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Brazil
Brazil
Area Comparison
Rio de Janeiro is 1.2x smaller than São Paulo
Population Comparison
Rio de Janeiro has 1.8x fewer people than São Paulo
In terms of area, São Paulo is 1.2x the size of Rio de Janeiro. São Paulo spans 1,521 km² (587 mi²) while Rio de Janeiro covers 1,221 km² (471 mi²) — a difference of 300 km².
To put Rio de Janeiro's size in perspective, its area of 1,221 km² is about 1.3x smaller than London. Meanwhile, São Paulo at 1,521 km² is roughly the same size as London.
Brazil's iconic coastal city known for Carnival. Known as "The Marvelous City", 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, Copacabana Beach, Carnival, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the MetrôRio.
Rio's Christ the Redeemer statue is struck by lightning an average of 6 times per year
Brazil's largest city and financial center. Nicknamed "Sampa", São Paulo has an area of 1,521 km² and is home to 12.3 million people. The city dates back to 1554. Visitors come for Paulista Avenue, Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo Museum of Art, and much more. Getting around is easy with the São Paulo Metro.
São Paulo has the largest Japanese community outside Japan
Looking beyond city limits, the São Paulo metropolitan area covers 7,947 km², which is 1.2x larger than greater Rio de Janeiro at 6,744 km². The São Paulo metro area is also more populous, with 22.0 million people compared to 13.5 million.
Rio de Janeiro has a population density of 5,528 people per km² — a densely populated city. São Paulo, with 8,107 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though São Paulo is slightly more compact.
Both Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo are in Brazil, making this a domestic size comparison that reveals how differently cities can develop within the same nation.
Rio de Janeiro has a tropical savanna climate while São Paulo experiences humid subtropical conditions.
Density Gap
São Paulo is 1.5x more densely populated
The straight-line distance from Rio de Janeiro to São Paulo is 361 km (224 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~55m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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