Some of the biggest European countries are known for also having a large population. But some of these biggest countries also have a small population with the benefit of hundreds of thousands of square kilometers in size. Here are the biggest European countries ranked by size.
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10. Italy
Area – 116.000
Italy is the 10th largest country in Europe. It’s one of the few European countries that are part of the G8. The country is known for its large peninsula and its adjacent islands. The capital of Italy is Rome, one of Europe’s historic cities and the old capital of the Roman Empire.
Today, Italy has a strong manufacturing role in Europe. It also has a strong influence on design and fashion. But the country is also known to be a tourist hotspot with plenty of cities connected to other countries through international flights.
9. Poland
Area – 120.000
Poland is the 9th largest country in Europe. It has a population of 38 million and it represents a strong European country in the areas of agriculture, information technology, and tourism.
The country has one of the best emergent economies in Europe. Growth potential is high given its location bordering Germany and being part of the European Union.
8. Finland
Area – 130.000
Finland is one of the largest countries in Europe. But it has a small population of just 5 million people. This makes it one of the best countries for the nature lover or for those who aren’t fond of large metropolitan areas.
Its largest city of Helsinki only has a population of 650.000. This equates to the combined population of the next 3 big Finish cities of Espoo, Tampere, and Vantaa.
7. Germany
Area – 137.000
Germany is Europe’s 7th largest country. It has a large population of 83 million and it’s one of the main destinations for expats looking to build careers in manufacturing, engineering, arts, sciences, and medicine.
Germany is a G8 country and one of the most important countries of the European Union together with France based on its economic influence. It is the largest car manufacturer in Europe and one of the most important countries for tech research in the world.
6. Norway
Area – 148.000
Norway is one of the Northern European countries which impresses with its size. The country is known for its vast fjords and impressive high mountain peaks.
It had a rich Viking history and it has been present in some of the most important battles of the continent during the Viking period.
Today, Norway is a rich country through the exploitation of vast natural resources such as petrol. Oslo is the country’s largest city.
5. Sweden
Area – 173.000
Sweden is the 5th largest European country with a population of 10 million. It has the largest population from all of the Nordic countries (compared to Norway and Finland). It has been traditionally known as one of the countries with a high influence in the human rights campaigns.
But Sweden is a country with vast natural resources. Given its rather small population to land ratio, it has the potential for growth in areas such as manufacturing as well as tourism.
4. Spain
Area – 192.000
Spain is the 4th largest country in Europe. It has an approximate population of 47 million and it’s one of the most diverse Mediterranean countries in Europe.
Madrid and Barcelona are the most important cities in the country by political and economic influence. But Spain is also known for its great food and amazing beaches. This is why the country is one of the main tourist hotspots in Europe.
But Spain also has some of the most popular islands for tourism and leisure around the world. Many of these islands aren’t even close to mainland Spain. They include Tenerife, Mallorca, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Ibiza.
3. France
Area – 213.000
France is the third-largest country in Europe. It has a population of 67 million people. It’s one of the countries that have the largest potential for population growth, especially from Colonial countries.
But France is also a part of the G8 Summit as a heavily-industrialized country. Its economic engines include automotive engineering, tourism, and other manufacturing categories.
It’s also the country which makes some of the best wines in the world. Natural resources are also vast in France and they offer some of the best sceneries for outdoor sports fans in the entire world.
2. Ukraine
Area – 233.000
Ukraine is the second-largest country in Europe. It’s not a member of the European Union at the moment and given its ongoing military conflict, it’s less likely to become an EU member state anytime soon.
But its vast land resources make it one of the main agricultural players in Europe. The country’s rich and troublesome history also makes it one of the most interesting destinations for tourists.
1. Russia
Area – 1.540.000
Russia is the largest country in Europe. It spreads over both Europe and Asia and it also has a large population. In recent years, Russia has been one of the key players in the world for energy resources.
It also has some of the best natural wood resources. But the country has also been known for its manufacturing role in Europe, especially in the steel industry.
The vast land resources of Russia allow it to have direct access to the Black Sea in Europe as well as to neighbor China in the far East. The country has some of the largest cities in Europe as well. Both Moscow and Saint Petersburg are larger than most other cities on the continent.
Russia also has some of the largest areas of untapped territories since many of them are deserted. Due to its vast surface, Russian village life is at least as important as Russian urban living as the country.
This makes Russian culture one of the most diverse in Europe. But today, Russia is not a member of the G8 since 2014. It has been disinvited and the world economic forum changes its status to the G7 temporarily.
