4. Can’t Build on Water

Despite the common perception that Canada is larger than the United States, when considering land area alone, the US actually surpasses its northern neighbor. The total area of a country is divided into land area and water area, revealing the crucial detail that places the U.S. ahead.

Canada’s vast lakes and internal waters contribute significantly to its overall size, but when focusing purely on land, Canada encompasses 9.094 million square kilometers, slightly less than the U.S.’s 9.148 million square kilometers. This distinction highlights the importance of distinguishing between total surface area and land area when comparing the sizes of countries.