City Map Compare/Rio de Janeiro vs Seattle
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Rio de Janeiro

1,221 km²

Seattle

369 km²

Rio de Janeiro vs Seattle - City Size Comparison

Rio de Janeiro vs Seattle - City Size Comparison

Rio de Janeiro

Brazil

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

United States

Area369 km²
Population0.74M
Density2,005 /km²
Elevation40 m
Founded1851

Area Comparison

Rio de Janeiro is 3.3x larger than Seattle

Population Comparison

Rio de Janeiro has 9.1x more people than Seattle

Is Rio de Janeiro Bigger Than Seattle?

Rio de Janeiro is significantly larger, covering 3.3 times the area of Seattle. Rio de Janeiro spans 1,221 km² (471 mi²) while Seattle covers 369 km² (142 mi²) — a difference of 852 km². You could fit Seattle inside Rio de Janeiro approximately 3 times.

To put Rio de Janeiro's size in perspective, its area of 1,221 km² is about 1.3x smaller than London. Meanwhile, Seattle at 369 km² is about 1.6x smaller than Seoul.

In more relatable units, Rio de Janeiro's 1,221 km² is about 171,000 American football fields, 21 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 times the area of Paris. Seattle, by comparison, equals about 52,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Monaco, or 110 times the area of Central Park.

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.

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.

About Seattle

Seattle is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region of North America. It is the 18th-most populous city in the United States with a population of 780,995 in 2024, while the Seattle metropolitan area at over 4.15 million residents is the 15th-most populous metropolitan area in the nation. The city is the county seat of King County, the most populous county in Washington.

Nicknamed "The Emerald City", Seattle has an area of 369 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. It was established in 1851. Visitors come for Space Needle, Pike Place Market, Starbucks headquarters, and much more.

Seattle is Washington's most populous city with 780,995 residents in 2024, anchoring the Pacific Northwest.

Population Density

Rio de Janeiro has a population density of 5,528 people per km² — a densely populated city. Seattle, with 2,005 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Rio de Janeiro is noticeably denser, packing 2.8 times more people per square kilometer.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Seattle fits inside Rio de Janeiro ~3 times

Density Gap

Rio de Janeiro is 2.8x more densely populated

History

Rio de Janeiro is ~286 years older

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).

Cities Similar in Size to Seattle

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

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Rio de Janeiro or Seattle?
Rio de Janeiro is 3.3 times larger than Seattle by area. Rio de Janeiro covers 1,221 km² while Seattle spans 369 km², a difference of 852 km².
How many times does Seattle fit inside Rio de Janeiro?
Seattle (369 km²) fits inside Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²) approximately 3 times. That means Rio de Janeiro is 3.3x the area of Seattle.
What is the population difference between Rio de Janeiro and Seattle?
Rio de Janeiro has approximately 6.8 million people, while Seattle has about 0.7 million. Rio de Janeiro has 6.0 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Rio de Janeiro or Seattle?
Rio de Janeiro is more densely populated with 5,528 people per km², compared to 2,005 people per km².
Which city is older, Rio de Janeiro or Seattle?
Rio de Janeiro is older, founded around 1565, while Seattle was established around 1851 — a difference of about 286 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 Rio de Janeiro and Seattle

The straight-line distance from Rio de Janeiro to Seattle is 11,100 km (6,897 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~13h 34m.

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