This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by total area. The list ranks sovereign states, as well as self-governing dependent territories. Total areas are included, covering land and inland water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers). Marine internal waters, territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zones are not included, nor are various countries' claims to parts of Antarctica. For a graphical version of this list, see List of countries by area (graphical). For geographic entities other than countries, see List of major geographic bodies by area.
Notes:
Includes PRC-administered area (Aksai Chin and Trans-Karakoram Tract, both territories claimed by India), Taiwan is not included.

The Earth's total surface area is 510,065,284 km² — 70.8% of the world's surface (361,126,221 km²) is covered by water, while 29.2% (148,939,063 km²) is covered by land.
Self-governing dependent territories (as classified by the UN) are listed and ranked separately from their sovereign state and are set off in italics.
The European Union is a sui generis supranational and intergovernmental political body. The entity is composed of 27 member states. The total area of the territories of the 27 member states is 4,422,773 km², and would be ranked seventh if it were a country. Source

UN Demographic Yearbook accessed April 16, 2007 unless otherwise specified.