---
title: "hippopotamus vs ostrich — size, speed and bite force"
description: "hippopotamus and ostrich compared on mass, length, speed, bite force and lifespan — every measure side by side, with why the numbers cannot settle an encounter."
url: https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/hippopotamus-vs-ostrich/
site: "At One Place"
---

# hippopotamus vs ostrich

**hippopotamus vs ostrich: Evenly matched on the numbers**

Measured comparison — not a prediction

A semi-aquatic grazer, the third-heaviest land mammal and among the most dangerous to people. The largest and fastest bird, laying eggs that weigh about 1.4 kg each. The measurements below split evenly, which is rarer than it sounds.

## The measurements

|  | hippopotamus | ostrich |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mass | 1,300–3,200 kg | 63–156 kg |
| Length | 3.3–5 m | — |
| Height | 1.3–1.65 m | 1.7–2.8 m |
| Top speed | 25–30 km/h | 60–70 km/h |
| Bite force | 1,800 psi | — |
| Lifespan | 40–55 yr | 30–50 yr |

## Where each one leads

- Mass: hippopotamus is 14× heavier.
- Height: ostrich is 1.6× taller.
- Top speed: ostrich is 2.3× faster.
- Lifespan: hippopotamus is 1.1× a longer life.

## What this does and does not tell you

These are measured averages with real ranges behind them, and every figure links to its own page. What they cannot do is settle an encounter. Outcomes between animals turn on circumstance — who initiates, whether either is hungry, defending young, injured or cornered, and what the terrain favours. Size and bite force are not decisive on their own, and most of these pairs never meet in the wild in any case, because their ranges do not overlap.

> Every figure here is an average with a substantial spread. Individual animals vary enormously — a large individual of the smaller species routinely exceeds a small individual of the larger one.

## Common questions

### Is a hippopotamus bigger than a ostrich?

hippopotamus is heavier — 1,300–3,200 kg against 63–156 kg.

### Who would win, a hippopotamus or a ostrich?

That is not something measurements can settle. The comparison above shows which animal leads on each measure, but an actual encounter depends on circumstance, motivation, health and terrain — and most pairs like this never meet in the wild.

## Related pages

- [How much does a hippopotamus weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/hippopotamus/)
- [How much does a ostrich weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/ostrich/)
- [lion vs ostrich](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/lion-vs-ostrich/)
- [leopard vs ostrich](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/leopard-vs-ostrich/)
- [jaguar vs ostrich](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/jaguar-vs-ostrich/)
- [cheetah vs hippopotamus](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/cheetah-vs-hippopotamus/)
- [cheetah vs ostrich](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/cheetah-vs-ostrich/)
- [cougar vs hippopotamus](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/cougar-vs-hippopotamus/)
- [domestic cat vs hippopotamus](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/domestic-cat-vs-hippopotamus/)
- [domestic cat vs ostrich](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/domestic-cat-vs-ostrich/)
- [grizzly bear vs hippopotamus](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/grizzly-bear-vs-hippopotamus/)
- [grizzly bear vs ostrich](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/grizzly-bear-vs-ostrich/)
- [American black bear vs hippopotamus](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/american-black-bear-vs-hippopotamus/)
- [giant panda vs hippopotamus](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/giant-panda-vs-hippopotamus/)

## Sources

- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Smithsonian Institution (https://naturalhistory.si.edu/)