---
title: "African elephant vs Asian elephant — size, weight and speed co"
description: "African elephant is 1.7× Asian elephant on weight. Compared on 4 measured properties, with the full range and a source for each."
url: https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-asian-elephant/
site: "At One Place"
---

# African elephant vs Asian elephant

**African elephant vs Asian elephant: African elephant is larger on weight**

African elephant is 1.7× Asian elephant on weight.

An African elephant and an Asian elephant can be compared on 4 measures. The figures below are typical adult or full-size values, with the larger of the two in bold.

## Side by side

*Larger value in bold. Ranges reflect genuine variation, not uncertainty.*

|  | African elephant | Asian elephant |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weight | 2,200–10,400 kg | 2,000–6,000 kg |
| Height | 2.2–4 m | 2–3.4 m |
| Length | 5.5–7.5 m | 5–6.4 m |
| Typical lifespan | 50–70 yr | 48–70 yr |

## What the numbers say

- African elephant is 1.7× Asian elephant on weight.
- African elephant is somewhat greater than Asian elephant on height — about 1.2×.
- African elephant is somewhat greater than Asian elephant on length — about 1.2×.
- African elephant and Asian elephant are near enough identical on typical lifespan.

*Weight compared.*

- African elephant: 2,200–10,400 kg
- Asian elephant: 2,000–6,000 kg

## African elephant

The largest living land animal, distinguished from the Asian elephant by larger ears and a dipped back.

## Asian elephant

Smaller than the African elephant, with smaller ears and only the bulls usually carrying tusks.

> This is a comparison of published measurements, nothing more. It describes how two things differ on measures that have been recorded; it does not predict how they would fare against each other in any situation.

## Common questions

### Which is bigger, African elephant or Asian elephant?

African elephant is 1.7× Asian elephant on weight. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.

### How do African elephants and Asian elephants compare on height?

African elephant: 2.2–4 m. Asian elephant: 2–3.4 m. African elephant is somewhat greater than Asian elephant on height — about 1.2×.

### How do African elephants and Asian elephants compare on length?

African elephant: 5.5–7.5 m. Asian elephant: 5–6.4 m. African elephant is somewhat greater than Asian elephant on length — about 1.2×.

## Related pages

- [African elephant vs orca](https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-orca/)
- [Asian elephant vs white rhinoceros](https://atoneplace.net/vs/asian-elephant-vs-white-rhinoceros/)
- [Asian elephant vs hippopotamus](https://atoneplace.net/vs/asian-elephant-vs-hippopotamus/)
- [Asian elephant vs orca](https://atoneplace.net/vs/asian-elephant-vs-orca/)
- [African elephant vs white rhinoceros](https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-white-rhinoceros/)
- [African elephant vs hippopotamus](https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-hippopotamus/)
- [African elephant vs giraffe](https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-giraffe/)
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- [Asian elephant vs Indian rhinoceros](https://atoneplace.net/vs/asian-elephant-vs-indian-rhinoceros/)
- [African elephant vs blue whale](https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-blue-whale/)

## Sources

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