An island is a piece of land entirely surrounded by water, and they come in many forms. Small islands can be known as islets, cays, skerries, or keys, depending on their geography. Islands in rivers or lakes may be called eyots or aits, while small coastal islands are sometimes called holms. In the Ganges delta, such formations are known as chars. A collection of related islands, like the Philippines or Indonesia, is called an archipelago.

• Axel Heiberg Island
  Located in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Axel Heiberg is known for its remote, icy landscapes and is one of the largest uninhabited islands in the world.
• Baffin Island
  Situated in Nunavut, Canada, Baffin Island is the largest island in Canada and the fifth-largest in the world. It’s famous for its dramatic fjords and Arctic wildlife.
• Banks Island
  Another large island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Banks Island is renowned for its wildlife, including muskoxen and migratory birds.
• Borneo
  Borneo is the third-largest island globally and the largest in Asia. Shared by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei, it’s known for its rich rainforests, diverse wildlife (like orangutans), and mineral resources.
• Cuba
  Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and forms the core of the Republic of Cuba, along with Isla de la Juventud and several smaller archipelagos. It’s historically significant, especially during the Cold War.
• Cyprus
  Located in the eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus is known for its ancient history, divided governance, and beautiful beaches.
• Ellesmere Island
  Part of Canada’s Nunavut territory, Ellesmere is the world’s tenth-largest island and features polar deserts and ice caps.
• Falkland Islands
  An archipelago in the South Atlantic, the Falklands are a British Overseas Territory but are also claimed by Argentina.
• Galapagos Islands
  Off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos are world-famous for their unique wildlife and were central to Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.

• Great Britain
  The largest of the British Isles, Great Britain includes England, Scotland, and Wales. It is the most populous island in Europe.
• Greenland
  Greenland is the world’s largest island, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. It is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and is mostly covered by ice.
• Hispaniola
  Shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, Hispaniola is the second-largest island in the Caribbean and has a rich colonial history.
• Honshu
  Honshu is the largest and most populous island of Japan, home to major cities like Tokyo and Osaka.
• Hokkaido
  Japan’s northernmost main island, Hokkaido is known for its volcanoes, hot springs, and ski resorts.
• Iceland
  Iceland is a Nordic island nation in the North Atlantic, famous for its volcanic landscapes, geysers, and glaciers.
• Ireland
  Situated to the west of Great Britain, Ireland is divided between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (part of the UK).
• Iturup
  One of the disputed Kuril Islands, Iturup is administered by Russia but claimed by Japan.
• Java
  Java is Indonesia’s most populous island and home to the capital city, Jakarta.
• Kunashir
  Another disputed Kuril Island, Kunashir is under Russian administration but claimed by Japan.
• Kuril Islands
  A volcanic archipelago stretching from Japan to Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, the Kurils are the subject of a territorial dispute between Russia and Japan.
• Kyushu
  Kyushu is the third-largest island of Japan, known for its active volcanoes, hot springs, and historic sites.
• Long Island
  Located in the United States, Long Island is densely populated and forms part of the New York metropolitan area.
• Luzon
  The largest island in the Philippines, Luzon is home to the country’s capital, Manila.
• Madagascar
  Madagascar is the world’s fourth-largest island and the second-largest island country. Located off the east coast of Africa, it is famed for its unique flora and fauna.
• Mindanao
  Mindanao is the second-largest island in the Philippines, known for its diverse cultures and natural resources.
• Natuna Islands
  An Indonesian archipelago in the South China Sea, the Natuna Islands are strategically significant and rich in natural gas.
• New Guinea
  New Guinea is the world’s second-largest island, split between Indonesia (west) and Papua New Guinea (east). It’s renowned for its biodiversity and cultural diversity.
• Newfoundland
  A large island off Canada’s east coast, Newfoundland is known for its rugged coastline and maritime history.
• North Island (New Zealand)
  One of New Zealand’s two main islands, the North Island is known for its volcanic activity, vibrant cities, and Maori culture.
• Sakhalin (Karafuto)
  Sakhalin is a large Russian island in the North Pacific, north of Japan. It has a complex history of Russian and Japanese rule.
• Shikotan
  One of the Kuril Islands disputed between Russia and Japan.
• South Island (New Zealand)
  The South Island is famous for its stunning mountains, lakes, and adventure sports, including Queenstown and the Southern Alps.
• Stewart Island / Rakiura
  New Zealand’s third-largest island, Stewart Island is known for its unspoiled natural beauty and wildlife.
• Sumatra
  Sumatra is one of Indonesia’s largest islands, rich in rainforests, wildlife, and natural resources.
• Sulawesi (Celebes)
  Sulawesi is an Indonesian island with a distinctive shape, known for its coral reefs, diverse marine life, and ancient cave paintings.
• Tasmania
  Tasmania is an island state of Australia, located south of the mainland and known for its wilderness areas and unique wildlife.
• Tierra del Fuego
  An archipelago at the southern tip of South America, Tierra del Fuego is divided between Chile and Argentina and is famous for its rugged landscapes.
• Victoria Island
  Located in the Canadian Arctic, Victoria Island is the world’s eighth-largest island.

Disputed Islands and Regions

• Paracel, Spratly, and Scarborough Shoal (South China Sea):
  Claimed by multiple countries including China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, and the Philippines.
• Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands (East China Sea):
  Disputed between Japan and China; administered by Japan.
• Kuril Islands (Russia/Japan):
  The southernmost islands (Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, Habomai) are claimed by both Russia and Japan.

Top 3 Largest Islands by Area

1. Greenland
The world’s largest island, covering about 2,166,000 sq km, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. It is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and mostly covered by ice sheets that hold a significant portion of the world’s freshwater.

2. New Guinea
The second-largest island in the world, approximately 785,753 sq km, split between Indonesia (west) and Papua New Guinea (east). It is renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity and rich cultural diversity with hundreds of indigenous languages

3. Borneo
The third-largest island globally, about 748,168 sq km, shared by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Known for its ancient rainforests, diverse wildlife including orangutans and pygmy elephants, and valuable mineral resources.