City Map Compare/Barcelona vs Riyadh
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Barcelona

101 km²

Riyadh

1,798 km²

Barcelona vs Riyadh - City Size Comparison

Barcelona vs Riyadh - City Size Comparison

Barcelona

Spain

Area101 km²
Population1.66M
Density16,436 /km²
Elevation12 m
Metro Pop.5.6M
Founded230 BC
ClimateMediterranean
Riyadh

Saudi Arabia

Area1,798 km²
Population7.01M
Density3,899 /km²
Elevation612 m
Founded1746

Area Comparison

Barcelona is 17.8x smaller than Riyadh

Population Comparison

Barcelona has 4.2x fewer people than Riyadh

Is Barcelona Bigger Than Riyadh?

Yes — Riyadh is 17.8x larger than Barcelona by area. Riyadh spans 1,798 km² (694 mi²) while Barcelona covers 101 km² (39 mi²) — a difference of 1,697 km². You could fit Barcelona inside Riyadh approximately 17 times.

To put Barcelona's size in perspective, its area of 101 km² is roughly the same size as Paris (city proper). Meanwhile, Riyadh at 1,798 km² is about 1.1x the size of 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. Riyadh works out to about 252,000 American football fields, 30 times the area of Manhattan, or 17 times the area of Paris.

About Barcelona

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.

About Riyadh

Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of the Riyadh Province and the centre of the Riyadh Governorate. Located on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa, the current form of the metropolis largely emerged in the 1950s as an expansion of the 18th-century walled town, following the dismantling of its defensive fortifications.

Riyadh has an area of 1,798 km² and is home to 7.0 million people. The city dates back to 1746. Visitors come for Kingdom Centre Tower, Masmak Fortress, Al Faisaliah Tower, and much more.

Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia, sitting on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa.

Population Density

Barcelona has a population density of 16,436 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Riyadh, with 3,899 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Barcelona is dramatically more crowded, with 4.2x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Barcelona fits inside Riyadh ~17 times

Density Gap

Barcelona is 4.2x more densely populated

History

Barcelona is ~1,976 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Barcelona

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).

Cities Similar in Size to Riyadh

Riyadh covers 1,798 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Houston (1,725 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), Shenzhen (1,997 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), or London (1,572 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Barcelona bigger than Riyadh?
Riyadh is 17.8 times larger than Barcelona by area. Riyadh covers 1,798 km² while Barcelona spans 101 km², a difference of 1,697 km².
How many times does Barcelona fit inside Riyadh?
Barcelona (101 km²) fits inside Riyadh (1,798 km²) approximately 17 times. That means Riyadh is 17.8x the area of Barcelona.
What is the population difference between Barcelona and Riyadh?
Riyadh has approximately 7.0 million people, while Barcelona has about 1.7 million. Riyadh has 5.3 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Barcelona or Riyadh?
Barcelona is more densely populated with 16,436 people per km², compared to 3,899 people per km².
Which city is older, Barcelona or Riyadh?
Barcelona is older, founded around -230, while Riyadh was established around 1746 — a difference of about 1976 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 Barcelona and Riyadh

The straight-line distance from Barcelona to Riyadh is 4,492 km (2,791 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~5h 47m.

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