The smallest continent on Earth is Australia. It spans about 7.7 to 8 million square kilometers (approximately 3 million square miles), making it the smallest among the seven continents by land area
. Australia is unique in that it is both a country and a continent, and it includes the mainland of Australia as well as the island nations of Papua New Guinea and New Zealand when considered as a continent
. Following Australia in size are Europe and Antarctica, with Europe being the second smallest continent by area and Antarctica the third smallest
. Despite its small size, Australia has a population of around 25 to 43 million people, which is larger than Antarctica's population but smaller than most other continents
. In summary, Australia is the smallest continent by area and is notable for being a continent entirely surrounded by ocean and for its diverse geography and ecosystems
