Barcelona
101 km²
Los Angeles
1,302 km²
Spain
USA
Area Comparison
Barcelona is 12.9x smaller than Los Angeles
Population Comparison
Barcelona has 2.4x fewer people than Los Angeles
Los Angeles is significantly larger, covering 12.9 times the area of Barcelona. Los Angeles spans 1,302 km² (503 mi²) while Barcelona covers 101 km² (39 mi²) — a difference of 1,201 km². You could fit Barcelona inside Los Angeles approximately 12 times.
To put Barcelona's size in perspective, its area of 101 km² is roughly the same size as Paris (city proper). Meanwhile, Los Angeles at 1,302 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London.
In more relatable units, Barcelona's 101 km² is about 14,000 American football fields, 50 times the area of Monaco, or 30 times the area of Central Park. For Los Angeles, that's about 182,000 American football fields, 22 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 times the area of Paris.
Barcelona is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.7 million within city limits, its urban area extends to numerous neighbouring municipalities within the province of Barcelona and is home to around 5.7 million people, making it the fifth most populous urban area of the European Union after Paris, the Ruhr area, Madrid and Milan.
Known as "Ciutat Comtal", Barcelona covers 101 km² with a population of 1.7 million. The city was founded around 230 BC. Barcelona is known for Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, La Rambla, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Barcelona Metro (TMB).
Barcelona is the second-most populous municipality in Spain and the capital of the autonomous community of Catalonia.
Los Angeles (LA) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Southern California. With an estimated 3.88 million residents within the city limits as of 2024, it is the second-most populous city in the United States, behind New York City, and the largest city in the Western United States. The city has an ethnically and culturally diverse population, and is the principal city of a metropolitan area of 12.9 million people (2024).
Nicknamed "The City of Angels", Los Angeles has an area of 1,302 km² and is home to 4.0 million people. The city dates back to 1781. Visitors come for Hollywood Sign, Santa Monica Pier, Beverly Hills, and much more. Getting around is easy with the LA Metro.
Los Angeles is the second-most populous city in the United States, home to 3.88 million residents within city limits as of 2024.
Looking beyond city limits, the Los Angeles metropolitan area covers 12,562 km², which is 15.6x larger than greater Barcelona at 803 km². The Los Angeles metro area is also more populous, with 13.2 million people compared to 5.6 million.
Barcelona has a population density of 16,436 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Los Angeles, with 3,049 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Barcelona is dramatically more crowded, with 5.4x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Barcelona in Europe versus Los Angeles in North America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Both cities share a Mediterranean climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each. When it's noon in Barcelona, it's 3:00 AM in Los Angeles — a 9-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Barcelona fits inside Los Angeles ~12 times
Density Gap
Barcelona is 5.4x more densely populated
Time Difference
9 hours apart
History
Barcelona is ~2,011 years older
Barcelona covers 101 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Lisbon (100 km²), Paris (105 km²), Copenhagen (91 km²), Vancouver (115 km²), or Zurich (88 km²).
Los Angeles covers 1,302 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Rome (1,285 km²), Phoenix (1,341 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), San Antonio (1,209 km²), or Lagos (1,172 km²).
The straight-line distance from Barcelona to Los Angeles is 9,654 km (5,998 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~11h 51m.
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