What is the largest gulf in the world?
Quick answer
The Gulf of Mexico is generally considered the largest gulf in the world, covering about 1.6 million km² (600,000 sq mi). It’s bordered by the United States, Mexico and Cuba. In 2025, the US federal government began calling it the Gulf of America, while Mexico and most other countries still use Gulf of Mexico.
Key facts
- Area
- About 1.6 million km²
- Bordering countries
- United States, Mexico, Cuba
- Deepest point
- About 4,400 m, the Sigsbee Deep
- Connected to
- The Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea
What’s the difference between a gulf and a bay?
Both are areas of sea partly enclosed by land. Gulfs are usually larger and more enclosed, with a narrower opening, but the names are used loosely. For example, the Bay of Bengal is bigger than the Gulf of Mexico by some measures but is called a bay.
The largest gulfs
| Gulf | Area (approx.) | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Gulf of Mexico | 1.6 million km² | North America |
| Gulf of Guinea | Varies by definition | West Africa |
| Gulf of Alaska | About 1.5 million km² | North Pacific |
| Persian Gulf | About 250,000 km² | Middle East |
The name debate
In January 2025, a US executive order directed federal agencies to use the name Gulf of America. Some US companies and maps followed, while Mexico, international organizations and many other countries kept the name Gulf of Mexico, which has been used for about 400 years. Both names may appear depending on the source.
Why the Gulf matters
| Area | Importance |
|---|---|
| Energy | Major offshore oil and gas production |
| Fishing | Shrimp, oysters and fish |
| Shipping | Busy ports such as Houston and New Orleans |
| Weather | Its warm water fuels hurricanes |
The warm Loop Current in the Gulf feeds the Gulf Stream; see what the Gulf Stream is.
Disasters
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 was one of the largest marine oil spills in history. Each summer, a large “dead zone” with little oxygen forms off Louisiana, caused partly by fertilizer runoff from the Mississippi River; see the longest river in the United States.
For Texas’s long barrier island on the Gulf coast, see the largest barrier island in Texas.
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