Understanding how to convert between square miles (mi²) and square kilometers (km²) is essential for comparing land areas in different measurement systems. A square mile is a unit of area commonly used in the United States and the United Kingdom, while a square kilometer is used in most other countries that have adopted the metric system.
To convert from square miles to square kilometers, use the conversion factor that 1 square mile is approximately equal to 2.58999 square kilometers. This means that to convert an area in square miles to square kilometers, you multiply the number of square miles by 2.58999.
For example, if you have an area of 5 mi², the conversion to km² would be:
5 mi² × 2.58999 km²/mi² = 12.94995 km²
Conversely, to convert from square kilometers to square miles, you divide the area in square kilometers by 2.58999.
This conversion is useful in many fields such as geography, urban planning, and environmental studies where land area measurements are crucial.