About

Åland Islands vs São Tomé and Principe

Åland Islands is 58% larger than São Tomé and Principe. São Tomé and Principe would fit into Åland Islands about 1.6 times.

Åland IslandsSão Tomé and PrincipeÅland Islands moved onto São Tomé and Principe · Equal-area projection
1.58×
Åland Islands is 1.58× the area of São Tomé and Principe.
Åland IslandsSão Tomé and Principe
Area1,583 km²1,001 km²
Population30,836240,254
Density19 / km²240 / km²
CapitalMariehamnSao Tome
RegionNorthern EuropeMiddle Africa
CoastlineHas a coastHas a coast
Neighbours00

Why the map you grew up with disagrees

On a Mercator map, area grows with distance from the equator. Åland Islands sits at about 60°N and is stretched to 4.05× its true area; São Tomé and Principe at 0° N is stretched to 1.0×. That difference is why Åland Islands looks so much bigger than it is next to São Tomé and Principe. The figure above uses the Equal Earth projection, where every square kilometre is drawn the same size.

Open in the atlasLay São Tomé and Principe over Åland Islands

Questions about this pair

Is Åland Islands bigger than São Tomé and Principe?
Yes. Åland Islands is 58% larger than São Tomé and Principe. Åland Islands covers 1,583 km² and São Tomé and Principe covers 1,001 km².
How many times does São Tomé and Principe fit into Åland Islands?
About 1.6 times: Åland Islands has 1.58× the area of São Tomé and Principe.
Why do Åland Islands and São Tomé and Principe look different on Google Maps?
Web maps use the Mercator projection, which stretches area with distance from the equator. Åland Islands is drawn about 4.05× its true area there and São Tomé and Principe about 1.0×. That is why Åland Islands looks so much bigger than it really is next to São Tomé and Principe. Kartavera uses Equal Earth, where every square kilometre is drawn the same size.
Which has more people, Åland Islands or São Tomé and Principe?
São Tomé and Principe: 240,254 people against 30,836. Density: Åland Islands 19 per km², São Tomé and Principe 240 per km².
More comparisons