Bangkok
1,569 km²
Shenzhen
1,997 km²
Thailand
China
Area Comparison
Bangkok is 1.3x smaller than Shenzhen
Population Comparison
Bangkok has 1.7x fewer people than Shenzhen
Shenzhen is significantly larger, covering 1.3 times the area of Bangkok. Shenzhen spans 1,997 km² (771 mi²) while Bangkok covers 1,569 km² (606 mi²) — a difference of 428 km².
To put Bangkok's size in perspective, its area of 1,569 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, Shenzhen at 1,997 km² is roughly the same size as Tokyo (city proper).
In more relatable units, Bangkok's 1,569 km² is about 220,000 American football fields, 27 times the area of Manhattan, or 15 times the area of Paris. Shenzhen, by comparison, equals about 280,000 American football fields, 34 times the area of Manhattan, or 19 times the area of Paris.
Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies 1,568.7 square kilometres (605.7 sq mi) in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated population of 11.4 million people as of 2024, 15.9% of the country's population.
Known as "City of Angels", Bangkok covers 1,569 km² with a population of 10.5 million. The city was established in 1782. Bangkok is known for Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Wat Pho, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the BTS Skytrain & MRT.
Bangkok's official Thai name is Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, with the full ceremonial name being one of the longest place names in the world.
Shenzhen is a prefecture-level city in the province of Guangdong, China. A special economic zone, it is located on the east bank of the Pearl River estuary on the central coast of Guangdong, bordering Hong Kong to the south, Dongguan to the north, Huizhou to the northeast, and Macau to the southwest. With a population of 17.5 million in 2020, Shenzhen is the third-most-populous city by urban population in China after Shanghai and Beijing.
Often called "China's Silicon Valley", Shenzhen has an area of 1,997 km² and is home to 17.6 million people. Its history stretches back to 1979. Visitors come for Ping An Finance Centre, Window of the World, OCT Loft, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Shenzhen Metro.
Shenzhen grew from a small town into China's third-most-populous urban city, hitting 17.5 million residents by 2020
Looking beyond city limits, the Bangkok metropolitan area covers 7,762 km², which is 3.9x larger than greater Shenzhen at 1,997 km². The Shenzhen metro area is also more populous, with 17.6 million people compared to 16.2 million.
Bangkok has a population density of 6,718 people per km² — a densely populated city. Shenzhen, with 8,793 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though Shenzhen is slightly more compact.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Bangkok (Thailand) and Shenzhen (China) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Bangkok has a tropical savanna climate while Shenzhen experiences humid subtropical conditions.
Density Gap
Shenzhen is 1.3x more densely populated
History
Bangkok is ~197 years older
Bangkok covers 1,569 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include London (1,572 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), São Paulo (1,521 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), or Mexico City (1,485 km²).
Shenzhen covers 1,997 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Ho Chi Minh City (2,061 km²), Tokyo (2,194 km²), Riyadh (1,798 km²), Houston (1,725 km²), or Johannesburg (1,644 km²).
The straight-line distance from Bangkok to Shenzhen is 1,732 km (1,076 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~2h 32m.
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