Mercator
Conformal, cylindrical. Meridians and parallels form a rectangular grid, and the spacing between parallels grows toward the poles, so polar regions are hugely enlarged.
Asia · ISR · Country profile
Israel: true size, area and map scale
Explore the country's geographic outline, see it in different projections and compare it with a familiar scale.
Simplified outline · Natural Earth22,072 km²
- Total surface area
- 22,072 km² 2024 edition
- Population
- 10,122,800 2025 data
- Population density
- 467.8 per km² Population ÷ land area
- Land area
- 21,640 km² 2023 data
- Capital
- Jerusalem Asia
- Country code
- ISR ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 / UN M49
Explore the shape
Country shape under different projections
The same country, different ways to show the Earth. Each outline opens a map with this country selected.
Globe (Orthographic)
Neither equal-area nor conformal, perspective azimuthal. It looks like a photograph of the globe from space: only one hemisphere is visible, and areas near the edge of the disk are squeezed hard.
Equal Earth
Equal-area, pseudocylindrical. Parallels are straight lines, the poles are flat lines, and the sides of the map are gently rounded, much like Robinson.
Outlines fit their tiles. They show changes in shape, not areas at a shared scale. The Mercator value estimates area inflation at the country's centre.
Understand the scale
How large is Israel?
A familiar reference, a similar area and a different latitude. Both outlines in each preview share the same scale.
IsraelOther country
Compare outlines on the map
A familiar reference
Israel vs Poland
Area ratio (Poland / Israel): about 14.2.
Compare size 1:1Compare outlines on the map
Similar area
Israel vs El Salvador
El Salvador: 21,041 km². Compare their areas.
Compare size 1:1Compare outlines on the map
A different latitude
Israel vs Greenland
See how location affects the impression of size.
Compare size 1:1The numbers in context
Israel: true size, population, and map scale without illusions
Israel covers 22,072 km², ranking 150 out of 200 by area in this dataset. This is a compact territory where a few thousand square kilometers can noticeably change the ranking. Within Asia, that places it 38 out of 47.
The area of Poland is about 14 times larger. This comparison is deliberately simple: Poland works as an easy reference point, and then it makes sense to move toward a similarly sized country. By area, the closest match is Belize.
More about area, population and location
The population is approximately 10,122,800 people, with an average density of 467.8/km². Israel ranks 95 out of 197 by population and 19 out of 197 by density. That is very dense settlement, where even a small area can contain many daily routes, cities, and administrative boundaries.
Within its continent, Israel represents about 0.07% of the area and about 0.21% of the population covered by this dataset. Its continental population rank is 30 out of 47, so area alone does not tell the full story.
Asia spans equatorial regions, deserts, mountains, and the far north, so one map projection can dramatically change the feeling of scale. That is why Israel is best read through several lenses: raw numbers, an equal-scale outline, a comparison with Poland, and a matchup with Belize. Then the map stops being a picture and starts becoming a tool for discovery.
If you want to remember the scale quickly, compare Israel with a country of similar area and a country of similar population. By population, Azerbaijan is a useful next clue.
#150AreaArea rank among 200 countries and territories with a verified area.
#38ContinentIsrael covers about 0.07% of the area in Asia.
#95PopulationAbout 10,122,800 people; continental rank 30 of 47.
467.8/km²DensityAverage people per square kilometer; density rank: #19 of 197.BelizeClosest scaleThe most natural same-area outline comparison.The numeric values are used as comparative references for learning scale. Rankings include only countries and territories with a verified value in the selected sources.
Test your intuition
From map to challenge
Questions and sources
Frequently asked questions about size and location
What is the actual area of Israel?
Israel covers 22,072 km². In this dataset, that ranks 150 out of 200 by area, and 38 out of 47 within its continent. The area of Poland is about 14 times larger.
How many people live in Israel, and how dense is it?
The population is approximately 10,122,800 people, with an average density of 467.8/km². Israel ranks 95 out of 197 by population and 19 out of 197 by density. That is very dense settlement, where even a small area can contain many daily routes, cities, and administrative boundaries.
What should I compare Israel with to understand its scale?
Two comparisons work especially well: Israel vs Poland as a familiar reference point, and Israel vs Belize because their areas are very close. For population, Azerbaijan is another useful comparison.
Do world maps show Israel at the right scale?
Asia spans equatorial regions, deserts, mountains, and the far north, so one map projection can dramatically change the feeling of scale. That is why a country's position on the map can mislead, while same-scale outline comparison usually gives a better intuition than a classic atlas.
Why can Israel look different in different map projections?
Every projection moves a globe onto a flat surface and must trade something away: shape, area, direction, or distance. On this page, you can compare the impression created by Mercator, orthographic, and equal-area views.
How should I use this page to remember the size of Israel?
Start with the numbers, open a 1vs1 comparison with a similar country, and then try the size-illusion quiz. That sequence combines facts, visuals, and play, making the scale easier to remember.
Take a closer look at the data
Each value keeps its own reference year or source edition. Boundaries are simplified and are not suitable for geodetic measurements.
Keep exploring
Choose another perspective
Geometry: Natural Earth / world-atlas, public domain. Outlines simplified and transformed into map projections. Sources, licences and data coverage.