London
1,572 km²
Washington D.C.
177 km²
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..
Picture London another way: its area is large enough to fit about 220,000 American football fields, 27 times the area of Manhattan, or 15 times the area of Paris. Washington D.C., by comparison, equals about 25,000 American football fields, 88 times the area of Monaco, or 52 times the area of Central Park.
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.
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.
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 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 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
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).
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 London to Washington D.C. is 5,898 km (3,665 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~7h 26m.
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