---
title: "African elephant vs orca — size, weight and speed compared"
description: "African elephant is 1.5× orca on weight. Compared on 5 measured properties, with the full range and a source for each."
url: https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-orca/
site: "At One Place"
---

# African elephant vs Orca

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

African elephant is 1.5× orca on weight.

An African elephant and an orca 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 | Orca |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weight | 2,200–10,400 kg | 1,300–10,000 kg |
| Height | 2.2–4 m | 0.9–1.8 m |
| Length | 5.5–7.5 m | 5–9.8 m |
| Top speed | 40 km/h | 56 km/h |
| Typical lifespan | 50–70 yr | 30–90 yr |

## What the numbers say

- African elephant is 1.5× orca on weight.
- African elephant is 1.8× orca on height.
- African elephant and orca are near enough identical on length.
- Orca is somewhat greater than African elephant on top speed — about 1.4×.
- African elephant is somewhat greater than orca on typical lifespan — about 1.2×.

*Weight compared.*

- African elephant: 2,200–10,400 kg
- Orca: 1,300–10,000 kg

## African elephant

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

## Orca

The largest dolphin and an apex predator everywhere it lives; distinct populations specialise on different prey.

> 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 orca?

African elephant is 1.5× orca on weight. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.

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

African elephant: 2.2–4 m. Orca: 0.9–1.8 m. African elephant is 1.8× orca on height.

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

African elephant: 5.5–7.5 m. Orca: 5–9.8 m. African elephant and orca are near enough identical on length.

## Related pages

- [African elephant vs Asian elephant](https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-asian-elephant/)
- [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/)
- [Great white shark vs orca](https://atoneplace.net/vs/great-white-shark-vs-orca/)
- [African elephant vs giraffe](https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-giraffe/)
- [Orca vs southern elephant seal](https://atoneplace.net/vs/orca-vs-southern-elephant-seal/)
- [Car vs orca](https://atoneplace.net/vs/car-vs-orca/)
- [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/)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — NOAA (https://www.noaa.gov/) [Public domain (US Government)]