City Map Compare/Philadelphia vs Rio de Janeiro
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Philadelphia

370 km²

Rio de Janeiro

1,221 km²

Philadelphia vs Rio de Janeiro - City Size Comparison

Philadelphia vs Rio de Janeiro - City Size Comparison

Philadelphia

United States

Area370 km²
Population1.60M
Density4,324 /km²
Elevation12 m
Founded1682
Rio de Janeiro

Brazil

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

Area Comparison

Philadelphia is 3.3x smaller than Rio de Janeiro

Population Comparison

Philadelphia has 4.2x fewer people than Rio de Janeiro

Is Philadelphia Bigger Than Rio de Janeiro?

In terms of area, Rio de Janeiro is 3.3x the size of Philadelphia. Rio de Janeiro spans 1,221 km² (471 mi²) while Philadelphia covers 370 km² (143 mi²) — a difference of 851 km². You could fit Philadelphia inside Rio de Janeiro approximately 3 times.

To put Philadelphia's size in perspective, its area of 370 km² is about 1.6x smaller than Seoul. Meanwhile, Rio de Janeiro at 1,221 km² is about 1.3x smaller than London.

In more relatable units, Philadelphia's 370 km² is about 52,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Monaco, or 110 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 Philadelphia

Philadelphia, colloquially referred to as Philly, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, and the sixth-most populous city in the United States, with a Census-estimated population of 1,574,281 in July 2025. The Philadelphia metropolitan area has 6.33 million residents and is the nation's ninth-largest metropolitan area. Philadelphia is known for its culture, cuisine, and history, maintaining contemporary influence in business and technology, sports, and music.

Known as "Philly", Philadelphia covers 370 km² with a population of 1.6 million. The city was established in 1682. Philadelphia is known for Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Philly Cheesesteak, among other attractions.

Philadelphia is the sixth-most populous US city, with an estimated 1,574,281 residents as of July 2025.

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. It was established in 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

Philadelphia has a population density of 4,324 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

Philadelphia fits inside Rio de Janeiro ~3 times

History

Rio de Janeiro is ~117 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Philadelphia

Philadelphia covers 370 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Seattle (369 km²), Dhaka (368 km²), Portland (376 km²), Atlanta (348 km²), or Denver (401 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

Which is larger, Philadelphia or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro is 3.3 times larger than Philadelphia by area. Rio de Janeiro covers 1,221 km² while Philadelphia spans 370 km², a difference of 851 km².
How many times does Philadelphia fit inside Rio de Janeiro?
Philadelphia (370 km²) fits inside Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²) approximately 3 times. That means Rio de Janeiro is 3.3x the area of Philadelphia.
What is the population difference between Philadelphia and Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro has approximately 6.8 million people, while Philadelphia has about 1.6 million. Rio de Janeiro has 5.2 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Philadelphia or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro is more densely populated with 5,528 people per km², compared to 4,324 people per km².
Which city is older, Philadelphia or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro is older, founded around 1565, while Philadelphia was established around 1682 — a difference of about 117 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 Philadelphia and Rio de Janeiro

The straight-line distance from Philadelphia to Rio de Janeiro is 7,737 km (4,807 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~9h 36m.

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