City Map Compare/Munich vs Rio de Janeiro
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5 km
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Munich

311 km²

Rio de Janeiro

1,221 km²

Munich vs Rio de Janeiro - City Size Comparison

Munich vs Rio de Janeiro - City Size Comparison

Munich

Germany

Area311 km²
Population1.51M
Density4,855 /km²
Elevation519 m
Founded1158
Rio de Janeiro

Brazil

Area1,221 km²
Population6.75M
Density5,528 /km²
Elevation11 m
Metro Pop.13.5M
Founded1565
Climatetropical savanna

Area Comparison

Munich is 3.9x smaller than Rio de Janeiro

Population Comparison

Munich has 4.5x fewer people than Rio de Janeiro

Is Munich Bigger Than Rio de Janeiro?

Rio de Janeiro is significantly larger, covering 3.9 times the area of Munich. Rio de Janeiro spans 1,221 km² (471 mi²) while Munich covers 311 km² (120 mi²) — a difference of 910 km². You could fit Munich inside Rio de Janeiro approximately 3 times.

To put Munich's size in perspective, its area of 311 km² is about 1.4x the size of Amsterdam. Meanwhile, Rio de Janeiro at 1,221 km² is about 1.3x smaller than London.

Picture Munich another way: its area is large enough to fit about 44,000 American football fields, 150 times the area of Monaco, or 91 times the area of Central Park. 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.

About Munich

Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is not a state of its own, and it ranks as the 11th-largest city in the European Union (EU). The metropolitan area has around 3 million inhabitants, and the broader Munich Metropolitan Region is home to about 6.2 million people.

Known as "Weltstadt mit Herz", Munich covers 311 km² with a population of 1.5 million. The city was established in 1158. Munich is known for Oktoberfest, Marienplatz, BMW headquarters, among other attractions.

Munich is the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg, with over 1.6 million residents.

About Rio de Janeiro

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.

Often called "Cidade Maravilhosa", Rio de Janeiro has an area of 1,221 km² and is home to 6.8 million people. Its history stretches 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.

Population Density

Munich has a population density of 4,855 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Rio de Janeiro, with 5,528 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though Rio de Janeiro is slightly more compact.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Munich fits inside Rio de Janeiro ~3 times

History

Munich is ~407 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Munich

Munich covers 311 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Atlanta (348 km²), Taipei (272 km²), Dhaka (368 km²), Seattle (369 km²), or Philadelphia (370 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Rio de Janeiro

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).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Munich bigger than Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro is 3.9 times larger than Munich by area. Rio de Janeiro covers 1,221 km² while Munich spans 311 km², a difference of 910 km².
How many times does Munich fit inside Rio de Janeiro?
Munich (311 km²) fits inside Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²) approximately 3 times. That means Rio de Janeiro is 3.9x the area of Munich.
What is the population difference between Munich and Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro has approximately 6.8 million people, while Munich has about 1.5 million. Rio de Janeiro has 5.2 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Munich or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro is more densely populated with 5,528 people per km², compared to 4,855 people per km².
Which city is older, Munich or Rio de Janeiro?
Munich is older, founded around 1158, while Rio de Janeiro was established around 1565 — a difference of about 407 years.
How does the map comparison work?
Our synchronized map comparison tool displays both cities at the same zoom level. When you zoom in or out on one map, the other automatically adjusts to maintain the same scale, allowing you to directly compare the relative sizes of both cities.
Can I compare other cities?
Yes! Use the city selectors at the top of the page to choose any two cities from our database of 50+ major cities worldwide, or enter custom coordinates for any location.

Distance Between Munich and Rio de Janeiro

The straight-line distance from Munich to Rio de Janeiro is 9,594 km (5,961 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~11h 47m.

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