At true size, Russia is about 7.2× the size of Democratic Republic of the Congo. On the old 1569 Mercator map the same two appear about 43.8× apart — the old map exaggerates their difference by a factor of 6.1×.
It is a latitude illusion: Russia sits near 66°, where Mercator multiplies area by about 6.1×, while Democratic Republic of the Congo lies near 3°, inflated only about 1×. Equal Earth removes that latitude tax, and the pair settles at its honest 7.2×.