City Map Compare/Houston vs Lisbon
vs
5 km
|

Houston

1,725 km²

Lisbon

100 km²

Houston vs Lisbon - City Size Comparison

Houston vs Lisbon - City Size Comparison

Houston

United States

Area1,725 km²
Population2.30M
Density1,333 /km²
Elevation13 m
Founded1836
Lisbon

Portugal

Area100 km²
Population0.55M
Density5,500 /km²
Elevation77 m
Metro Pop.2.9M
Founded1200 BC
ClimateMediterranean

Area Comparison

Houston is 17.3x larger than Lisbon

Population Comparison

Houston has 4.2x more people than Lisbon

Is Houston Bigger Than Lisbon?

Yes — Houston is 17.3x larger than Lisbon by area. Houston spans 1,725 km² (666 mi²) while Lisbon covers 100 km² (39 mi²) — a difference of 1,625 km². You could fit Lisbon inside Houston approximately 17 times.

To put Houston's size in perspective, its area of 1,725 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, Lisbon at 100 km² is roughly the same size as Paris (city proper).

In more relatable units, Houston's 1,725 km² is about 242,000 American football fields, 29 times the area of Manhattan, or 16 times the area of Paris. Lisbon works out to about 14,000 American football fields, 50 times the area of Monaco, or 29 times the area of Central Park.

About Houston

Houston is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and the Southern United States. It is the fourth-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 2.3 million at the 2020 census. The Greater Houston metropolitan area, at 7.8 million residents, is the fifth-most populous metropolitan area in the nation and second-most populous in Texas. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, Houston is the county seat of Harris County.

Known as "Space City", Houston covers 1,725 km² with a population of 2.3 million. The city was established in 1836. Houston is known for NASA Johnson Space Center, Space Center Houston, Houston Astros, among other attractions.

Houston is the fourth-most populous US city with 2.3 million residents at the 2020 census, leading the entire South.

About Lisbon

Lisbon is the capital and most populous city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 575,739 as of 2024, within its administrative limits and 3,028,000 within the metropolis, as of 2025. Lisbon is mainland Europe's westernmost capital city, and the only one along the Atlantic coast, the others being on islands. The city lies in the western portion of the Iberian Peninsula, on the northern shore of the River Tagus.

Nicknamed "City of Seven Hills", Lisbon has an area of 100 km² and is home to 0.6 million people. The city dates back to 1200 BC. Visitors come for Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery, Tram 28, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Lisbon Metro.

Lisbon is mainland Europe's westernmost capital city and the only European capital along the Atlantic coast.

Population Density

Houston has a population density of 1,333 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Lisbon, with 5,500 people per km², is a densely populated city. Lisbon is dramatically more crowded, with 4.1x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Lisbon fits inside Houston ~17 times

Density Gap

Lisbon is 4.1x more densely populated

History

Lisbon is ~3,036 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Houston

Houston covers 1,725 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Riyadh (1,798 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), London (1,572 km²), or Bangkok (1,569 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Lisbon

Lisbon covers 100 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Barcelona (101 km²), Paris (105 km²), Copenhagen (91 km²), Zurich (88 km²), or Vancouver (115 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Houston bigger than Lisbon?
Houston is 17.3 times larger than Lisbon by area. Houston covers 1,725 km² while Lisbon spans 100 km², a difference of 1,625 km².
How many times does Lisbon fit inside Houston?
Lisbon (100 km²) fits inside Houston (1,725 km²) approximately 17 times. That means Houston is 17.3x the area of Lisbon.
What is the population difference between Houston and Lisbon?
Houston has approximately 2.3 million people, while Lisbon has about 0.6 million. Houston has 1.7 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Houston or Lisbon?
Lisbon is more densely populated with 5,500 people per km², compared to 1,333 people per km².
Which city is older, Houston or Lisbon?
Lisbon is older, founded around -1200, while Houston was established around 1836 — a difference of about 3036 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 Houston and Lisbon

The straight-line distance from Houston to Lisbon is 7,695 km (4,781 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~9h 33m.

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