Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is a large coral reef system off the coast of Australia, renowned for its extensive marine biodiversity.
Also known as: Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area
How big is it?
348,000 km² in area
World Heritage property area · approximate
Typical recorded range: 344,000 km² to 350,000 km².
A little perspective
About the same scale as Japan.
Japan: Japan is an island nation in East Asia, located in the Pacific Ocean east of the Korean Peninsula.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area covers approximately 348,000 km². The equal-area symbol is not a reef-boundary map, and coastline and management-area conventions can yield different totals.
UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Great Barrier Reef
The marked world heritage property area is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Japan
A rounded 377,975 km² national-area anchor, not a survey boundary.
Defined examples — our methodology
The marked area is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
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Why this measurement?
Why we use 348,000 km²
For comparison, this page uses world heritage property area. This is labelled approximate; the central value is useful for comparison, while real values or measurement solutions can vary. The recorded range is 344,000 km² to 350,000 km².
The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area covers approximately 348,000 km². The equal-area symbol is not a reef-boundary map, and coastline and management-area conventions can yield different totals.
The identifying illustration and the numerical comparison remain separate. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Great Barrier Reef dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 348,000 km² | 344,000 km² to 350,000 km² | approximate |
Around this scale
Go smaller. Go bigger.
These links use compatible area records, ordered around the selected value.
Nearest lower value · PlacesUnited Kingdom243,600 km²The United Kingdom is a country in north-western Europe comprising England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Nearest higher value · PlacesJapan378,000 km²Japan is an island nation in East Asia, located in the Pacific Ocean east of the Korean Peninsula.Sources and method
Want to check the number?
The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Great Barrier ReefWorld Heritage property extent and geographic context; mapped-area conventions differ.
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
PlacesAustralia7,692,000 km²Australia is a country and continent located between the Indian and Pacific Oceans in the Southern Hemisphere.PlacesAmazon rainforest5,500,000 km²The Amazon rainforest is a dense tropical forest in South America, home to a rich diversity of plant and animal life.PlacesJapan378,000 km²Japan is an island nation in East Asia, located in the Pacific Ocean east of the Korean Peninsula.
SpaceEnceladus504.2 kmEnceladus is a natural satellite of Saturn, with an icy surface and plumes of water vapour erupting from its south pole.PlacesUnited Kingdom243,600 km²The United Kingdom is a country in north-western Europe comprising England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
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.
SpaceCharon1,212 kmCharon is a natural satellite of Pluto, composed mainly of rock and water ice.