Barcelona
101 km²
Stockholm
188 km²
Spain
Sweden
Area Comparison
Barcelona is 1.9x smaller than Stockholm
Population Comparison
Barcelona has 1.7x more people than Stockholm
In terms of area, Stockholm is 1.9x the size of Barcelona. Stockholm spans 188 km² (73 mi²) while Barcelona covers 101 km² (39 mi²) — a difference of 87 km².
To put Barcelona's size in perspective, its area of 101 km² is roughly the same size as Paris (city proper). Meanwhile, Stockholm at 188 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C..
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. For Stockholm, that's about 26,000 American football fields, 93 times the area of Monaco, or 55 times the area of Central Park.
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.
Stockholm is the capital and most populous city of Sweden, as well as the largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately 1 million people live in the municipality, with 1.6 million in the urban area, and 2.5 million in the metropolitan area. The city stretches across fourteen islands where Lake Mälaren flows into the Baltic Sea. Outside the city to the east, and along the coast, is the island chain of the Stockholm archipelago.
Often called "Venice of the North", Stockholm has an area of 188 km² and is home to 1.0 million people. It was established in 1252. Visitors come for Gamla Stan, Vasa Museum, Royal Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Stockholm Metro (Tunnelbana).
Stockholm stretches across fourteen islands where Lake Mälaren flows into the Baltic Sea, forming the Nordic countries' largest urban area.
Looking beyond city limits, the Stockholm metropolitan area covers 6,519 km², which is 8.1x larger than greater Barcelona at 803 km². The Barcelona metro area is also more populous, with 5.6 million people compared to 2.4 million.
Barcelona has a population density of 16,436 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Stockholm, with 5,213 people per km², is a densely populated city. Barcelona is dramatically more crowded, with 3.2x the population density.
Both cities are in Europe, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Barcelona (Spain) and Stockholm (Sweden) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate while Stockholm experiences humid continental conditions.
Density Gap
Barcelona is 3.2x more densely populated
History
Barcelona is ~1,482 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).
Stockholm covers 188 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Washington D.C. (177 km²), Buenos Aires (203 km²), Helsinki (214 km²), Amsterdam (219 km²), or Brussels (161 km²).
The straight-line distance from Barcelona to Stockholm is 2,278 km (1,416 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 11m.
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