County outline
Where District of Columbia is located
Area breakdown
Land accounts for 89.4% of District of Columbia’s measured area and water for 10.6%. Its combined area converts to 177 square kilometers or approximately 43,744 acres.
Green: land · blue: water
| Measurement | Square miles | Square kilometers | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Land | 61.127 | 158.318 | 39,121.3 |
| Water | 7.223 | 18.707 | 4,622.7 |
| Total | 68.35 | 177.026 | 43,744 |
How District of Columbia compares
By original Census land area, District of Columbia ranks #1 of 1 in District of Columbia and #3113 of 3,222 nationally. National rankings include the 50 states, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
See the complete District of Columbia ranking · What counts as a county equivalent?
What stands out about District of Columbia?
District of Columbia has more land than 109 of the other 3,221 county equivalents in the dataset.
A median is the middle county-equivalent measurement, not the average of the largest and smallest. All three bars use the same linear scale. Very small areas may appear as a thin sliver; the labels retain their values.
Does including water change its rank?
Using land plus water places District of Columbia at #3,132 nationally by total area, 19 places farther from the top than its land rank. Other county equivalents gain more area when their water measurements are included.
Its water share is 10.6%, compared with a national county-equivalent median of 1.2% — 9.4 percentage points higher. This describes the statistical geography’s land/water mix, not flood exposure or developable land.
Closest positions in the national land ranking
These entries sit immediately beside District of Columbia in the national ranking. They can be in different states and are not necessarily geographic neighbors.
| Land rank | County equivalent | Land mi² | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| #3112 | Lares Municipio, Puerto Rico | 61.4 | Compare |
| #3113 | District of Columbia, District of Columbia | 61.1 | This county |
| #3114 | Río Grande Municipio, Puerto Rico | 60.6 | Compare |
Calculated from the same Census release as the area table. Total-area order uses original ALAND + AWATER; water shares and chart labels use published square miles. Calculation details.
Representative coordinates
The Census internal point is 38.904243, -77.016524. It represents a location inside the geography; it is not necessarily the centroid or the address of a courthouse.
Source and precision
U.S. Census Bureau, 2026 Gazetteer Files, Counties. Original ALAND: 158,318,974 m²; AWATER: 18,707,004 m². Rankings use ALAND; exact ties use ascending GEOID. Tables preserve Census-published square miles to three decimals, with conversions based on those values.
Common questions
How many acres of land are in District of Columbia?
The land measurement converts to approximately 39,121 acres. Including water, total area is approximately 43,744 acres. One square mile equals 640 acres.
Why might another source show a different area?
Check whether it reports land or total area, its Census vintage, and its rounding. Our guide explains how to reconcile county area figures.
Can this establish a property boundary?
No. Statistical measurements and generalized maps do not establish property lines. Consult the relevant local surveying or land-records authority.