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Blue whale vs Fin whale

Blue whale vs fin whale
Blue whale is larger on weight
Blue whale is 1.9× fin whale on weight.

A blue whale and a fin whale 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.
Blue whale Fin whale
Weight 50–190 t 40–80 t
Length 21–33.6 m 18–27 m
Top speed 20–37 km/h 37 km/h
Typical lifespan 70–90 yr 80–114 yr

What the numbers say

  • Blue whale is 1.9× fin whale on weight.
  • Blue whale is somewhat greater than fin whale on length — about 1.3×.
  • Blue whale and fin whale are near enough identical on top speed.
  • Fin whale is somewhat greater than blue whale on typical lifespan — about 1.1×.

Weight compared.

Blue whale 50–190 t
Fin whale 40–80 t

Blue whale

The largest animal known to have lived, heavier than any dinosaur and audible to other whales hundreds of kilometres away.

Fin whale

The second-largest animal on Earth, and among the fastest of the great whales.

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, blue whale or fin whale?
Blue whale is 1.9× fin whale on weight. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.
How do blue whales and fin whales compare on length?
Blue whale: 21–33.6 m. Fin whale: 18–27 m. Blue whale is somewhat greater than fin whale on length — about 1.3×.
How do blue whales and fin whales compare on top speed?
Blue whale: 20–37 km/h. Fin whale: 37 km/h. Blue whale and fin whale are near enough identical on top speed.

Related pages

Sources

  1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — NOAA (Public domain (US Government))

How these figures are compiled and checked