Where does Canada rank in the world's largest countries?
Quick answer: Second. In our practice tests 84% of 101 answers were correct, and the most common mistake is choosing “Third”.
Why is this the correct answer?
Canada is the second-largest country in the world by total area, after Russia. It covers nearly 10 million square kilometres, stretching from the Atlantic to Pacific to Arctic oceans.
Study Tip
Canada is a significant country in terms of land area, but it's not the largest. Think about the countries that are typically considered part of the world's largest countries by land area.
What should you know about this topic?
Canada is the second-largest country in the world by land area, after Russia. It covers almost 10 million square kilometres. Canada is bordered by three oceans: the Pacific on the west, the Atlantic on the east, and the Arctic to the north. Its border with the United States to the south is the longest undefended international border in the world.
Because Canada is so large, it has many different landscapes and climates. Discover Canada describes five regions: the Atlantic Provinces, Central Canada, the Prairie Provinces, the West Coast and the Northern Territories. The North alone makes up more than one-third of Canada's land, yet only a small portion of the population lives there. Most Canadians live within a few hundred kilometres of the U.S. border, especially near the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River.
Canada's size has shaped its history. Building the Canadian Pacific Railway, completed in 1885, was a huge effort to connect the country from coast to coast. The national motto, "from sea to sea," reflects this vast geography. For the test, connect this question with Canada's regions, its three oceans, the motto A Mari Usque Ad Mare, and the territories that cover much of the North.
Why are the other answers wrong?
- First: Russia is the largest country in the world by land area.
- Third: Canada is larger than the third-ranked countries, such as the United States and China.
- Fourth: Canada ranks higher than fourth; only Russia is bigger.
What is the most common mistake?
Some people guess first because Canada feels enormous, but Russia is larger. Canada ranks second.
How can you remember the answer?
"Russia first, Canada second": both are big northern countries, and Canada wins the silver medal.
Original data
How many people get this question right?
84% of 101 practice answers from about 71 people were correct. The most common wrong answer is "Third", chosen 9% of the time. The data covers practice tests on BecomeACitizen.ca from March 31, 2026 to September 30, 2026.
How hard is this question compared with others?
It is the 69th easiest of the 167 questions we have enough data to rank. The average for the Canada's Regions chapter is 78% correct, and the average across all questions is 75%. You need 75% to pass the real test.
These are practice questions written from the official Discover Canada guide. IRCC does not publish the real test questions. See the full ranking in the 20 most-missed citizenship test questions or browse more Canada's Regions questions.
Practice This Chapter
Test yourself with questions from Canada's Regions. Timed mock tests, instant scoring, and detailed explanations.
Which part of Discover Canada is this question from?
This question is from the Canada's Regions section of the Canadian citizenship test. The test consists of 20 multiple-choice questions drawn from the official Discover Canada study guide. You need to score at least 75% (15 out of 20 correct) to pass.
This chapter has 35 questions in our database. Studying chapter by chapter is one of the most effective ways to prepare, as it helps you build deep understanding of each topic before moving to the next.
How should you study for the citizenship test?
Start by reading the complete how-to-pass guide, then work through each chapter in the study mode. When you feel ready, take a full exam simulation with the real 45-minute time limit.