Amazon rainforest
The Amazon rainforest is a dense tropical forest in South America, home to a rich diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as: Amazon jungle, Amazonia rainforest
How big is it?
5,500,000 km² in area
Approximate forest area · approximate
Typical recorded range: 5,300,000 km² to 6,000,000 km².
A little perspective
About 1.19 times the spherical surface area of Charon.
Charon: Charon is a natural satellite of Pluto, composed mainly of rock and water ice.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Amazon rainforest
The Amazon rainforest is represented by a rounded 5.5 million km² area. Forest, basin and biome boundaries differ; the equal-area symbol is not a boundary map.
Encyclopaedia Britannica — Amazon River and rainforest
The marked approximate forest area is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Charon
Rounded mean-radius model of Charon. The derived area and volume describe a sphere; surface terrain and flattening are omitted.
NASA JPL — Planetary satellite physical parameters
The marked spherical surface area is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
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Why this measurement?
Why we use 5,500,000 km²
For comparison, this page uses approximate forest area. This is labelled approximate; the central value is useful for comparison, while real values or measurement solutions can vary. The recorded range is 5,300,000 km² to 6,000,000 km².
The Amazon rainforest is represented by a rounded 5.5 million km² area. Forest, basin and biome boundaries differ; the equal-area symbol is not a boundary map.
The identifying illustration and the numerical comparison remain separate. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Amazon rainforest dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500,000 km² | 5,300,000 km² to 6,000,000 km² | approximate |
Around this scale
Go smaller. Go bigger.
These links use compatible area records, ordered around the selected value.
Nearest lower value · SpaceCharon4,615,000 km²Charon is a natural satellite of Pluto, composed mainly of rock and water ice.Around the same scale · PlacesSahara9,200,000 km²The Sahara is a vast desert region in North Africa, characterised by arid climate and extensive sand dunes.
Nearest higher value · PlacesAustralia7,692,000 km²Australia is a country and continent located between the Indian and Pacific Oceans in the Southern Hemisphere.Sources and method
Want to check the number?
The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Amazon River and rainforestRounded river length and broad rainforest-area context; geographic definitions vary.
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
PlacesAmazon River6,400 kmThe Amazon River is a major waterway in South America that flows eastward across the continent and drains a vast rainforest basin.SpaceCharon1,212 kmCharon is a natural satellite of Pluto, composed mainly of rock and water ice.PlacesAustralia7,692,000 km²Australia is a country and continent located between the Indian and Pacific Oceans in the Southern Hemisphere.
SpaceCeres939.4 kmCeres is a dwarf planet located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
PlacesGreenland2,166,000 km²Greenland is a large Arctic island northeast of Canada, mostly covered by an ice sheet and governed as an autonomous territory within Denmark.
SpacePluto2,377 kmPluto is a dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt, composed of rock and ice and orbiting the Sun.
SpaceEris2,326 kmEris is a dwarf planet in the scattered disc region beyond Neptune, composed of rock and ice.
PlacesAfrica30,370,000 km²Africa is a continent south of Europe, made up of over 50 countries with diverse climates and landscapes.