Sahara
The Sahara is a vast desert region in North Africa, characterised by arid climate and extensive sand dunes.
Also known as: Sahara Desert
How big is it?
9,200,000 km² · approximate desert area
Approximate desert area · approximate
Typical recorded range: 8,800,000 km² to 9,400,000 km².
A little perspective
Sahara vs Australia: area comparison
The desert area of the Sahara is about 1.2 times the area of Australia.
The Sahara is a vast desert region in North Africa, characterised by arid climate and extensive sand dunes.
Too small to see at this scale. The ring marks its true-scale position, not its area. The shape has not been enlarged.
Australia is a country and continent located between the Indian and Pacific Oceans in the Southern Hemisphere.
Too small to see at this scale. The ring marks its true-scale position, not its area. The shape has not been enlarged.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Sahara
Approximate desert area: 9,200,000 km²; approximate; range 8,800,000 km²–9,400,000 km².
The Sahara covers about 9.2 million km² under a broad geographic convention. Desert margins shift and definitions differ; the equal-area symbol is not a boundary map.
Encyclopaedia Britannica — Sahara
The marked approximate desert area is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Australia
Area: 7,692,000 km²; rounded geography model.
A rounded 7,692,024 km² country-area anchor.
Defined examples — our methodology
The marked area is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
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Why this measurement?
Why we use 9,200,000 km²
We compare the desert area of the Sahara. This is an estimate; check the notes for its rounding and uncertainty. The recorded range is 8,800,000 km² to 9,400,000 km².
The Sahara covers about 9.2 million km² under a broad geographic convention. Desert margins shift and definitions differ; the equal-area symbol is not a boundary map.
The picture identifies the subject; the diagram compares the recorded values. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9,200,000 km² | 8,800,000 km² to 9,400,000 km² | approximate |
Around this scale
Explore nearby values.
Compare examples with lower, similar and higher values. Each card names the measurement being compared.
Nearest lower valuePlaces and natural featuresAmazon rainforest5,500,000 km²Approximate forest areaThe Amazon rainforest is a dense tropical forest in South America, home to a rich diversity of plant and animal life.
Around the same scalePlaces and natural featuresAustralia7,692,000 km²AreaAustralia is a country and continent located between the Indian and Pacific Oceans in the Southern Hemisphere.
Nearest higher valuePlanets, moons and spaceEris17,000,000 km²AreaEris is a dwarf planet in the scattered disc region beyond Neptune, composed of rock and ice.Sources and method
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The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — SaharaApproximate desert area under a broad geographic convention.
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Follow your curiosity.
PlacesAfrica30,370,000 km²Africa is a continent south of Europe, made up of over 50 countries with diverse climates and landscapes.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.PlacesAustralia7,692,000 km²Australia is a country and continent located between the Indian and Pacific Oceans in the Southern Hemisphere.
SpacePluto2,377 kmPluto is a dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt, composed of rock and ice and orbiting the Sun.
SpaceCharon1,212 kmCharon is a natural satellite of Pluto, composed mainly of rock and water ice.SpaceEris2,326 kmEris is a dwarf planet in the scattered disc region beyond Neptune, composed of rock and ice.
SpaceTriton2,705 kmTriton is a natural satellite of Neptune, with a retrograde orbit and a surface of frozen nitrogen.
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.