Games / Islands
Islands Quiz
The world's largest islands, from Greenland to New Guinea, are marked on this map. See an island's name and click its location.
Last updated July 2026
The Largest Islands
The biggest islands are spread across the globe:
Greenland — the largest, in the North Atlantic and Arctic.
New Guinea and Borneo — the giants of the Southeast Asian and Pacific tropics.
Madagascar — off the southeast coast of Africa, with wildlife found nowhere else.
Honshu — the main island of Japan.
Great Britain, Cuba, Iceland, and Sri Lanka — smaller but instantly recognisable.
Islands vs Continents
Where does an island end and a continent begin? The line is drawn by convention, not size.
Australia is about three times the size of Greenland, yet it is classed as a continent because it sits on its own tectonic plate and has distinct geology and wildlife. Greenland, by contrast, is grouped with North America and so counts as the world's largest island. It is a reminder that some geography categories are agreements rather than hard rules.
The largest islands in the world are Greenland, New Guinea, Borneo, Madagascar, and Baffin Island. Australia is bigger than all of them but is counted as a continent, not an island. Many of the largest islands lie in the tropics of Southeast Asia and the western Pacific.
Quiz tip: Greenland is the largest island in the world. Australia is bigger, but it is classed as a continental landmass rather than an island.
Largest island
Greenland
Not an island
Australia (continent)
Island cluster
SE Asia & Pacific
Largest in Africa
Madagascar
Islands in this quiz
15
Islands in this quiz
Big Island (Hawaii), Borneo, Cuba, Great Britain, Greenland, Hispaniola, Honshu, Iceland, Java, Madagascar, New Guinea, Sicily, Sri Lanka, Sumatra, Tasmania.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the largest island in the world?
Greenland is the largest island in the world at about 2.2 million km². Australia is larger but is classified as a continent rather than an island.
Why is Australia not an island?
Although Australia is surrounded by water, it is classed as a continent because it sits on its own tectonic plate with distinct geology, ecology, and size — so Greenland holds the title of largest island.
What is the largest island in Africa?
Madagascar, off the southeast coast, is the largest island in Africa and the fourth-largest in the world.
Which is bigger, Borneo or New Guinea?
New Guinea is slightly larger than Borneo; the two are the third- and fourth-largest islands in the world and both lie in the Southeast Asian and Pacific tropics.
Is the islands quiz free?
Yes — it runs free in your browser with no download or signup. Sign in with Google to save your score.