At One Place

Blue whale vs Humpback whale

Blue whale vs humpback whale
Blue whale is larger on weight
Blue whale is 4.3× humpback whale on weight.

A blue whale and a humpback whale can be compared on 3 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 Humpback whale
Weight 50–190 t 25–40 t
Length 21–33.6 m 12–17 m
Typical lifespan 70–90 yr 45–100 yr

What the numbers say

  • Blue whale is 4.3× humpback whale on weight.
  • Blue whale is 1.8× humpback whale on length.
  • Blue whale is 1.6× humpback whale on typical lifespan.

Weight compared.

Blue whale 50–190 t
Humpback whale 25–40 t

Blue whale

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

Humpback whale

A baleen whale known for breaching, long complex songs, and pectoral fins a third of its body length.

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 humpback whale?
Blue whale is 4.3× humpback whale on weight. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.
How do blue whales and humpback whales compare on length?
Blue whale: 21–33.6 m. Humpback whale: 12–17 m. Blue whale is 1.8× humpback whale on length.
How do blue whales and humpback whales compare on typical lifespan?
Blue whale: 70–90 yr. Humpback whale: 45–100 yr. Blue whale is 1.6× humpback whale on typical lifespan.

Related pages

Sources

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

How these figures are compiled and checked