The ten largest Christian church buildings in the world, ranked by interior floor area, from a modern basilica in Ivory Coast to the great medieval cathedrals of Europe.
Quick answer: 1. Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, 2. Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, 3. St. Peter's Basilica, 4. Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano), 5. Seville Cathedral, 6. Cathedral of St. John the Divine, 7. Liverpool Cathedral, 8. Florence Cathedral (Duomo di Firenze), 9. Cologne Cathedral, 10. Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
The world's largest church is not St. Peter's Basilica in Rome — it is the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, with nearly double the interior space of the Vatican's famous landmark. Built in just three years, it was modeled on St. Peter's but deliberately made larger. This list ranks church buildings by interior floor area in square meters. Most entries are Catholic basilicas and cathedrals built between the 13th and 20th centuries, with the oldest being Florence Cathedral (completed 1436) and the youngest completed in 1989. Rankings use architectural survey data and UNESCO records.
The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, is the largest church in the world with 30,000 m² of interior space. Built between 1986 and 1989 at a cost of $300 million, it was modeled on St. Peter's Basilica but deliberately designed to be larger. It can accommodate 18,000 people.
Brazil's Basilica of Aparecida covers 18,000 m² and can hold 45,000 worshippers, making it the largest Marian shrine in the world. Completed in 1980, it receives about 12 million pilgrims annually and is the most visited Catholic church after St. Peter's.
The world's most famous church, St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, covers 15,160 m². Designed by Bramante, Michelangelo, Maderno, and Bernini, it was completed in 1626 after 120 years of construction. It houses Michelangelo's Pietà and stands on the traditional site of Saint Peter's burial.
Milan Cathedral is the largest church in Italy and the third largest in Europe by area, covering 11,700 m². It took nearly 600 years to complete, from 1386 to 1965. Its intricate Gothic facade features 3,400 statues and 135 spires, with a roof visitors can walk across.
Seville Cathedral is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, covering 11,520 m². Built on the site of a former Almohad mosque between 1401 and 1528, it contains the tomb of Christopher Columbus. The Giralda bell tower was originally the mosque's minaret.
New York City's Cathedral of St. John the Divine is the largest Anglican cathedral in the world at 11,200 m². Construction began in 1892 and remains ongoing — it is famously unfinished. The building combines Romanesque and Gothic Revival styles.
Liverpool Cathedral is the largest Anglican church in Europe and the seventh largest church in the world by interior area at 9,687 m². Built between 1904 and 1978 in a Gothic Revival style, its tower is one of the tallest in the world at 101 meters.
Florence Cathedral covers 8,300 m² and is crowned by Filippo Brunelleschi's dome, the largest masonry dome ever built. Completed in 1436, the cathedral remains an iconic symbol of the Renaissance. The dome's construction without a supporting scaffold was considered an engineering miracle.
Cologne Cathedral covers 7,914 m² and was the world's tallest building when completed in 1880, standing at 157 meters. Construction began in 1248 but was halted for centuries, only resuming in the 19th century. Its twin spires are among the most recognizable landmarks in Germany.
The Basilica of the National Shrine in Washington, D.C. covers 7,710 m², making it the largest Catholic church in North America. Completed in 1961 in a Byzantine-Romanesque style, it features over 80 chapels and oratories honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary.
| # | Name | city | country | year_completed | style | capacity_people | denomination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basilica of Our Lady of Peace | Yamoussoukro | Ivory Coast | 1989 | Neoclassical | 18000 | Catholic |
| 2 | Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida | Aparecida | Brazil | 1980 | Modern | 45000 | Catholic |
| 3 | St. Peter's Basilica | Vatican City | Vatican City | 1626 | Renaissance/Baroque | 60000 | Catholic |
| 4 | Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano) | Milan | Italy | 1965 | Gothic | 40000 | Catholic |
| 5 | Seville Cathedral | Seville | Spain | 1528 | Gothic | 25000 | Catholic |
| 6 | Cathedral of St. John the Divine | New York City | United States | ongoing | Romanesque/Gothic Revival | 5000 | Anglican |
| 7 | Liverpool Cathedral | Liverpool | England | 1978 | Gothic Revival | 8000 | Anglican |
| 8 | Florence Cathedral (Duomo di Firenze) | Florence | Italy | 1436 | Gothic/Renaissance | 20000 | Catholic |
| 9 | Cologne Cathedral | Cologne | Germany | 1880 | Gothic | 10000 | Catholic |
| 10 | Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception | Washington, D.C. | United States | 1961 | Byzantine/Romanesque | 10000 | Catholic |
Churches are ranked by interior floor area in square meters, as measured by architectural historians and compiled in sources including the Wikipedia 'List of largest church buildings' and the Mappr survey. Only Christian church buildings are included. Mosques, temples, and other religious structures are excluded. Measurements include the main nave, transepts, chancel, and side chapels where applicable. Sources vary in whether they include the narthex and ambulatory; the most commonly cited figures are used.
Yes. The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro has 30,000 m² of interior space, nearly double St. Peter's 15,160 m². However, St. Peter's remains significantly larger by volume (height and total interior space) and is far more historically and architecturally significant.
Antoni Gaudí's Sagrada Família in Barcelona covers about 4,500 m² of interior area, placing it well outside the top ten. While it is one of the world's most famous churches, its relatively compact footprint and narrow nave limit its interior floor area. It is expected to be completed in 2026.
Hagia Sophia in Istanbul has an interior area of 7,570 m², which would rank 11th — just outside the top ten. Built in 537 AD as an Eastern Orthodox cathedral, it was the world's largest building for nearly 1,000 years. It is now a museum and functioning mosque.
A 'church' is a general term for a Christian place of worship. A 'cathedral' is a church that serves as the seat of a bishop. A 'basilica' is a church granted special ceremonial rights by the Pope. Some churches on this list are cathedrals, some are basilicas, and others are both — the ranking is purely by interior area.