City Map Compare/Athens vs São Paulo
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Athens

39 km²

São Paulo

1,521 km²

Athens vs São Paulo - City Size Comparison

Athens vs São Paulo - City Size Comparison

Athens

Greece

Area39 km²
Population0.64M
Density16,410 /km²
Elevation74 m
Founded7000 BC
ClimateMediterranean climate
São Paulo

Brazil

Area1,521 km²
Population12.33M
Density8,107 /km²
Elevation760 m
Metro Pop.22.0M
Founded1554
Climatehumid subtropical

Area Comparison

Athens is 39.0x smaller than São Paulo

Population Comparison

Athens has 19.3x fewer people than São Paulo

Is Athens Bigger Than São Paulo?

São Paulo is significantly larger, covering 39.0 times the area of Athens. São Paulo spans 1,521 km² (587 mi²) while Athens covers 39 km² (15 mi²) — a difference of 1,482 km². You could fit Athens inside São Paulo approximately 39 times.

To put Athens's size in perspective, its area of 39 km² is about 1.5x smaller than Manhattan. Meanwhile, São Paulo at 1,521 km² is roughly the same size as London.

Picture Athens another way: its area is large enough to fit about 5,500 American football fields, 80 times the area of Vatican City, or 19 times the area of Monaco. For São Paulo, that's about 213,000 American football fields, 26 times the area of Manhattan, or 14 times the area of Paris.

About Athens

Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica region and is the southernmost capital on the European mainland. With its urban area's population numbering over 3.6 million, it is the eighth-largest urban area in the European Union (EU).

Known as "Cradle of Western Civilization", Athens covers 39 km² with a population of 0.6 million. The city was founded around 7000 BC. Athens is known for Acropolis of Athens, Parthenon, Plaka neighborhood, among other attractions.

Athens is the southernmost capital on the European mainland and capital of the Attica region.

About São Paulo

São Paulo is the capital city of the state of the same name, as well as the most populous city in Brazil, South America, the Americas, and in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres. The city exerts international influence in commerce, finance, culture, gastronomy, arts, fashion, technology, entertainment and media, having been listed by UNESCO's Creative Cities Network as a "City of Film" and the title of "World Capital of Gastronomy", and by the Globalization and World Cities Research…

Nicknamed "Sampa", São Paulo has an area of 1,521 km² and is home to 12.3 million people. It was established in 1554. Visitors come for Avenida Paulista, Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo Museum of Art, and much more. Getting around is easy with the São Paulo Metro.

São Paulo is the most populous city in Brazil, the Americas, and both the Western and Southern Hemispheres.

Population Density

Athens has a population density of 16,410 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. São Paulo, with 8,107 people per km², is a densely populated city. Athens is noticeably denser, packing 2.0 times more people per square kilometer.

Climate & Time Zone

Athens has a Mediterranean climate climate while São Paulo experiences humid subtropical conditions.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Athens fits inside São Paulo ~39 times

Density Gap

Athens is 2.0x more densely populated

History

Athens is ~8,554 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Athens

Athens covers 39 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Manila (43 km²), Tel Aviv (52 km²), Zurich (88 km²), Copenhagen (91 km²), or Lisbon (100 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to São Paulo

São Paulo covers 1,521 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Mexico City (1,485 km²), Delhi (1,484 km²), Bangkok (1,569 km²), London (1,572 km²), or Bogotá (1,578 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Athens or São Paulo?
São Paulo is 39.0 times larger than Athens by area. São Paulo covers 1,521 km² while Athens spans 39 km², a difference of 1,482 km².
How many times does Athens fit inside São Paulo?
Athens (39 km²) fits inside São Paulo (1,521 km²) approximately 39 times. That means São Paulo is 39.0x the area of Athens.
What is the population difference between Athens and São Paulo?
São Paulo has approximately 12.3 million people, while Athens has about 0.6 million. São Paulo has 11.7 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Athens or São Paulo?
Athens is more densely populated with 16,410 people per km², compared to 8,107 people per km².
Which city is older, Athens or São Paulo?
Athens is older, founded around -7000, while São Paulo was established around 1554 — a difference of about 8554 years.
How does the map comparison work?
Our synchronized map comparison tool displays both cities at the same zoom level. When you zoom in or out on one map, the other automatically adjusts to maintain the same scale, allowing you to directly compare the relative sizes of both cities.
Can I compare other cities?
Yes! Use the city selectors at the top of the page to choose any two cities from our database of 50+ major cities worldwide, or enter custom coordinates for any location.

Distance Between Athens and São Paulo

The straight-line distance from Athens to São Paulo is 10,027 km (6,231 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~12h 18m.

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