Although you will often find lists of the world’s largest countries, this article details the world’s longest countries, based on measuring each one from the most easterly point to the most westerly. Several countries span a considerable distance around the globe, and sometimes have a significantly longer lateral distance than a north to south one.

In this list, I rank the widest countries in the world from east to west.

10) Kazakhstan – 1,820 miles (2,929 km)

Bordering China to its east, and Russia to its north and east, Kazakhstan spans a significant proportion of Central Asia.

Its landscape consists mainly of steppe plains, which occupy a large amount of its land area – however, deserts also dominate the south and south-west of the country, as does the large Caspian Sea.

10) Kazakhstan – 1,820 miles (2,929 km)

9) India – 1,822 miles (2,932 km)

From its easternmost point at Kibithu, and its most westerly point – Sir Creek, Gujarat State – the northern section of India has an east-to-west span of just over 1,800 miles.

The world’s second-largest country in terms of population, India is also one of the world’s largest. With large areas used for agriculture, the Himalayan Mountains to the north, and the Thar Desert making up the north-west of the county, India has a rather varied landscape.

9) India – 1,822 miles (2,932 km)

8) Mexico – 1,958 miles (3,151 km)

Measuring from the north-eastern tip of the Yucatán Peninsula, across to the north-western reaches of the Baja California state, the country measures almost 2,000 miles across in width from its most eastern point to its most western.

With large patches of desert making up large part of its northern half, and agricultural areas that are interspersed by areas of rainforest towards the south, Mexico is a varied country in terms of its landscape.

8) Mexico – 1,958 miles (3,151 km)

7) Australia – 2,511 miles (4,041 km)

Making up much of the continent of Oceania, Australia borders the Pacific Ocean in the west, and the southern Pacific in the east. As well as being slightly higher than 2,500 miles wide, Australia’s entire land area is almost as large as that of the contiguous United States of America.

However, unlike the USA, it has a vast desert interior that makes up a large proportion of its total land use, although there are areas of rainforest across its northern and north-eastern fringes. Some temperate zones exist across parts of southern Australia. Despite its large size, it has a population of around 25 million.

7) Australia – 2,511 miles (4,041 km)

6) Brazil – 2,603 miles (4,189 km)

The largest country on the South American continent, Brazil is also the world’s sixth widest. It has an east-to-west span of just over 2,600 miles at its most extensive, from the Peru border to the Ponta do Seixas, the easternmost point of Brazil.

Tropical rainforest occupies much of the country’s northern half, through which the world’s most voluminous river – the Amazon – runs from the Andes mountains in the west to the Atlantic Ocean in the east. The southern half is occupied mainly by agricultural land, and large cities including Sao Paulo.

6) Brazil – 2,603 miles (4,189 km)

5) United States of America – 2,800 miles (4506 km) (contiguous area)

Bordered by the Atlantic and Pacific oceans on its eastern and western sides, the United States of America is the fifth widest country – if you are referring to the contiguous 48 states. If you also add the state of Alaska to this total, the width would add up to around 5,000 miles (8,000 km) – however, Alaska is divided from the contiguous USA by another country, preventing this measurement.

A country with a vast range of different and spectacular landscapes, the USA includes large temperate regions of luscious woodland on both its eastern and north-western areas. With the Great Lakes in the north, a large area of plains stretching from the Canadian border towards the Gulf of Mexico, and desert regions across the south-west, this is a country with a huge variety of environments.

5) United States of America – 2,800 miles (4506 km) (contiguous area)

4) Indonesia – 3,181 miles (5,119 km)

A vast archipelago in south-east Asia, Indonesia spans a distance that is equivalent to around one eighth of the Earth’s circumference. Its most easterly land area borders the Indian Ocean, and is located to the south of Thailand and Burma, whereas its most westerly territory borders Papua New Guinea, on the Pacific Ocean.

The country is unusual not only because the country is made up of so many different islands, but due to the fact that some of these islands consist of countries other than Indonesia – for example, the island of Borneo is shared by Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.

Although a significant proportion of Indonesia consists of rainforests and mountain ranges, many large cities are also situated in this country, including the metropolis of Jakarta.

4) Indonesia – 3,181 miles (5,119 km)

3) China – 3,250 miles (5,230 km)

Spanning a wide part of southern, south-eastern and central Asia, China is the world’s third largest country, with an east-to-west span of 3,250 miles.

The world’s most populated country, China consists of many large cities across its western and southern areas, particularly focused in the Lower Yangtze and North China plains.

The north and west of the country are rather desert-like in terms of climate, whereas the south of the country is typified by large mountain ranges, including the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas.

3) China – 3,250 miles (5,230 km)

2) Canada – 3,426 miles (5,513 km)

Based on an east-to-west measurement spanning from the Yukon and Alaska boundary in the east, to Cape Spear (Newfoundland and Labrador territory) in the west, Canada is this list’s runner-up.

Vast coniferous forests occupy much of Canada’s land area, with much of its population focused in the south and south-east of the country.

Large prairie lands occupy the south of Canada, and the large Rocky Mountains dominate the western part. As well as a vast area of tundra, over 50,000 islands also make up the north of Canada.

2) Canada – 3,426 miles (5,513 km)

1) Russia – 5,600 miles (9,012 km)

Spanning from Eastern Europe in the west, and stretching across the Northern Hemisphere to the Pacific in the east, it is no surprise that Russia tops this list, with an east-to-west distance of around 5,600 miles and passes through 11 of 24 time zones.

The world’s largest country overall, Russia contains a large diversity of different landscapes – from steppe lands in the south and south-west, to plains in the west, and vast expanses of coniferous woodland in the north, center and east.