Los Angeles
1,302 km²
Rio de Janeiro
1,221 km²
USA
Brazil
Area Comparison
Los Angeles is 1.1x larger than Rio de Janeiro
Population Comparison
Los Angeles has 1.7x fewer people than Rio de Janeiro
In terms of area, Los Angeles is 1.1x the size of Rio de Janeiro. Los Angeles spans 1,302 km² (503 mi²) while Rio de Janeiro covers 1,221 km² (471 mi²) — a difference of 81 km².
To put Los Angeles's size in perspective, its area of 1,302 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London. Meanwhile, Rio de Janeiro at 1,221 km² is about 1.3x smaller than London.
Los Angeles's footprint is roughly about 182,000 American football fields, 22 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Rio de Janeiro, by comparison, equals about 171,000 American football fields, 21 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 times the area of Paris.
Los Angeles (LA) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Southern California. With an estimated 3.88 million residents within the city limits as of 2024, it is the second-most populous city in the United States, behind New York City, and the largest city in the Western United States. The city has an ethnically and culturally diverse population, and is the principal city of a metropolitan area of 12.9 million people (2024).
Known as "The City of Angels", Los Angeles covers 1,302 km² with a population of 4.0 million. The city was established in 1781. Los Angeles is known for Hollywood Sign, Santa Monica Pier, Beverly Hills, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the LA Metro.
Los Angeles is the second-most populous city in the United States, home to 3.88 million residents within city limits as of 2024.
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.
Also known as "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 Los Angeles metropolitan area covers 12,562 km², which is 1.9x larger than greater Rio de Janeiro at 6,744 km². The Rio de Janeiro metro area is also more populous, with 13.5 million people compared to 13.2 million.
Los Angeles has a population density of 3,049 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Rio de Janeiro, with 5,528 people per km², is a densely populated city. Rio de Janeiro is noticeably denser, packing 1.8 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Los Angeles in North America versus Rio de Janeiro in South America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Los Angeles has a Mediterranean climate while Rio de Janeiro experiences tropical savanna conditions. When it's noon in Rio de Janeiro, it's 7:00 AM in Los Angeles — a 5-hour time difference.
Density Gap
Rio de Janeiro is 1.8x more densely populated
Time Difference
5 hours apart
History
Rio de Janeiro is ~216 years older
Los Angeles covers 1,302 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Rome (1,285 km²), Phoenix (1,341 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), San Antonio (1,209 km²), or Lagos (1,172 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 Los Angeles to Rio de Janeiro is 10,143 km (6,303 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~12h 26m.
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