Which is bigger, African elephant or hippopotamus?

African elephant is 4× hippopotamus on weight. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.

How do African elephants and hippopotamuses compare on height?

African elephant: 2.2–4 m. Hippopotamus: 1.3–1.65 m. African elephant is 2.1× hippopotamus on height.

How do African elephants and hippopotamuses compare on length?

African elephant: 5.5–7.5 m. Hippopotamus: 3.3–5 m. African elephant is 1.9× hippopotamus on length.

African elephant vs Hippopotamus

African elephant vs hippopotamus

African elephant is larger on weight

African elephant is 4× hippopotamus on weight.

An African elephant and a hippopotamus can be compared on 5 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	Hippopotamus
Weight	2,200–10,400 kg	1,300–3,200 kg
Height	2.2–4 m	1.3–1.65 m
Length	5.5–7.5 m	3.3–5 m
Top speed	40 km/h	25–30 km/h
Typical lifespan	50–70 yr	40–55 yr

What the numbers say

African elephant is 4× hippopotamus on weight.
African elephant is 2.1× hippopotamus on height.
African elephant is 1.9× hippopotamus on length.
African elephant is somewhat greater than hippopotamus on top speed — about 1.3×.
African elephant is somewhat greater than hippopotamus on typical lifespan — about 1.3×.

Weight compared.

African elephant 2,200–10,400 kg

Hippopotamus 1,300–3,200 kg