How Big Is Washington D.C.?

USA · North America

Area

177 km²

68 mi²

Population

0.7M

Metro: 6.3M

Density

3,898/km²

Founded

1790

Washington D.C. Size Overview

Washington D.C. covers an area of 177 km² (68 mi²) in USA, North America. Federal capital district of the United States. The city is often called "D.C.". To put this in perspective, Washington D.C. is roughly the same size as Washington D.C.. In more relatable units, that's about 25,000 American football fields, 88 times the area of Monaco, or 52 times the area of Central Park.

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.

With a population of 0.7 million (6.3 million in the metropolitan area), Washington D.C. has a population density of 3,898 people per km². The greater Washington D.C. metropolitan area extends to 14,412 km².

Washington D.C. has a history stretching back to 1790. The city is renowned for White House, U.S. Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, and Washington Monument.

Washington D.C. has a humid subtropical climate, with summer temperatures averaging 26°C and winters around 2°C. The city's main public transit system is the Washington Metro.

Did You Know?

  • Washington D.C. sits on the Potomac River across from Virginia and is bordered by Maryland to its north and east
  • The federal capital was named after George Washington, the Founding Father and first president of the United States

Compare Washington D.C. with Other Cities

Compare Washington D.C. with any city using our interactive map tool.

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).

Frequently Asked Questions about Washington D.C.

How big is Washington D.C. in square miles?
Washington D.C. covers 177 km², which is approximately 68 square miles. The metropolitan area extends to 14,412 km² (5,565 mi²).
What is the population of Washington D.C.?
Washington D.C. has a population of approximately 0.7 million people. The greater metropolitan area is home to 6.3 million.
What is the population density of Washington D.C.?
Washington D.C. has a population density of 3,898 people per km² (10,096 per mi²).
How does Washington D.C. compare to New York?
Washington D.C. covers 177 km² while New York covers 783 km². New York is 4.4x larger. Use our interactive map tool to compare them side by side.
Can I compare Washington D.C. with other cities on a map?
Yes! City Map Compare lets you compare Washington D.C. with any of 50+ cities side by side on synchronized maps. Both maps maintain the same zoom level so you can see the real difference in size.