Rio de Janeiro
1,221 km²
Seoul
605 km²
Brazil
South Korea
Area Comparison
Rio de Janeiro is 2.0x larger than Seoul
Population Comparison
Rio de Janeiro has 1.4x fewer people than Seoul
Rio de Janeiro is significantly larger, covering 2.0 times the area of Seoul. Rio de Janeiro spans 1,221 km² (471 mi²) while Seoul covers 605 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 616 km². You could fit Seoul inside Rio de Janeiro approximately 2 times.
To put Rio de Janeiro's size in perspective, its area of 1,221 km² is about 1.3x smaller than London. Meanwhile, Seoul at 605 km² is about 1.3x smaller than New York City.
Rio de Janeiro's footprint is roughly about 171,000 American football fields, 21 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Seoul, by comparison, equals about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan.
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.
Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital and largest city of South Korea, and the largest city in the whole of Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's sixth largest metropolitan economy in 2022, behind New York, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Paris, and London, and hosts more than half of South Korea's population.
Seoul has an area of 605 km² and is home to 9.8 million people. Its history stretches back to 18 BC. Visitors come for Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gangnam district, Myeongdong shopping, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Seoul Metro.
Seoul Metropolitan Area emerged as the world's sixth largest metropolitan economy in 2022, behind only NYC, Tokyo, LA, Paris, and London.
Looking beyond city limits, the Seoul metropolitan area covers 11,704 km², which is 1.7x larger than greater Rio de Janeiro at 6,744 km². The Seoul metro area is also more populous, with 25.5 million people compared to 13.5 million.
Rio de Janeiro has a population density of 5,528 people per km² — a densely populated city. Seoul, with 16,149 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Seoul is noticeably denser, packing 2.9 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Rio de Janeiro in South America versus Seoul in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Rio de Janeiro has a tropical savanna climate while Seoul experiences humid continental conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Rio de Janeiro stays around 21°C while Seoul drops to -3°C. When it's noon in Seoul, it's midnight in Rio de Janeiro — a 12-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Seoul fits inside Rio de Janeiro ~2 times
Density Gap
Seoul is 2.9x more densely populated
Time Difference
12 hours apart
History
Seoul is ~1,583 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).
Seoul covers 605 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Chicago (606 km²), Madrid (604 km²), Mumbai (603 km²), Toronto (630 km²), or Hyderabad (650 km²).
The straight-line distance from Rio de Janeiro to Seoul is 18,133 km (11,267 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~21h 50m.
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