Numerous substantial islands worldwide function as independent countries.
However, despite its isolation from other landmasses, Australia is commonly classified as a continental landmass.
Among the seven continents, Australia ranks as the smallest, encompassing 2,969,976 square miles or 7,692,202 square kilometers.
Nevertheless, when viewed as an island, it proudly holds the title of the world’s largest.
In this article, we will delve into an investigation of the ten largest islands globally (excluding Australia), ranked by their landmass.
1. Greenland (836,330 sq miles/2,166,086 sq km)
Greenland, a landmass three times the size of Texas, is under the sovereignty of Denmark.
However, it has its own self-governing administration to handle domestic matters.
The majority of its population consists of Inuit people.
2. New Guinea (317,150 sq miles/821,400 sq km)
Due to annual rainfall exceeding 300 inches, New Guinea’s Fly-Digul shelf and adjacent highlands rank among the world’s wettest regions.
Consequently, they are also among the least-inhabited areas on Earth.
3. Borneo (288,869 sq miles/748,168 sq km)
Enveloped in dense rainforest, Borneo stands out for its remarkable biodiversity, featuring the world’s largest flower, the monster flower (Rafflesia arnoldii).
4. Madagascar (226,756 sq miles/587,295 sq km)
Situated a mere 250 miles off the African coast, Madagascar is a haven for unique nature.
Notably, it is the only habitat of nearly 40 lemur species, accounting for all lemur varieties.
Furthermore, it hosts a beautiful collection of 800 butterfly species.
5. Baffin (195,928 sq miles/507,451 sq km)
Baffin, the largest island in Canada, can be found in the northern Canadian territory of Nunavut.
It was named after William Baffin, a 17th-century English navigator.
Apart from a handful of small coastal villages, the island remains uninhabited.
6. Sumatra (171,069 sq miles/443,066 sq km)
Sumatra, the second largest of the Greater Sunda Islands, has boasted UNESCO World Heritage site parks since 2004.
7. Honshu (87,992 sq miles/227,898 sq km)
Honshu, Japan’s largest of the four primary islands, boasts the nation’s highest mountain, Mount Fuji, and its largest lake, Lake Biwa.
8. Victoria Island (83,896 sq miles/217,291 sq km)
In the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, a feature contains the world’s largest island within three nested islands.
9. Great Britain (80,823 sq miles/209,331 sq km)
England, Scotland, and Wales constitute Great Britain, while Northern Ireland and offshore islands create the United Kingdom.
10. Ellesmere (75,767 sq miles/196,236 sq km)
In 1852, they named this desolate island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago after Francis Egerton, 1st Earl of Ellesmere.
Furthermore, it is believed that Vikings visited it in the 10th century.
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