Moldova vs Vanuatu

Moldova is 2.78 times larger than Vanuatu. Vanuatu would fit into Moldova about 2.8 times.

MoldovaVanuatuMoldova moved onto Vanuatu · Equal-area projection
2.78×
Moldova is 2.78× the area of Vanuatu.
MoldovaVanuatu
Area33,844 km²12,190 km²
Population2,360,527335,169
Density70 / km²27 / km²
CapitalChisinauPort-Vila
RegionEastern EuropeMelanesia
CoastlineLandlockedHas a coast
Neighbours20

Why the map you grew up with disagrees

On a Mercator map, area grows with distance from the equator. Moldova sits at about 47°N and is stretched to 2.17× its true area; Vanuatu at 16° S is stretched to 1.08×. That difference is why Moldova looks so much bigger than it is next to Vanuatu. The figure above uses the Equal Earth projection, where every square kilometre is drawn the same size.

Questions about this pair

Is Moldova bigger than Vanuatu?
Yes. Moldova is 2.78 times larger than Vanuatu. Moldova covers 33,844 km² and Vanuatu covers 12,190 km².
How many times does Vanuatu fit into Moldova?
About 2.8 times: Moldova has 2.78× the area of Vanuatu.
Why do Moldova and Vanuatu look different on Google Maps?
Web maps use the Mercator projection, which stretches area with distance from the equator. Moldova is drawn about 2.17× its true area there and Vanuatu about 1.08×. That is why Moldova looks so much bigger than it really is next to Vanuatu. Kartavera uses Equal Earth, where every square kilometre is drawn the same size.
Which has more people, Moldova or Vanuatu?
Moldova: 2,360,527 people against 335,169. Density: Moldova 70 per km², Vanuatu 27 per km².