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UK
USA
Area Comparison
London is 8.9x larger than Washington D.C.
Population Comparison
London has 13.0x more people than Washington D.C.
Yes — London is 8.9x larger than Washington D.C. by area. London spans 1,572 km² (607 mi²) while Washington D.C. covers 177 km² (68 mi²) — a difference of 1,395 km². You could fit Washington D.C. inside London approximately 8 times.
To put London's size in perspective, its area of 1,572 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Tokyo (city proper). Meanwhile, Washington D.C. at 177 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C..
Capital of England and the United Kingdom. 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 of London, Buckingham Palace, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the London Underground.
London was the first city to have an underground railway, opening in 1863
Capital of the United States. Nicknamed "D.C.", Washington D.C. has an area of 177 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. It was established in 1790. Visitors come for The White House, Lincoln Memorial, Smithsonian museums, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Washington Metro.
D.C. has more free museums than any other city in the US — all 19 Smithsonian museums charge no admission
Looking beyond city limits, the Washington D.C. metropolitan area covers 14,412 km², which is 1.7x larger than greater London at 8,382 km². The London metro area is also more populous, with 14.3 million people compared to 6.3 million.
London has a population density of 5,712 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 London is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — London in Europe versus Washington D.C. in North America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
London has a oceanic climate while Washington D.C. experiences humid subtropical conditions. When it's noon in London, it's 7:00 AM in Washington D.C. — a 5-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Washington D.C. fits inside London ~8 times
Density Gap
London is 1.5x more densely populated
Time Difference
5 hours apart
History
London is ~1,747 years older
The straight-line distance from London to Washington D.C. is 5,898 km (3,665 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~7h 26m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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