Philadelphia
370 km²
Washington D.C.
177 km²
United States
USA
Area Comparison
Philadelphia is 2.1x larger than Washington D.C.
Population Comparison
Philadelphia has 2.3x more people than Washington D.C.
Yes — Philadelphia is 2.1x larger than Washington D.C. by area. Philadelphia spans 370 km² (143 mi²) while Washington D.C. covers 177 km² (68 mi²) — a difference of 193 km². You could fit Washington D.C. inside Philadelphia approximately 2 times.
To put Philadelphia's size in perspective, its area of 370 km² is about 1.6x smaller than Seoul. Meanwhile, Washington D.C. at 177 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C..
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 Washington D.C., that's about 25,000 American football fields, 88 times the area of Monaco, or 52 times the area of Central Park.
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.
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.
Often called "D.C.", Washington D.C. has an area of 177 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. Its history stretches back to 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
Philadelphia has a population density of 4,324 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Washington D.C., with 3,898 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Philadelphia is slightly more compact.
Size Ratio
Washington D.C. fits inside Philadelphia ~2 times
History
Philadelphia is ~108 years older
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).
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 Philadelphia to Washington D.C. is 198 km (123 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~44m.
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