Dear Blanca,
I was recently attending the Carnaval in Lisbon, Portugal and I had a wild night filled with laughter and dancing. I was in the thick of the celebration when I began asking myself, “How big is Lisbon Portugal?”. My reason for asking this is because I wanted to try and measure the magnitude of the celebration!
Yours Truly,
Harley
How Does Lisbon Size Up Against to Other World Capitals?
Dear Harley,
I’ve been living in Lisbon, Portugal almost 6 years. Here in Lisbon, we don’t just talk about the size of our city, we live it. That being said, it’s smaller compared to other World Capitals. Let’s take a look at how big is Lisbon Portugal in comparison to other Cities.
Comparing the Size of Lisbon to Other Capital Cities
As someone who has lived in Lisbon for a while and also visited big cities like New York, Medellin, Manila, Paris, and Rome, I can confidently say that Lisbon is tiny but packs a lot of excitement. Here are some facts and figures about Lisbon:
- Located in southwestern Europe, alongside the river Tagus
- Capital and largest city in Portugal
- Sprawls across 49 square miles
- Portugal is approximately 92,200 square miles, making it the 116th largest country in the world
- Lisbon’s population is just under 2.8 million
- It is the 33rd most populous city in the European Union.
- Lisbon was named World’s Leading City Destination in 2017
- Lisbon’s Tagus River is the 2nd longest river in the Iberian peninsula
- Lisbon is the sunniest European capital with an average of 2,792 sunny hours per year (this is my fave fact).
Lisbon vs. NYC
Lisbon is small in size compared to New York, but you would not believe how many tourists come to visit. In terms of population, Lisbon only has about 547,000 people calling it home, but New York’s over 8 million can get a little overwhelming for some tourists. And speaking of tourists, we may not see as many as New York does on an annual basis, but for a tiny city, we get a whole lot of tourists.
Lisbon:
- Size in Sq Meters: 49
- Population: approximately 547,000
- Yearly Tourism: about 8.4 million visitors
New York City:
- Size in Sq Meters: 468.9
- Population: approximately 8.4 million
- Yearly Tourism: about 65 million visitors
Lisbon vs. Bogota
Lisbon and Bogota are both capital cities with a lot of character and charm. But how do they compare in size and popularity? Here’s a breakdown of some key stats:
Lisbon:
- Size in Sq Meters: 49
- Population: approximately 547,000
- Yearly Tourism: about 8.4 million visitors
Bogota:
- Size in Sq Meters: varies, but generally around 1,587
- Population: approximately 7.8 million
- Yearly Tourism: 773,000
As you can see, while Lisbon is smaller in size, it still has a significant population and attracts a decent number of visitors each year. Meanwhile, Bogota is a bit larger and has a larger population, but data on its yearly tourism numbers is not available.
Lisbon vs. Rome
Both are capital cities in Europe, both were part of the Roman Empire, and both are huge tourist attractions. Let’s see how they compare in size:
Lisbon:
- Size in Sq Meters: 49
- Population: approximately 547,000
- Yearly Tourism: about 8.4 million visitors
Rome:
- Size in Sq Meters: 1,287
- Population: approximately 2.8 million
- Yearly Tourism: about 10.2 million visitors
Lisbon has significantly more tourism than Manila. This could be due to safety or distance. I have been to both and although I think the Filipino community is incredible, I did not enjoy my time in Manila.
In summary, Lisbon is not huge in size, covering 49 square miles. However, it is the 33rd most populous city in the EU, filled with all 2.8 million amazing people. Consequently, getting lost in the middle of Lisbon’s Carnaval is entirely understandable!
Thank you for asking such an interesting question! It’s always so interesting for me to think about the city where I grew up. I hope the rest of your travels were full of just as much fun and exploration.
Regards,
Blanca