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Brazil
USA
Area Comparison
São Paulo is 8.6x larger than Washington D.C.
Population Comparison
São Paulo has 17.9x more people than Washington D.C.
Yes — São Paulo is 8.6x larger than Washington D.C. by area. São Paulo spans 1,521 km² (587 mi²) while Washington D.C. covers 177 km² (68 mi²) — a difference of 1,344 km². You could fit Washington D.C. inside São Paulo approximately 8 times.
To put São Paulo's size in perspective, its area of 1,521 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, Washington D.C. at 177 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C..
Brazil's largest city and financial center. Known as "Sampa", São Paulo covers 1,521 km² with a population of 12.3 million. The city was established in 1554. São Paulo is known for Paulista Avenue, Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo Museum of Art, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the São Paulo Metro.
São Paulo has the largest Japanese community outside Japan
Capital of the United States. Nicknamed "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 1.8x larger than greater São Paulo at 7,947 km². The São Paulo metro area is also more populous, with 22.0 million people compared to 6.3 million.
São Paulo has a population density of 8,107 people per km² — a densely populated city. Washington D.C., with 3,898 people per km², is a moderately dense city. São Paulo is noticeably denser, packing 2.1 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — São Paulo 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.
Both cities share a humid subtropical climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each. When it's noon in São Paulo, it's 10:00 AM in Washington D.C. — a 2-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Washington D.C. fits inside São Paulo ~8 times
Density Gap
São Paulo is 2.1x more densely populated
History
São Paulo is ~236 years older
The straight-line distance from São Paulo to Washington D.C. is 7,632 km (4,742 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~9h 29m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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