Rio de Janeiro
1,221 km²
Tokyo
2,194 km²
Brazil
Japan
Area Comparison
Rio de Janeiro is 1.8x smaller than Tokyo
Population Comparison
Rio de Janeiro has 2.1x fewer people than Tokyo
In terms of area, Tokyo is 1.8x the size of Rio de Janeiro. Tokyo spans 2,194 km² (847 mi²) while Rio de Janeiro covers 1,221 km² (471 mi²) — a difference of 973 km².
To put Rio de Janeiro's size in perspective, its area of 1,221 km² is about 1.3x smaller than London. Meanwhile, Tokyo at 2,194 km² is about 1.1x smaller than Moscow.
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. For Tokyo, that's about 307,000 American football fields, 37 times the area of Manhattan, or 21 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.
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital and most populous city of Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is one of the most populous urban areas in the world. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes Tokyo and parts of six neighboring prefectures, is the most populous metropolitan area in the world, with 41 million residents as of 2024.
Nicknamed "Eastern Capital", Tokyo has an area of 2,194 km² and is home to 14.0 million people. The city dates back to 1457. Visitors come for Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Tower, Imperial Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Tokyo Metro & JR East.
Greater Tokyo holds 41 million residents as of 2024, making it the most populous metropolitan area on Earth.
Looking beyond city limits, the Tokyo metropolitan area covers 13,572 km², which is 2.0x larger than greater Rio de Janeiro at 6,744 km². The Tokyo metro area is also more populous, with 37.4 million people compared to 13.5 million.
Rio de Janeiro has a population density of 5,528 people per km² — a densely populated city. Tokyo, with 6,363 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though Tokyo is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — Rio de Janeiro in South America versus Tokyo 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 Tokyo experiences humid subtropical conditions. When it's noon in Tokyo, it's midnight in Rio de Janeiro — a 12-hour time difference.
Time Difference
12 hours apart
History
Tokyo is ~108 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).
Tokyo covers 2,194 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Ho Chi Minh City (2,061 km²), Shenzhen (1,997 km²), Cape Town (2,455 km²), Moscow (2,511 km²), or Lima (2,672 km²).
The straight-line distance from Rio de Janeiro to Tokyo is 18,569 km (11,538 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~22h 21m.
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