Hisingen is the fourth-largest island of Sweden (after Gotland, Öland and Orust), with an area of . In 2014 Statistics Sweden declared it to instead be the fifth largest island, under a definition which adds artificial canals to the possible bodies of water surrounding an island. It has been noted that under this definition, all of Götaland would be the country's largest island, rendering Hisingen instead the sixth largest. It forms part of Gothenburg Municipality, Västra Götaland County, and is bordered by the Göta älv in the south and east, the Nordre älv in the north, and the Kattegat in the west. The northern part of the city of Gothenburg, with its harbours, industries and suburbs, is located on the island, which is divided between the two historical provinces of Västergötland and Bohuslän.