Lisbon
100 km²
Washington D.C.
177 km²
Portugal
USA
Area Comparison
Lisbon is 1.8x smaller than Washington D.C.
Population Comparison
Lisbon has 1.3x fewer people than Washington D.C.
In terms of area, Washington D.C. is 1.8x the size of Lisbon. Washington D.C. spans 177 km² (68 mi²) while Lisbon covers 100 km² (39 mi²) — a difference of 77 km².
To put Lisbon's size in perspective, its area of 100 km² is roughly the same size as Paris (city proper). Meanwhile, Washington D.C. at 177 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C..
Picture Lisbon another way: its area is large enough to fit about 14,000 American football fields, 50 times the area of Monaco, or 29 times the area of Central Park. Washington D.C. works out to about 25,000 American football fields, 88 times the area of Monaco, or 52 times the area of Central Park.
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.
Known as "City of Seven Hills", Lisbon covers 100 km² with a population of 0.6 million. The city was founded around 1200 BC. Lisbon is known for Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery, Tram 28, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Lisbon Metro.
Lisbon is mainland Europe's westernmost capital city and the only European capital along the Atlantic coast.
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
Looking beyond city limits, the Washington D.C. metropolitan area covers 14,412 km², which is 4.8x larger than greater Lisbon at 3,015 km². The Washington D.C. metro area is also more populous, with 6.3 million people compared to 2.9 million.
Lisbon has a population density of 5,500 people per km² — a densely populated city. Washington D.C., with 3,898 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Lisbon is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — Lisbon in Europe versus Washington D.C. in North America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Lisbon has a Mediterranean climate while Washington D.C. experiences humid subtropical conditions. When it's noon in Lisbon, it's 7:00 AM in Washington D.C. — a 5-hour time difference.
Density Gap
Lisbon is 1.4x more densely populated
Time Difference
5 hours apart
History
Lisbon is ~2,990 years older
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).
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).
The straight-line distance from Lisbon to Washington D.C. is 5,736 km (3,564 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~7h 15m.
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