Loading map...
Loading map...
Spain
China
Area Comparison
Barcelona is 62.8x smaller than Shanghai
Population Comparison
Barcelona has 15.0x fewer people than Shanghai
In terms of area, Shanghai is 62.8x the size of Barcelona. Shanghai spans 6,341 km² (2,448 mi²) while Barcelona covers 101 km² (39 mi²) — a difference of 6,240 km². You could fit Barcelona inside Shanghai approximately 62 times.
To put Barcelona's size in perspective, its area of 101 km² is roughly the same size as Paris (city proper). Meanwhile, Shanghai at 6,341 km² is about 1.5x the size of Los Angeles metro.
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
China's largest city and a global financial hub. Often called "The Pearl of the Orient", Shanghai has an area of 6,341 km² and is home to 24.9 million people. It was established in 1291. Visitors come for The Bund waterfront, Pudong skyline, Yuyuan Garden, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Shanghai Metro.
Shanghai's Maglev train reaches 431 km/h, the fastest commercial train in the world
Looking beyond city limits, the Shanghai metropolitan area covers 6,341 km², which is 7.9x larger than greater Barcelona at 803 km². The Shanghai metro area is also more populous, with 28.5 million people compared to 5.6 million.
Barcelona has a population density of 16,436 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Shanghai, with 3,922 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Barcelona is dramatically more crowded, with 4.2x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Barcelona in Europe versus Shanghai in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate while Shanghai experiences humid subtropical conditions. When it's noon in Shanghai, it's 5:00 AM in Barcelona — a 7-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Barcelona fits inside Shanghai ~62 times
Density Gap
Barcelona is 4.2x more densely populated
Time Difference
7 hours apart
History
Barcelona is ~1,521 years older
The straight-line distance from Barcelona to Shanghai is 9,824 km (6,104 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~12h 3m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.