenland Iceberg – Around 10,000 medium to large icebergs calve from Greenland’s glaciers each year. Iceberg shapes are stunning.

Notable Australia Features

• Uluru/Ayers Rock – This iconic red sandstone rock formation in central Australia rises 348m and is over 2.5 km long. It’s sacred to indigenous people.
• The Great Barrier Reef – Located off Australia’s northeast coast, this massive 2,300 km long reef system has over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands. It can be seen from space!
• Kata Tjuta / The Olgas – These 36 red rock dome formations located near Uluru are up to 500m high. Indigenous history dates back over 22,000 years here.
• The Kimberley – This remote northern region has dramatic gorges, waterfalls, rock formations, and wetlands carved by ancient rivers. It remains one of Australia’s wildest frontiers.

So while very different in climate and geography, both Greenland and Australia have some spectacular landscapes and natural formations unlike anywhere else on Earth.

Population and Development Differences

Comparing Greenland and Australia reveals striking disparities in population, development, and economic prospects between the world’s largest island and smallest continent.

Greenland’s Unique Demographics

With a mere 56,000 residents, Greenland stands as the world’s most sparsely populated country. Over 80% of its population comprises indigenous Inuit people. 

The nation’s economy heavily relies on fishing exports and financial support from Denmark. However, newfound opportunities in mining, oil, and tourism are kindling hopes for future economic growth.

Australia’s Developed Nation Status

Conversely, Australia is a highly developed nation with 25 million people, characterized by ethnic diversity and a high standard of living. 

Australia’s mixed market economy thrives on robust service, mining, and agricultural sectors. 

Major urban centers along the coastal regions prosper, while the vast interior Outback remains sparsely populated.

Historical Challenges and Progress

Both Greenland and Australia grappled with the legacies of colonialism and the challenges of early settlements. 

Australia’s expansive size and rich resources facilitated a faster progression compared to Greenland. 

However, the smaller and colder Greenland is now witnessing rapid development as climate change unlocks new economic possibilities.

Unique Futures for Unique Lands

In terms of human societies, the larger and more temperate Australia clearly enjoys advantages over the smaller and frigid Greenland. 

Nevertheless, both lands hold promising prospects for their own distinct paths to future growth and prosperity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore common queries about the significant size difference between Australia and Greenland, shedding light on their diverse landscapes and resources.

How Much Bigger Is Australia Than Greenland?

Based on total land area, Australia is about 3.5 times larger than Greenland. However, accounting only for inhabitable exposed land, Australia is approximately 5-10 times bigger than Greenland.

Why Is Australia’s Size So Much Larger Than Greenland?

The main reason is that over 80% of Greenland is covered by permanent ice sheets, while Australia has vast open deserts and fertile coastal plains. Australia also spans diverse tropical, subtropical and temperate latitudes compared to Greenland’s predominantly frozen Arctic climate.

What Percentage Of Australia Is Habitable?

It’s estimated that around 20% of Australia’s land area is considered arable and suitable for agriculture and grazing. Another 10% or so is taken up by major urban centers and suburban areas along the coasts where over 85% of Australians live. So around 30% of total land is inhabited in some form.

Does Australia Have More Natural Resources Than Greenland?

Yes, by a wide margin. Australia’s greater ice-free land area across diverse climates allows for immense deposits of minerals, fossil fuel reserves, and fertile crop/grazing land. Greenland’s resources are largely untapped under thick ice but global warming is exposing more mineral deposits.

Is Greenland larger than the continent of Antarctica?

No. At 14 million square km, Antarctica is over 6 times larger than Greenland in total area. Antarctica is also almost entirely covered in ice sheets, like Greenland. In terms of exposed land, they are comparable, with less than 5% of both being ice-free.

Conclusion

To summarize, while Australia is far bigger overall in terms of total land area, the actual livable and inhabited areas are more comparable between the two islands. 

Australia’s more favorable climate and wealth of natural resources make it the “larger” land mass by most measures. 

But the sheer physical enormity and uniqueness of the Greenland ice sheet is also difficult to fathom. Both are incredible islands in their own rights!