Barcelona
101 km²
Manila
43 km²
Spain
Philippines
Area Comparison
Barcelona is 2.3x larger than Manila
Population Comparison
Barcelona has 1.1x fewer people than Manila
Yes — Barcelona is 2.3x larger than Manila by area. Barcelona spans 101 km² (39 mi²) while Manila covers 43 km² (17 mi²) — a difference of 58 km². You could fit Manila inside Barcelona approximately 2 times.
To put Barcelona's size in perspective, its area of 101 km² is roughly the same size as Paris (city proper). Meanwhile, Manila at 43 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Manhattan.
Picture Barcelona another way: its area is large enough to fit about 14,000 American football fields, 50 times the area of Monaco, or 30 times the area of Central Park. Manila works out to about 6,000 American football fields, 88 times the area of Vatican City, or 21 times the area of Monaco.
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.
Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 1,902,590 people. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on the island of Luzon, it is classified as a highly urbanized city. With 44,935 inhabitants per square kilometer (116,380/sq mi), Manila is one of the world's most densely populated cities proper.
Often called "Pearl of the Orient", Manila has an area of 43 km² and is home to 1.9 million people. The city dates back to 1571. Visitors come for Intramuros walled city, Rizal Park, Manila Bay, and much more. Getting around is easy with the LRT & MRT Manila.
Manila has 44,935 inhabitants per square kilometer, making it one of the world's most densely populated cities proper.
Looking beyond city limits, the Barcelona metropolitan area covers 803 km², which is 1.3x larger than greater Manila at 620 km². The Manila metro area is also more populous, with 13.9 million people compared to 5.6 million.
Barcelona has a population density of 16,436 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Manila, with 43,023 people per km², is one of the most densely packed urban areas on Earth. Manila is noticeably denser, packing 2.6 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Barcelona in Europe versus Manila in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate while Manila experiences tropical savanna conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Manila stays around 26°C while Barcelona drops to 10°C. When it's noon in Manila, it's 5:00 AM in Barcelona — a 7-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Manila fits inside Barcelona ~2 times
Density Gap
Manila is 2.6x more densely populated
Time Difference
7 hours apart
History
Barcelona is ~1,801 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).
Manila covers 43 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Athens (39 km²), Tel Aviv (52 km²), Zurich (88 km²), Copenhagen (91 km²), or Lisbon (100 km²).
The straight-line distance from Barcelona to Manila is 11,182 km (6,948 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~13h 39m.
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