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Brazil
USA
Area Comparison
Rio de Janeiro is 6.9x larger than Washington D.C.
Population Comparison
Rio de Janeiro has 9.8x more people than Washington D.C.
Yes — Rio de Janeiro is 6.9x larger than Washington D.C. by area. Rio de Janeiro spans 1,221 km² (471 mi²) while Washington D.C. covers 177 km² (68 mi²) — a difference of 1,044 km². You could fit Washington D.C. inside Rio de Janeiro approximately 6 times.
To put Rio de Janeiro's size in perspective, its area of 1,221 km² is about 1.3x smaller than London. Meanwhile, Washington D.C. at 177 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C..
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 the United States. Often called "D.C.", Washington D.C. has an area of 177 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. It was established in 1790. Visitors come for The White House, Lincoln Memorial, Smithsonian museums, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Washington Metro.
D.C. has more free museums than any other city in the US — all 19 Smithsonian museums charge no admission
Looking beyond city limits, the Washington D.C. metropolitan area covers 14,412 km², which is 2.1x larger than greater Rio de Janeiro at 6,744 km². The Rio de Janeiro metro area is also more populous, with 13.5 million people compared to 6.3 million.
Rio de Janeiro has a population density of 5,528 people per km² — a densely populated city. Washington D.C., with 3,898 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Rio de Janeiro is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — Rio de Janeiro in South America versus Washington D.C. in North America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Rio de Janeiro has a tropical savanna climate while Washington D.C. experiences humid subtropical conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Rio de Janeiro stays around 21°C while Washington D.C. drops to 2°C. When it's noon in Rio de Janeiro, it's 10:00 AM in Washington D.C. — a 2-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Washington D.C. fits inside Rio de Janeiro ~6 times
Density Gap
Rio de Janeiro is 1.4x more densely populated
History
Rio de Janeiro is ~225 years older
The straight-line distance from Rio de Janeiro to Washington D.C. is 7,724 km (4,800 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~9h 35m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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