Real size
How big is the Philippines really?
290,000 km²
112,000 sq mi · 73rd largest of the 167 here · about the size of Italy
Normal web maps show it about the right size
The Philippines covers 290,000 km² (112,000 sq mi), about the size of Italy. It sits close to the equator, where normal web maps barely stretch land, so they show it at about its real size, and make countries farther from the equator look bigger than it.
Measured from our map outlines, so official figures can differ by a few percent. Ranks count the 167 countries and territories on these pages: those over 5,000 km², not counting disputed territories.
Part of the land The Philippines holds or claims is disputed (1 dispute). Our area follows the borders drawn on today's map. See the disputed territories →
- Real area
- 290,000 km²
- Size rank
- 73rd of 167
- On a normal web map
- About right
- Latitude
- 12°N
Countries about the same size
- ItalyAbout the same size
- Burkina FasoThe Philippines is 1.1 times the size of Burkina Faso
- OmanOman is 1.1 times the size of the Philippines
- PolandPoland is 1.1 times the size of the Philippines
- New ZealandThe Philippines is 1.1 times the size of New Zealand
The Philippines through history
Borders here have moved many times. Step through our maps, from 2000 BCE to today, to see who ruled this land before, and how big their realms really were.
Open the history map →Browse the eras →
Common questions
- How big is the Philippines?
- The Philippines covers about 290,000 km² (112,000 sq mi). It is the 73rd largest of the 167 countries and territories on these pages (those over 5,000 km²).
- Do maps show the Philippines at the right size?
- Yes. The Philippines lies so close to the equator that a normal web map barely stretches it, while countries far to the north or south are drawn several times too big.
- Is the Philippines bigger than Poland?
- No. Poland is about 1.1 times the size of the Philippines.
- Is the Philippines bigger than Italy?
- They are about the same size: within 5% of each other.