Barcelona vs Rio de Janeiro - City Size Comparison

Is Barcelona Bigger Than Rio de Janeiro?

Rio de Janeiro is significantly larger, covering 12.1 times the area of Barcelona. Rio de Janeiro spans 1,221 km² (471 mi²) while Barcelona covers 101 km² (39 mi²) — a difference of 1,120 km². You could fit Barcelona inside Rio de Janeiro approximately 12 times.

About Barcelona

A Mediterranean city known for Gaudi's architecture. Known as "The City of Counts", Barcelona covers 101 km² with a population of 1.7 million. The city was founded around 230 BC. Barcelona is known for Sagrada Família, Park Güell, La Rambla, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Barcelona Metro (TMB).

Gaudí's Sagrada Família has been under construction since 1882 and is expected to be completed around 2026

About Rio de Janeiro

Brazil's iconic coastal city known for Carnival. Often called "The Marvelous City", Rio de Janeiro has an area of 1,221 km² and is home to 6.8 million people. It was established in 1565. Visitors come for Christ the Redeemer, Copacabana Beach, Carnival, and much more. Getting around is easy with the MetrôRio.

Rio's Christ the Redeemer statue is struck by lightning an average of 6 times per year

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area covers 6,744 km², which is 8.4x larger than greater Barcelona at 803 km². The Rio de Janeiro metro area is also more populous, with 13.5 million people compared to 5.6 million.

Population Density

Barcelona has a population density of 16,436 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Rio de Janeiro, with 5,528 people per km², is a densely populated city. Barcelona is noticeably denser, packing 3.0 times more people per square kilometer.

Climate & Time Zone

Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate while Rio de Janeiro experiences tropical savanna conditions. When it's noon in Barcelona, it's 8:00 AM in Rio de Janeiro — a 4-hour time difference.