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

161 km²

Washington D.C.

177 km²

Brussels vs Washington D.C. - City Size Comparison

Brussels vs Washington D.C. - City Size Comparison

Brussels

Belgium

Area161 km²
Population1.26M
Density7,826 /km²
Elevation13 m
Founded1989
Washington D.C.

USA

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

Area Comparison

Brussels is 1.1x smaller than Washington D.C.

Population Comparison

Brussels has 1.8x more people than Washington D.C.

Is Brussels Bigger Than Washington D.C.?

Yes — Washington D.C. is 1.1x larger than Brussels by area. Washington D.C. spans 177 km² (68 mi²) while Brussels covers 161 km² (62 mi²) — a difference of 16 km².

To put Brussels's size in perspective, its area of 161 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C.. Meanwhile, Washington D.C. at 177 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C..

Picture Brussels another way: its area is large enough to fit about 23,000 American football fields, 80 times the area of Monaco, or 47 times the area of Central Park. 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 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 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.

Also known as "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

Brussels has a population density of 7,826 people per km² — a densely populated city. Washington D.C., with 3,898 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

Density Gap

Brussels is 2.0x more densely populated

History

Washington D.C. is ~199 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 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 Brussels actually bigger than Washington D.C.?
Washington D.C. is 1.1 times larger than Brussels by area. Washington D.C. covers 177 km² while Brussels spans 161 km², a difference of 16 km².
How many times does Brussels fit inside Washington D.C.?
Brussels (161 km²) fits inside Washington D.C. (177 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Washington D.C. is 1.1x the area of Brussels.
What is the population difference between Brussels and Washington D.C.?
Brussels has approximately 1.3 million people, while Washington D.C. has about 0.7 million. Brussels has 0.6 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Brussels or Washington D.C.?
Brussels is more densely populated with 7,826 people per km², compared to 3,898 people per km².
Which city is older, Brussels or Washington D.C.?
Washington D.C. is older, founded around 1790, while Brussels was established around 1989 — a difference of about 199 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 Washington D.C.

The straight-line distance from Brussels to Washington D.C. is 6,216 km (3,863 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~7h 49m.

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