City Map Compare/Brussels vs Riyadh
vs
5 km
|

Brussels

161 km²

Riyadh

1,798 km²

Brussels vs Riyadh - City Size Comparison

Brussels vs Riyadh - City Size Comparison

Brussels

Belgium

Area161 km²
Population1.26M
Density7,826 /km²
Elevation13 m
Founded1989
Riyadh

Saudi Arabia

Area1,798 km²
Population7.01M
Density3,899 /km²
Elevation612 m
Founded1746

Area Comparison

Brussels is 11.2x smaller than Riyadh

Population Comparison

Brussels has 5.6x fewer people than Riyadh

Is Brussels Bigger Than Riyadh?

Riyadh is significantly larger, covering 11.2 times the area of Brussels. Riyadh spans 1,798 km² (694 mi²) while Brussels covers 161 km² (62 mi²) — a difference of 1,637 km². You could fit Brussels inside Riyadh approximately 11 times.

To put Brussels's size in perspective, its area of 161 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C.. Meanwhile, Riyadh at 1,798 km² is about 1.1x the size of London.

In more relatable units, Brussels's 161 km² is about 23,000 American football fields, 80 times the area of Monaco, or 47 times the area of Central Park. For Riyadh, that's about 252,000 American football fields, 30 times the area of Manhattan, or 17 times the area of Paris.

About Brussels

Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, is a region of Belgium comprising 19 municipalities, including the City of Brussels, which is the capital of Belgium. The Brussels-Capital Region is located in the central portion of the country. It is a part of both the French Community of Belgium and the Flemish Community, and is separate from the Flemish Region (Flanders), within which it forms an enclave, and the Walloon Region (Wallonia), located less than 4 km (2.5 mi) south.

Known as "Capital of Europe", Brussels covers 161 km² with a population of 1.3 million. The city was established in 1989. Brussels is known for Grand Place, Manneken Pis, Atomium, among other attractions.

The Brussels-Capital Region comprises 19 municipalities and forms an enclave entirely within the Flemish Region.

About Riyadh

Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of the Riyadh Province and the centre of the Riyadh Governorate. Located on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa, the current form of the metropolis largely emerged in the 1950s as an expansion of the 18th-century walled town, following the dismantling of its defensive fortifications.

Riyadh has an area of 1,798 km² and is home to 7.0 million people. It was established in 1746. Visitors come for Kingdom Centre Tower, Masmak Fortress, Al Faisaliah Tower, and much more.

Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia, sitting on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa.

Population Density

Brussels has a population density of 7,826 people per km² — a densely populated city. Riyadh, with 3,899 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Brussels is noticeably denser, packing 2.0 times more people per square kilometer.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Brussels fits inside Riyadh ~11 times

Density Gap

Brussels is 2.0x more densely populated

History

Riyadh is ~243 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Brussels

Brussels covers 161 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Minneapolis (149 km²), Washington D.C. (177 km²), Miami (143 km²), Stockholm (188 km²), or Buenos Aires (203 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Riyadh

Riyadh covers 1,798 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Houston (1,725 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), Shenzhen (1,997 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), or London (1,572 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brussels actually bigger than Riyadh?
Riyadh is 11.2 times larger than Brussels by area. Riyadh covers 1,798 km² while Brussels spans 161 km², a difference of 1,637 km².
How many times does Brussels fit inside Riyadh?
Brussels (161 km²) fits inside Riyadh (1,798 km²) approximately 11 times. That means Riyadh is 11.2x the area of Brussels.
What is the population difference between Brussels and Riyadh?
Riyadh has approximately 7.0 million people, while Brussels has about 1.3 million. Riyadh has 5.8 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Brussels or Riyadh?
Brussels is more densely populated with 7,826 people per km², compared to 3,899 people per km².
Which city is older, Brussels or Riyadh?
Riyadh is older, founded around 1746, while Brussels was established around 1989 — a difference of about 243 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 Brussels and Riyadh

The straight-line distance from Brussels to Riyadh is 4,631 km (2,877 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~5h 57m.

Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.