Saudi Arabia vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Land area (sq. km)
Saudi Arabia
2.15 million sq. km
in 2023
Sub-Saharan Africa
23.90 million sq. km
in 2023
Saudi Arabia rank
12th
Sub-Saharan Africa rank
15th
Land area (sq. km) over time
- Saudi Arabia
- Sub-Saharan Africa
How they compare
Sub-Saharan Africa currently reports 23.90 million sq. km against 2.15 million sq. km in Saudi Arabia, a difference of 21.75 million sq. km.
That makes Sub-Saharan Africa's figure about 11.1 times Saudi Arabia's.
Across all 63 years both countries report, Sub-Saharan Africa has been ahead every year.
Saudi Arabia ranks 12th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 15th of 216 countries.
Sub-Saharan Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 7 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Saudi Arabia | Sub-Saharan Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.15 million sq. km | 20.14 million sq. km | 17.99 million sq. km | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 1970s | 2.15 million sq. km | 20.14 million sq. km | 17.99 million sq. km | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 1980s | 2.15 million sq. km | 20.14 million sq. km | 17.99 million sq. km | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 1990s | 2.15 million sq. km | 20.91 million sq. km | 18.76 million sq. km | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 2000s | 2.15 million sq. km | 21.33 million sq. km | 19.18 million sq. km | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 2010s | 2.15 million sq. km | 23.39 million sq. km | 21.24 million sq. km | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 2020s | 2.15 million sq. km | 23.90 million sq. km | 21.75 million sq. km | Sub-Saharan Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher land area, Saudi Arabia or Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Sub-Saharan Africa, at 23.90 million sq. km against 2.15 million sq. km in Saudi Arabia as of 2023.
- What is the difference in land area between Saudi Arabia and Sub-Saharan Africa?
- 21.75 million sq. km, with Sub-Saharan Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Saudi Arabia and Sub-Saharan Africa?
- 63 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2023.
- How do Saudi Arabia and Sub-Saharan Africa rank globally for land area?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 12th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 15th of 216 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as Land area (sq. km). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.