"The size of Wales..." Sound familiar? "The national park is the size of Wales"; "The vast storm covered an area twice the size of Wales"; "The iceberg is enormous, spanning an area half the size of Wales". You get the picture.
Covering around 8,000 square miles, or just over than 20,000 square kilometres, (the Institute of Welsh Affairs puts the exact figure at 8,015 square miles, or 20,758 square kilometres), Wales often serves as a unit of measurement when it comes to geographical scale.
No other nation in the world (except Belgium, perhaps) is used as regularly to help quantify the size of an area. But did you know there are quite a few well-known countries – and a few less obvious ones – that are roughly the same size Wales?
Countries roughly the same size as Wales
Slovenia
Slovenia, located in Central Europe, covers approximately 7,827 square miles (20,273 square kilometres). It’s famed for its stunning lakes, the Julian Alps and beautiful Adriatic coastline. With a slightly smaller area than Wales, Slovenia offers a varied landscape packed into a compact space.
El Salvador
El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America, measuring about 8,124 square miles (21,041 square kilometres). Slightly larger than Wales, it’s known for its Pacific Ocean beaches, mountainous scenery and significant Mayan archaeological sites.
Israel
Covering around 8,550 square miles (22,145 square kilometres), Israel is marginally bigger than Wales. Despite its small size, it boasts a diverse climate and geography, from Mediterranean beaches to the Negev desert, as well as significant religious and historical sites.
Djibouti
Djibouti, located in the Horn of Africa, has an area of roughly 8,958 square miles (23,200 square kilometres). It is a bit larger than Wales and is known for its arid landscape, salt lakes and important strategic position near the Red Sea.
North Macedonia
This landlocked Balkan country measures about 9,928 square miles (25,713 square kilometres). A little larger than Wales, it shares land borders with Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, Kosovo and Serbia.
Fiji
An island nation in the South Pacific, Fiji’s land area is about 7,056 miles squared (18,274 square kilometres). Slightly smaller than Wales, it comprises over 300 islands and is celebrated for its tropical climate, beaches and coral reefs.
Kuwait
Kuwait spans around 6,879 square miles (17,818 square kilometres), making it slightly smaller than Wales. Despite its limited landmass, it has immense economic significance due to its oil reserves and strategic location in the Persian Gulf.
Discover more fun facts about the UK, including the 15 highest mountains in Wales, the UK's largest lakes and biggest county in England.
