City Map Compare/Atlanta vs Washington D.C.
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Atlanta

348 km²

Washington D.C.

177 km²

Atlanta vs Washington D.C. - City Size Comparison

Atlanta vs Washington D.C. - City Size Comparison

Atlanta

United States

Area348 km²
Population0.50M
Density1,437 /km²
Elevation225 m
Founded1845
Washington D.C.

USA

Area177 km²
Population0.69M
Density3,898 /km²
Elevation22 m
Metro Pop.6.3M
Founded1790
Climatehumid subtropical

Area Comparison

Atlanta is 2.0x larger than Washington D.C.

Population Comparison

Atlanta has 1.4x fewer people than Washington D.C.

Is Atlanta Bigger Than Washington D.C.?

In terms of area, Atlanta is 2.0x the size of Washington D.C.. Atlanta spans 348 km² (134 mi²) while Washington D.C. covers 177 km² (68 mi²) — a difference of 171 km².

To put Atlanta's size in perspective, its area of 348 km² is about 1.6x the size of Amsterdam. Meanwhile, Washington D.C. at 177 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C..

Atlanta's footprint is roughly about 49,000 American football fields, 170 times the area of Monaco, or 100 times the area of Central Park — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. For Washington D.C., that's about 25,000 American football fields, 88 times the area of Monaco, or 52 times the area of Central Park.

About Atlanta

Atlanta is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the county seat of Fulton County and extends into neighboring DeKalb County. With a population of 498,715 at the 2020 census and an estimated 520,070 in 2024, Atlanta is the eighth-most populous city in the Southeast and the 36th-most populous city in the United States. Atlanta is classified as a Beta+ global city.

Known as "The ATL", Atlanta covers 348 km² with a population of 0.5 million. The city was established in 1845. Atlanta is known for Coca-Cola headquarters, Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, Georgia Aquarium, among other attractions.

Atlanta is Georgia's capital and most populous city, with around 520,070 residents estimated in 2024.

About Washington D.C.

Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia and commonly known as simply Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River across from Virginia and shares land borders with Maryland to its north and east. It was named after George Washington, a Founding Father and the first president of the United States.

Often called "D.C.", Washington D.C. has an area of 177 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. Its history stretches back to 1790. Visitors come for White House, U.S. Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Washington Metro.

Washington D.C. sits on the Potomac River across from Virginia and is bordered by Maryland to its north and east

Population Density

Atlanta has a population density of 1,437 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Washington D.C., with 3,898 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Washington D.C. is noticeably denser, packing 2.7 times more people per square kilometer.

Key Differences at a Glance

Density Gap

Washington D.C. is 2.7x more densely populated

Cities Similar in Size to Atlanta

Atlanta covers 348 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Dhaka (368 km²), Seattle (369 km²), Philadelphia (370 km²), Portland (376 km²), or Munich (311 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. covers 177 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Stockholm (188 km²), Brussels (161 km²), Buenos Aires (203 km²), Minneapolis (149 km²), or Helsinki (214 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Atlanta bigger than Washington D.C.?
Atlanta is 2.0 times larger than Washington D.C. by area. Atlanta covers 348 km² while Washington D.C. spans 177 km², a difference of 171 km².
How many times does Washington D.C. fit inside Atlanta?
Washington D.C. (177 km²) fits inside Atlanta (348 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Atlanta is 2.0x the area of Washington D.C..
What is the population difference between Atlanta and Washington D.C.?
Washington D.C. has approximately 0.7 million people, while Atlanta has about 0.5 million. Washington D.C. has 0.2 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Atlanta or Washington D.C.?
Washington D.C. is more densely populated with 3,898 people per km², compared to 1,437 people per km².
Which city is older, Atlanta or Washington D.C.?
Washington D.C. is older, founded around 1790, while Atlanta was established around 1845 — a difference of about 55 years.
How does the map comparison work?
Our synchronized map comparison tool displays both cities at the same zoom level. When you zoom in or out on one map, the other automatically adjusts to maintain the same scale, allowing you to directly compare the relative sizes of both cities.
Can I compare other cities?
Yes! Use the city selectors at the top of the page to choose any two cities from our database of 50+ major cities worldwide, or enter custom coordinates for any location.

Distance Between Atlanta and Washington D.C.

The straight-line distance from Atlanta to Washington D.C. is 873 km (542 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 32m.

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