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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.
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
Capital of South Korea and a major tech hub. Also known as "The Soul of Asia", 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, K-pop culture, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Seoul Metro.
Seoul's metro area contains nearly half of South Korea's entire population
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
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. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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