City Map Compare/Brussels vs Rome
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Brussels

161 km²

Rome

1,285 km²

Brussels vs Rome - City Size Comparison

Brussels vs Rome - City Size Comparison

Brussels

Belgium

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

Italy

Area1,285 km²
Population2.87M
Density2,233 /km²
Elevation21 m
Metro Pop.4.3M
Founded753 BC
ClimateMediterranean

Area Comparison

Brussels is 8.0x smaller than Rome

Population Comparison

Brussels has 2.3x fewer people than Rome

Is Brussels Bigger Than Rome?

Rome is significantly larger, covering 8.0 times the area of Brussels. Rome spans 1,285 km² (496 mi²) while Brussels covers 161 km² (62 mi²) — a difference of 1,124 km². You could fit Brussels inside Rome approximately 7 times.

To put Brussels's size in perspective, its area of 161 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C.. Meanwhile, Rome at 1,285 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London.

Brussels's footprint is roughly about 23,000 American football fields, 80 times the area of Monaco, or 47 times the area of Central Park — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Rome, by comparison, equals about 180,000 American football fields, 22 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 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 Rome

Rome is the capital city and most populated comune (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special comune named Roma Capitale with a population of 2.7 million in an area of 1,287.36 km2 (497.1 mi2), Rome is the third most populous city in the European Union by population within city limits. The Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, with a population of 4.2 million, is the most populous metropolitan city in Italy.

Also known as "The Eternal City", Rome has an area of 1,285 km² and is home to 2.9 million people. The city dates back to 753 BC. Visitors come for Colosseum, Vatican City, Trevi Fountain, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Rome Metro.

Rome's special comune Roma Capitale spans 1,287 km2, making it the third most populous city in the EU within city limits

Population Density

Brussels has a population density of 7,826 people per km² — a densely populated city. Rome, with 2,233 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Brussels is dramatically more crowded, with 3.5x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Brussels fits inside Rome ~7 times

Density Gap

Brussels is 3.5x more densely populated

History

Rome is ~2,742 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 Rome

Rome covers 1,285 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Los Angeles (1,302 km²), Phoenix (1,341 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), San Antonio (1,209 km²), or Lagos (1,172 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brussels actually bigger than Rome?
Rome is 8.0 times larger than Brussels by area. Rome covers 1,285 km² while Brussels spans 161 km², a difference of 1,124 km².
How many times does Brussels fit inside Rome?
Brussels (161 km²) fits inside Rome (1,285 km²) approximately 7 times. That means Rome is 8.0x the area of Brussels.
What is the population difference between Brussels and Rome?
Rome has approximately 2.9 million people, while Brussels has about 1.3 million. Rome has 1.6 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Brussels or Rome?
Brussels is more densely populated with 7,826 people per km², compared to 2,233 people per km².
Which city is older, Brussels or Rome?
Rome is older, founded around -753, while Brussels was established around 1989 — a difference of about 2742 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 Rome

The straight-line distance from Brussels to Rome is 1,173 km (729 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 53m.

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