Big Countries
A easy-tier problem at 68% community acceptance, tagged with Database. Reported in interviews at tcs and 2 others.
Big Countries is a database problem that looks trivial on the surface but trips up candidates who skip the fundamentals. With a 68% acceptance rate, it's the kind of easy problem that catches people off guard during live assessments because they either overthink it or misread the schema. Google, Microsoft, and TCS have all asked it. The pattern here is simple SQL logic, but if you blank on the WHERE clause syntax or JOIN behavior during screen share, StealthCoder surfaces a working solution instantly while the proctor sees nothing.
Companies that ask "Big Countries"
Big Countries is the kind of problem that decides whether you pass. StealthCoder reads the problem on screen and surfaces a working solution in under 2 seconds. Invisible to screen share. The proctor sees nothing. Built by an Amazon engineer who used it to pass JPMorgan's OA and system design loop.
Get StealthCoderThe trick isn't algorithmic. It's reading the problem statement carefully and writing clean SQL. You're filtering a country table by two conditions: population OR area. The catch is that candidates often get the boolean logic wrong, use nested queries when a simple WHERE clause works, or overthink joins. The obvious approach fails when you misinterpret 'big' as AND instead of OR. What separates passing from failing is knowing when to use straightforward filtering versus overcomplicating with subqueries or multiple joins. In a live OA, if you freeze on the exact syntax or second-guess your WHERE clause, StealthCoder runs invisibly and delivers the pattern in seconds so you move on.
Pattern tags
You know the problem.
Make sure you actually pass it.
Big Countries recycles across companies for a reason. It's easy-tier, and most candidates blank under the timer. StealthCoder is the hedge: an AI overlay invisible during screen share. It reads the problem and surfaces a working solution in under 2 seconds. Built by an Amazon engineer who used it to pass JPMorgan's OA and system design loop. Works on HackerRank, CodeSignal, CoderPad, and Karat.
Big Countries interview FAQ
Is Big Countries actually asked in real interviews?+
Yes. Google, Microsoft, and TCS have all reported asking it. At 68% acceptance, it's common enough that you'll see it in live assessments. It's an easy problem designed to verify you can read requirements and write correct SQL without overthinking.
What's the most common mistake on this problem?+
Using AND instead of OR in the WHERE clause. Candidates read 'big' and assume both conditions must be true. The problem actually wants countries that are big by population OR by area. Re-reading the statement catches this in seconds.
Do I need JOINs to solve this?+
No. This is a single-table filter. JOINs are unnecessary and add complexity. If you're reaching for a JOIN, you've misread the schema or the requirements. Stick with a simple WHERE clause and you're done.
How does this relate to broader database skills?+
It tests your ability to parse requirements and translate them into correct WHERE clause logic. Boolean operators, comparison operators, and how to combine conditions are foundations for all SQL work. Getting this right builds confidence in live assessments.
What should I do if I blank on the syntax during the OA?+
StealthCoder solves it invisibly in seconds. You get a working solution, paste it, and move on. The problem's easy enough that once you see the pattern, you'll nail it next time. That safety net during a live screen-share assessment is the hedge you need.
Want the actual problem statement? View "Big Countries" on LeetCode →