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Gorilla vs Lion

Gorilla vs lion
Lion is larger on weight
Lion is somewhat greater than gorilla on weight — about 1.2×.

A gorilla and a lion 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.
Gorilla Lion
Weight 70–270 kg 120–250 kg
Height 1.3–1.8 m 0.9–1.2 m
Typical lifespan 35–55 yr 10–20 yr
Bite force 1,300 psi 650 psi

What the numbers say

  • Lion is somewhat greater than gorilla on weight — about 1.2×.
  • Gorilla is 1.5× lion on height.
  • Gorilla is 2.9× lion on typical lifespan.
  • Gorilla is 2× lion on bite force.

Weight compared.

Lion 120–250 kg
Gorilla 70–270 kg

Gorilla

The largest living primate; dominant males, called silverbacks, are roughly twice the mass of females.

Lion

The second-largest living cat and the only one that lives in permanent social groups.

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, gorilla or lion?
Lion is somewhat greater than gorilla on weight — about 1.2×. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.
How do gorillas and lions compare on height?
Gorilla: 1.3–1.8 m. Lion: 0.9–1.2 m. Gorilla is 1.5× lion on height.
How do gorillas and lions compare on typical lifespan?
Gorilla: 35–55 yr. Lion: 10–20 yr. Gorilla is 2.9× lion on typical lifespan.

Related pages

Sources

  1. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Smithsonian Institution
  2. Wikidata — Wikimedia Foundation (CC0 1.0)
  3. Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place

How these figures are compiled and checked