Alaska, often referred to as “The Last Frontier,” is the largest state in the United States, famous for its unparalleled wilderness and stunning natural landscapes. But grasping the true scale of Alaska—a landmass separated from the Lower 48—can be difficult without context.
How large is Alaska really? Is Alaska bigger than Texas, and if so, by how much? Does its size rival entire countries or even continents?
This ultimate guide breaks down the true size of Alaska, offering mind-blowing comparisons to U.S. states and nations around the globe, putting its immense scale into stunning perspective.
1. Alaska: The Largest State in the US (Key Facts)
Alaska is not just a large state; it is a giant, defying the standard perception of size within the United States.
| Metric | Measurement (Approx.) | Context/Comparison |
| Total Area | 665,384 square miles | The total area of Alaska is equivalent to about one-fifth of the entire contiguous United States. |
| Total Area | 1,723,337 square kilometers | This measurement includes land and internal water. |
| Coastline Length | Over 34,000 miles | Longer than the coastlines of all other U.S. states combined. |
| Territorial Waters | An additional 2.5 million sq km | Gives Alaska jurisdiction over a vast oceanic area rich in marine resources. |
| Population (2024) | Approximately 733,000 residents | Making it the fourth least populous state despite its massive size (low population density). |
2. Alaska vs. US States: The Texas Rivalry
The most common size comparison—and the one that yields the most surprising results—is the size of Alaska compared to Texas.
Is Alaska Bigger Than Texas?
Yes, Alaska is significantly larger than Texas.
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Alaska’s Area: ~665,384 square miles.
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Texas’s Area: ~268,597 square miles.
Key Takeaway: Alaska is 2.48 times larger than Texas. You could fit the entire state of Texas into Alaska, and still have enough room left over to fit several smaller states, such as New York and California, combined.
Alaska Compared to Other US States
Alaska’s size is so vast that it dwarfs the largest states combined:
| State Compared | Area (sq miles) | Alaska is X Times Larger |
| Texas (2nd Largest) | 268,597 | 2.48x larger |
| California (3rd Largest) | 163,695 | 4.06x larger |
| Montana (4th Largest) | 147,040 | 4.52x larger |
| The Contiguous US | 3,119,885 | Alaska covers about 21% of this area. |
How much bigger is Alaska than California? Alaska is more than four times the size of California, the state with the largest economy and population in the US.
3. Alaska vs. The World: International Comparisons
When the size of Alaska is projected onto a global map, the distortion of the Mercator projection is exposed, and its true scale becomes astonishingly clear.
Alaska Compared to Continents and Regions
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Alaska Compared to Europe: If Alaska were overlaid onto Europe, it would span the distance from the southern coast of France across to Moscow, demonstrating its immense east-to-west size.
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Alaska vs. Asia: Alaska is vast enough to contain the landmass of several large nations or small regions of Asia combined.
Alaska Compared to Specific Countries
Alaska is bigger than over 179 UN-recognized countries in the world. Only 15 countries globally are larger than Alaska.
| Country Compared | Area (sq miles) | Size Comparison |
| India | 1,269,219 | India is larger, but Alaska’s land area is roughly half the size of India. |
| Mexico | 761,606 | Alaska is slightly smaller than Mexico, but the difference is marginal. |
| United Kingdom (UK) | 93,628 | Alaska is over 7 times larger than the entire United Kingdom. |
| France | 210,026 | Alaska is over 3 times larger than France. |
4. The Surprising Fact: Territorial Waters and Total Size
While the land area is massive, the total size of Alaska is even more surprising when considering its jurisdictional waters.
Alaska’s unique geographical position gives it jurisdiction over waters extending 200 nautical miles from its coast. When accounting for this vast marine ecosystem, the total area under Alaska’s control—its landmass plus its territorial waters—pushes its total claimed area to nearly 2.68 million square kilometers.
Impact of Territorial Waters:
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This total area is larger than the entire landmass of nations such as India and Argentina.
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It significantly contributes to Alaska’s economy through the management of fishing, oil, and mineral resources.
5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To fully address every search query, here are quick answers to common questions about Alaska’s size:
Q: Is Alaska bigger than the United States?
A: No. The entire United States (including all 50 states) has an area of 3.8 million square miles. Alaska is about one-fifth (21%) of the contiguous US area.
Q: How many square miles is Alaska?
A: Alaska has a total area of approximately 665,384 square miles (or 1,723,337 square kilometers).
Q: Why is Alaska so sparsely populated?
A: Despite its size, Alaska has harsh subarctic and arctic climates, making much of the land unsuitable for agriculture or dense settlement. Its economy relies heavily on specialized industries like oil, mining, and fishing.
Q: What is the significance of the White House confirming an object dropped over Alaska?
A: This event, which occurred in February 2023, highlighted the vastness and complexity of Alaska’s airspace, its proximity to other nations (like Russia), and its crucial role in U.S. defense and air traffic monitoring.
Q: How does flying in Alaska compare in altitude to weather balloons?
A: Given its vast airspace, Alaska has a large volume of air traffic. While commercial flights fly between 30,000 and 40,000 feet, weather balloons and high-altitude research vehicles (sometimes reaching over 100,000 feet) are closely monitored, often posing unique air traffic control challenges due to the state’s rugged terrain and remote locations.
