City Map Compare/Athens vs Vancouver
vs
5 km
|

Athens

39 km²

Vancouver

115 km²

Athens vs Vancouver - City Size Comparison

Athens vs Vancouver - City Size Comparison

Athens

Greece

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

Canada

Area115 km²
Population0.66M
Density5,739 /km²
Elevation2 m
Founded1886
ClimateMarine west coast climate

Area Comparison

Athens is 2.9x smaller than Vancouver

Population Comparison

Athens has 1.0x fewer people than Vancouver

Is Athens Bigger Than Vancouver?

In terms of area, Vancouver is 2.9x the size of Athens. Vancouver spans 115 km² (44 mi²) while Athens covers 39 km² (15 mi²) — a difference of 76 km². You could fit Athens inside Vancouver approximately 2 times.

To put Athens's size in perspective, its area of 39 km² is about 1.5x smaller than Manhattan. Meanwhile, Vancouver at 115 km² is roughly the same size as San Francisco.

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. Vancouver works out to about 16,000 American football fields, 57 times the area of Monaco, or 34 times the area of Central Park.

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 Vancouver

Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the city, up from 631,486 in 2016. The Metro Vancouver area had a population of 2.6 million in 2021, making it the third-largest metropolitan area in Canada. Greater Vancouver, along with the Fraser Valley, comprises the Lower Mainland with a regional population of over 3 million.

Also known as "Hollywood North", Vancouver has an area of 115 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. The city dates back to 1886. Visitors come for Stanley Park, Granville Island, Capilano Suspension Bridge, and much more.

Vancouver grew from 631,486 residents in 2016 to 662,248 by the 2021 census, leading all of British Columbia.

Population Density

Athens has a population density of 16,410 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Vancouver, with 5,739 people per km², is a densely populated city. Athens is noticeably denser, packing 2.9 times more people per square kilometer.

Climate & Time Zone

Athens has a Mediterranean climate climate while Vancouver experiences Marine west coast climate conditions.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Athens fits inside Vancouver ~2 times

Density Gap

Athens is 2.9x more densely populated

History

Athens is ~8,886 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 Vancouver

Vancouver covers 115 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include San Francisco (121 km²), Paris (105 km²), Barcelona (101 km²), Lisbon (100 km²), or Miami (143 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Athens actually bigger than Vancouver?
Vancouver is 2.9 times larger than Athens by area. Vancouver covers 115 km² while Athens spans 39 km², a difference of 76 km².
How many times does Athens fit inside Vancouver?
Athens (39 km²) fits inside Vancouver (115 km²) approximately 2 times. That means Vancouver is 2.9x the area of Athens.
What is the population difference between Athens and Vancouver?
Vancouver has approximately 0.7 million people, while Athens has about 0.6 million. Vancouver has 0.0 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Athens or Vancouver?
Athens is more densely populated with 16,410 people per km², compared to 5,739 people per km².
Which city is older, Athens or Vancouver?
Athens is older, founded around -7000, while Vancouver was established around 1886 — a difference of about 8886 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 Vancouver

The straight-line distance from Athens to Vancouver is 9,780 km (6,077 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~12h.

Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.