The short answer
Under the EqualAtlas definitions, Europe is about 1.29 times the mapped area of South America: approximately 22,840,240 km² compared with 17,651,497 km². This result depends on counting Russia's complete geometry in Europe, so the definition must travel with the number.
Reading the equal-area overlay
The visualization centres both outlines and applies one equal-area scale. It is designed to compare footprint, not original position, direction or distance between places.
South America's long north–south form and Europe's Russia-inclusive east–west span make width or height alone unreliable. The overlaid filled regions provide the more meaningful visual test.
The membership rules
South America here consists of its twelve UN member states. Dependencies such as the Falkland Islands are excluded from that region object. Europe follows the 44-country UN M49 Europe group and uses every member's complete Natural Earth geometry.
A physical-continent method might clip Russia along a chosen Europe–Asia boundary and assign overseas territories differently. Such a method can be valid too, but it answers a different question and must state its line.
Why many people expect another answer
On Mercator, Europe's higher latitudes receive more enlargement than most of South America. That visual inflation can make Europe feel larger still, while popular comparisons sometimes use a Europe definition excluding Asian Russia without saying so.
The apparent contradiction disappears when projection and region membership are treated as two separate methodological choices.
A classroom rule worth keeping
Whenever two continents or regions are compared, ask two questions before trusting the ratio: does the projection preserve area, and exactly which territories or transcontinental states are included? EqualAtlas publishes both answers beside the result.
Explore the evidence
Sources and further reading
Continue with the Equal Earth projection guide, try the interactive map, or review our methodology.