Top 10 Largest Islands in the World (+100 full list)

2025-08-28

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From ice-clad Arctic giants to steamy equatorial rainforests, the world’s largest islands are as diverse as they are vast. They shape regional climates, host unique cultures and wildlife, and anchor maritime trade and exploration.

This guide uses widely accepted area figures (rounded to km²) and lists each island’s sovereign affiliation(s).

The 10 Largest Islands on Earth

1. 🇬🇱 Greenland — 2,130,800 km²

Greenland is the world’s largest island and is mostly covered by a massive ice sheet that influences global sea levels and climate. Its small population clusters along fjord-carved coasts, with Nuuk as the capital. The inland is dominated by ice and nunataks, while the coast reveals colorful towns and rich Inuit heritage. Wildlife includes muskoxen, polar bears, and whales migrating through icy waters. Summer brings the midnight sun, and winter darkens the sky for spectacular auroras.

2. 🇮🇩 🇵🇬 New Guinea — 785,753 km²

New Guinea lies just north of Australia and is split between Indonesia in the west and Papua New Guinea in the east. It is one of Earth’s great biodiversity hotspots, with cloud forests, mangroves, and coral-rich seas. Towering ranges such as the Central Cordillera sustain alpine habitats near the equator. Culturally, it is renowned for linguistic richness, with hundreds of distinct languages and traditions. Coastal towns and remote highland villages alike maintain strong ties to land and sea.

3. 🇮🇩 🇲🇾 🇧🇳 Borneo — 748,168 km²

Borneo is the third-largest island globally and the largest in Asia, shared by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Ancient rainforests shelter orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and a wealth of endemic plants. The island’s interior features rugged highlands and caves, while great rivers such as the Kapuas and Mahakam thread the lowlands. Cities like Kuching and Bandar Seri Begawan blend modern life with deep traditions. Conservation and sustainable forestry remain central challenges across the island.

4. 🇲🇬 Madagascar — 587,713 km²

Separated from Africa millions of years ago, Madagascar evolved extraordinary endemic life, from lemurs to baobab “alleys.” The island spans ecosystems from spiny deserts in the southwest to humid eastern rainforests. Antananarivo serves as the cultural and political hub in the central highlands. Coastal fisheries and vanilla cultivation are vital to local livelihoods. Ecotourism helps protect precious habitats while supporting communities.

5. 🇨🇦 Baffin Island — 507,451 km²

Baffin Island anchors Canada’s Arctic Archipelago with glacier-scored mountains and dramatic fjords. Auyuittuq National Park preserves towering granite walls and icefields along the Akshayuk Pass. Communities such as Iqaluit and Pangnirtung reflect strong Inuit culture and contemporary northern life. Wildlife includes narwhals, seals, and migratory seabirds along frigid coasts. Winters are long and severe, while the brief summer transforms tundra into a wildflower-studded landscape.

6. 🇮🇩 Sumatra — 443,066 km²

Sumatra, Indonesia’s western giant, is lined by the volcanic Barisan Mountains and cloaked in rainforests. Lake Toba, a vast caldera, hints at the island’s explosive geologic past. Critically endangered Sumatran tigers, rhinos, and orangutans still persist in protected areas. Coffee highlands, surf beaches, and Minangkabau culture enrich its human tapestry. The island sits astride major tectonic boundaries, making earthquakes and tsunamis a constant reality.

7. 🇯🇵 Honshu — 225,800 km²

Honshu is Japan’s largest island and the nation’s economic and cultural core. It hosts major cities including Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, and Kyoto, as well as the sacred icon of Mount Fuji. The Japanese Alps divide the island and shape regional climates and winter snow. High-speed rail, historic castles, and serene temples knit together ultramodern and traditional Japan. Coastal plains, fertile basins, and forested mountains create striking geographic variety.

8. 🇨🇦 Victoria Island — 217,291 km²

Victoria Island spans Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, its coastline deeply indented by inlets and peninsulas. Communities such as Cambridge Bay and Ulukhaktok are hubs for Arctic travel and culture. Permafrost, patterned ground, and low tundra vegetation define the interior. Wildlife includes caribou, Arctic foxes, and migratory birds that breed in summer. Sea ice and seasonal daylight swings shape life, work, and travel across the island.

9. 🇬🇧 Great Britain — 209,331 km²

Great Britain comprises England, Scotland, and Wales, and is one of the most influential islands in world history. London and other major cities anchor finance, culture, and higher education. Landscapes range from the Scottish Highlands and Welsh mountains to England’s rolling downs and moors. A temperate maritime climate brings mild winters, cool summers, and frequent changeable weather. Dense transport networks and storied sites draw millions of visitors each year.

10. 🇨🇦 Ellesmere Island — 196,236 km²

Ellesmere Island lies deep within the Canadian High Arctic, home to Quttinirpaaq National Park’s ice caps and polar deserts. The island’s mountains and fiords are among the most remote and pristine on Earth. Tiny communities such as Grise Fiord endure extreme cold and long polar nights. Marine life thrives along seasonal ice edges where nutrient-rich waters upwell. Scientific stations and protected areas help monitor a rapidly changing Arctic environment.

Top 100 Largest Islands in the World

The following table presents the 100 largest islands in the world, including their name, area, political affiliation, and a short note. Data are approximate (rounded to km²) and listed in descending order by size.

#	Name	Area (km²)	Country / Territory	Note
1	Greenland	2,130,800	Denmark (autonomous Greenland)	The world’s largest island, mostly covered by ice.
2	New Guinea	785,753	Indonesia / Papua New Guinea	Second largest island, extremely biodiverse.
3	Borneo	748,168	Indonesia / Malaysia / Brunei	Known for orangutans and dense rainforests.
4	Madagascar	587,713	Madagascar	Over 90% of wildlife is endemic.
5	Baffin Island	507,451	Canada	Largest island in Canada, in the Arctic Archipelago.
6	Sumatra	443,066	Indonesia	Prone to earthquakes and tsunamis.
7	Honshu	225,800	Japan	Japan’s largest island, home to Tokyo.
8	Victoria Island	217,291	Canada	Second largest island in Canada.
9	Great Britain	209,331	United Kingdom	Densely populated, historic center of the UK.
10	Ellesmere Island	196,236	Canada	Remote Arctic island with glaciers.
11	Sulawesi	180,681	Indonesia	Characterized by its unique shape.
12	South Island	145,836	New Zealand	Famous for Southern Alps and fjords.
13	Java	138,794	Indonesia	One of the most densely populated islands on Earth.
14	North Island	111,583	New Zealand	Known for geothermal activity and Maori culture.
15	Luzon	109,965	Philippines	Home to Manila, the nation’s capital.
16	Newfoundland	108,860	Canada	Historic site of early European settlement.
17	Cuba	105,806	Cuba	Largest island in the Caribbean.
18	Iceland	101,826	Iceland	World’s largest volcanic island.
19	Mindanao	97,530	Philippines	Known for mountains and fertile valleys.
20	Ireland	81,638	Ireland / United Kingdom	Divided between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
21	Hokkaido	78,719	Japan	Northernmost of Japan’s main islands.
22	Hispaniola	73,929	Haiti / Dominican Republic	Shared by two nations in the Caribbean.
23	Sakhalin	72,493	Russia	Largest island of Russia, in the Far East.
24	Banks Island	70,028	Canada	Important Arctic wildlife habitat.
25	Sri Lanka	67,655	Sri Lanka	Known as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean.”
26	Tasmania	65,022	Australia	Famous for its wilderness and Tasmanian devil.
27	Devon Island	55,247	Canada	Largest uninhabited island in the world.
28	Alexander Island	49,070	Antarctica	Antarctica’s largest island.
29	Tierra del Fuego	47,401	Argentina / Chile	Harsh southern tip of South America.
30	Severny Island (Novaya Zemlya)	47,079	Russia	Used for nuclear testing in the Soviet era.
31	Berkner Island	43,873	Antarctica	Lies between the Filchner and Ronne Ice Shelves.
32	Axel Heiberg Island	43,178	Canada	Known for fossil forests.
33	Melville Island	42,149	Canada	Rich in wildlife and oil exploration.
34	Southampton Island	41,214	Canada	Located at the entrance to Hudson Bay.
35	Marajó	40,100	Brazil	World’s largest freshwater island.
36	Spitsbergen	38,981	Norway (Svalbard)	Largest island of the Svalbard archipelago.
37	Kyushu	37,437	Japan	Known for volcanoes and hot springs.
38	Taiwan	35,883	Taiwan	Densely populated with strong economy.
39	New Britain	35,145	Papua New Guinea	Prone to volcanic activity.
40	Yuzhny Island (Novaya Zemlya)	33,246	Russia	Southern part of the Novaya Zemlya group.
41	Hainan	33,210	China	Popular tropical tourist destination.
42	Prince of Wales Island (Arctic)	33,339	Canada	Located in Nunavut’s Arctic Archipelago.
43	Vancouver Island	31,285	Canada	Known for mild climate and rainforest.
44	Timor	28,418	Indonesia / East Timor	Divided between two countries.
45	Sicily	25,662	Italy	Largest island in the Mediterranean.
46	Somerset Island	24,786	Canada	Remote island in Nunavut.
47	Kotelny Island	24,000	Russia	Part of the New Siberian Islands.
48	Sardinia	23,949	Italy	Known for beaches and ancient ruins.
49	Bananal Island	20,000	Brazil	World’s largest river island.
50	Shikoku	18,545	Japan	Smallest of Japan’s main islands.
51	Halmahera	18,040	Indonesia	Largest island in the Maluku Islands.
52	Seram	17,454	Indonesia	Rich in endemic bird species.
53	New Caledonia	16,648	France (overseas territory)	Known for one of the world’s largest lagoons.
54	Bathurst Island	16,042	Canada	Part of Nunavut’s Arctic Archipelago.
55	Prince Patrick Island	15,848	Canada	One of the Queen Elizabeth Islands.
56	Thurston Island	15,700	Antarctica	Antarctica’s third largest island.
57	Sumbawa	14,386	Indonesia	Neighbor to Bali and Lombok.
58	Nordaustlandet	14,247	Norway (Svalbard)	Covered mostly by ice caps.
59	October Revolution Island	14,204	Russia	Part of Severnaya Zemlya.
60	Flores	14,154	Indonesia	Known for Komodo dragons.
61	King William Island	13,111	Canada	Linked to Franklin expedition history.
62	Negros	13,075	Philippines	Sugar-producing center.
63	Samar	12,849	Philippines	Known for its caves and forests.
64	Palawan	12,189	Philippines	Famous for limestone cliffs and lagoons.
65	Panay	12,011	Philippines	Known for Boracay island nearby.
66	Yos Sudarso	11,742	Indonesia	Also known as Frederik Hendrik Island.
67	Bangka	11,413	Indonesia	Known for tin mining.
68	Bolshevik Island	11,206	Russia	Part of Severnaya Zemlya group.
69	Ellef Ringnes Island	11,295	Canada	Arctic, largely uninhabited.
70	Jamaica	11,190	Jamaica	Birthplace of reggae music.
71	Bylot Island	11,067	Canada	Protected as a national park area.
72	Sumba	10,711	Indonesia	Known for traditional villages.
73	Mindoro	10,572	Philippines	Home to the rare tamaraw species.
74	Viti Levu	10,531	Fiji	Largest island of Fiji.
75	Hawaiʻi (Big Island)	10,434	USA	Still growing due to volcanic activity.
76	Cape Breton Island	10,311	Canada	Known for Celtic culture and Cabot Trail.
77	Bougainville	9,318	Papua New Guinea	Known for its copper mine.
78	Prince Charles Island	9,521	Canada	Remote Arctic island.
79	Kodiak Island	9,293	USA	Famous for Kodiak bears.
80	Cyprus	9,234	Cyprus (with UK bases, disputed north)	Divided between Greek and Turkish communities.
81	Puerto Rico	9,100	USA (commonwealth)	Caribbean island with rich culture.
82	Komsomolets Island	8,812	Russia	Northernmost island of Severnaya Zemlya.
83	Corsica	8,741	France	Birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte.
84	Carney Island	8,500	Antarctica	Ice-covered island in the Ross Sea.
85	Disko Island (Qeqertarsuaq)	8,612	Greenland (Denmark)	Rich in geology and fossils.
86	Chiloé	8,478	Chile	Known for wooden churches and myths.
87	Buru	8,473	Indonesia	Part of the Maluku Islands.
88	Crete	8,350	Greece	Largest island of Greece, historic Minoan culture.
89	Anticosti Island	7,941	Canada	Famous for white-tailed deer.
90	Roosevelt Island	7,910	Antarctica	Ice-covered island.
91	Wrangel Island	7,866	Russia	UNESCO World Heritage site for biodiversity.
92	New Ireland	7,405	Papua New Guinea	Long narrow island in Bismarck Archipelago.
93	Leyte	7,368	Philippines	Site of WWII Battle of Leyte Gulf.
94	Zealand	7,180	Denmark	Largest island of Denmark, home to Copenhagen.
95	East Falkland	7,039	UK (Falkland Islands)	Largest of the Falklands.
96	Cornwallis Island	6,995	Canada	Arctic island in Nunavut.
97	Prince of Wales Island (Alaska)	6,675	USA	Large island in the Alaska Panhandle.
98	Kerguelen Island	6,617	France (TAAF)	Remote subantarctic island.
99	Siple Island	6,390	Antarctica	Dominated by a massive dormant volcano.
100	Graham Island	6,361	Canada	Largest island of the Haida Gwaii archipelago.

Conclusion

The world’s ten largest islands stretch from the equator to the poles, encompassing deserts, rainforests, mountains, and ice. They cradle ancient cultures and languages, harbor rare wildlife, and influence oceanic and atmospheric systems. Understanding their geography offers insight into trade, energy, conservation, and climate. Use the full Top 100 table below to explore how these giants compare with the next ninety islands by area.