Which country has the largest coastline in the world?

Question

The world is full of interesting geographical facts, and one of the most surprising is about coastlines. Some countries may look small on the map but have long coastlines due to their shape and surrounding oceans. So, which country actually has the largest coastline in the world?

Answer 1

Canada has the longest coastline in the world, stretching more than 202,000 kilometers. This is because the country is bordered by three major oceans—the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic. Canada also has thousands of islands, bays, fjords, and inlets that increase the total length of its coastline significantly. The rugged geography and cold climate keep many areas uninhabited, but the coastline remains an important part of the country’s natural beauty and biodiversity.

Answer 2

While countries like Indonesia and Russia also have extensive coastlines, none come close to Canada. Indonesia’s coastline is about 54,700 km, and Russia’s is about 37,600 km. Cartographers note that the length of a coastline depends heavily on measurement scale—called the “coastline paradox”—because coastlines are naturally irregular. Still, Canada remains the undisputed leader based on internationally accepted calculations.