Rio de Janeiro
1,221 km²
Rome
1,285 km²
Brazil
Italy
Area Comparison
Rio de Janeiro is 1.1x smaller than Rome
Population Comparison
Rio de Janeiro has 2.4x more people than Rome
Yes — Rome is 1.1x larger than Rio de Janeiro by area. Rome spans 1,285 km² (496 mi²) while Rio de Janeiro covers 1,221 km² (471 mi²) — a difference of 64 km².
To put Rio de Janeiro's size in perspective, its area of 1,221 km² is about 1.3x smaller than London. Meanwhile, Rome at 1,285 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London.
Picture Rio de Janeiro another way: its area is large enough to fit about 171,000 American football fields, 21 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 times the area of Paris. Rome, by comparison, equals about 180,000 American football fields, 22 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 times the area of Paris.
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.
Known as "Cidade Maravilhosa", Rio de Janeiro covers 1,221 km² with a population of 6.8 million. The city was established in 1565. Rio de Janeiro is known for Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana beach, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the MetrôRio.
Rio de Janeiro is the second-most-populous city in Brazil after São Paulo and the sixth-most-populous in the Americas.
Rome is the capital city and most populated comune (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special comune named Roma Capitale with a population of 2.7 million in an area of 1,287.36 km2 (497.1 mi2), Rome is the third most populous city in the European Union by population within city limits. The Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, with a population of 4.2 million, is the most populous metropolitan city in Italy.
Also known as "The Eternal City", Rome has an area of 1,285 km² and is home to 2.9 million people. Its history stretches back to 753 BC. Visitors come for Colosseum, Vatican City, Trevi Fountain, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Rome Metro.
Rome's special comune Roma Capitale spans 1,287 km2, making it the third most populous city in the EU within city limits
Looking beyond city limits, the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area covers 6,744 km², which is 1.3x larger than greater Rome at 5,352 km². The Rio de Janeiro metro area is also more populous, with 13.5 million people compared to 4.3 million.
Rio de Janeiro has a population density of 5,528 people per km² — a densely populated city. Rome, with 2,233 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Rio de Janeiro is noticeably denser, packing 2.5 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Rio de Janeiro in South America versus Rome in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Rio de Janeiro has a tropical savanna climate while Rome experiences Mediterranean conditions. When it's noon in Rome, it's 8:00 AM in Rio de Janeiro — a 4-hour time difference.
Density Gap
Rio de Janeiro is 2.5x more densely populated
Time Difference
4 hours apart
History
Rome is ~2,318 years older
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).
Rome covers 1,285 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Los Angeles (1,302 km²), Phoenix (1,341 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), San Antonio (1,209 km²), or Lagos (1,172 km²).
The straight-line distance from Rio de Janeiro to Rome is 9,198 km (5,716 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~11h 19m.
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