London
1,572 km²
Rio de Janeiro
1,221 km²
UK
Brazil
Area Comparison
London is 1.3x larger than Rio de Janeiro
Population Comparison
London has 1.3x more people than Rio de Janeiro
London is significantly larger, covering 1.3 times the area of Rio de Janeiro. London spans 1,572 km² (607 mi²) while Rio de Janeiro covers 1,221 km² (471 mi²) — a difference of 351 km².
To put London's size in perspective, its area of 1,572 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Tokyo (city proper). Meanwhile, Rio de Janeiro at 1,221 km² is about 1.3x smaller than London.
In more relatable units, London's 1,572 km² is about 220,000 American football fields, 27 times the area of Manhattan, or 15 times the area of Paris. For Rio de Janeiro, that's about 171,000 American football fields, 21 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 times the area of Paris.
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of 9.1 million people in 2024. Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Western Europe, with a population of 15.1 million. London stands on the River Thames in southeast England, at the head of a 50-mile (80 km) tidal estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major settlement for nearly 2,000 years.
Known as "The Big Smoke", London covers 1,572 km² with a population of 9.0 million. The city was established in 43. London is known for Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the London Underground.
London has been a major settlement for nearly 2,000 years, tracing its roots back to Roman times around 47 AD.
Rio de Janeiro, also known simply as Rio, is the capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the second-most-populous city in Brazil after São Paulo and the sixth-most-populous city in the Americas.
Nicknamed "Cidade Maravilhosa", Rio de Janeiro has an area of 1,221 km² and is home to 6.8 million people. The city dates back to 1565. Visitors come for Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana beach, and much more. Getting around is easy with the MetrôRio.
Rio de Janeiro is the second-most-populous city in Brazil after São Paulo and the sixth-most-populous in the Americas.
Looking beyond city limits, the London metropolitan area covers 8,382 km², which is 1.2x larger than greater Rio de Janeiro at 6,744 km². The London metro area is also more populous, with 14.3 million people compared to 13.5 million.
London has a population density of 5,712 people per km² — a densely populated city. Rio de Janeiro, with 5,528 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though London is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — London in Europe versus Rio de Janeiro in South America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
London has a oceanic climate while Rio de Janeiro experiences tropical savanna conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Rio de Janeiro stays around 21°C while London drops to 5°C. When it's noon in London, it's 9:00 AM in Rio de Janeiro — a 3-hour time difference.
Time Difference
3 hours apart
History
London is ~1,522 years older
London covers 1,572 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Bangkok (1,569 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), São Paulo (1,521 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), or Mexico City (1,485 km²).
Rio de Janeiro covers 1,221 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include San Antonio (1,209 km²), Lagos (1,172 km²), Rome (1,285 km²), Los Angeles (1,302 km²), or Hong Kong (1,114 km²).
The straight-line distance from London to Rio de Janeiro is 9,277 km (5,765 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~11h 25m.
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