Barcelona
101 km²
Tokyo
2,194 km²
Spain
Japan
Area Comparison
Barcelona is 21.7x smaller than Tokyo
Population Comparison
Barcelona has 8.4x fewer people than Tokyo
In terms of area, Tokyo is 21.7x the size of Barcelona. Tokyo spans 2,194 km² (847 mi²) while Barcelona covers 101 km² (39 mi²) — a difference of 2,093 km². You could fit Barcelona inside Tokyo approximately 21 times.
To put Barcelona's size in perspective, its area of 101 km² is roughly the same size as Paris (city proper). Meanwhile, Tokyo at 2,194 km² is about 1.1x smaller than Moscow.
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. Tokyo works out to about 307,000 American football fields, 37 times the area of Manhattan, or 21 times the area of Paris.
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.
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital and most populous city of Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is one of the most populous urban areas in the world. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes Tokyo and parts of six neighboring prefectures, is the most populous metropolitan area in the world, with 41 million residents as of 2024.
Also known as "Eastern Capital", Tokyo has an area of 2,194 km² and is home to 14.0 million people. It was established in 1457. Visitors come for Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Tower, Imperial Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Tokyo Metro & JR East.
Greater Tokyo holds 41 million residents as of 2024, making it the most populous metropolitan area on Earth.
Looking beyond city limits, the Tokyo metropolitan area covers 13,572 km², which is 16.9x larger than greater Barcelona at 803 km². The Tokyo metro area is also more populous, with 37.4 million people compared to 5.6 million.
Barcelona has a population density of 16,436 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Tokyo, with 6,363 people per km², is a densely populated city. Barcelona is noticeably denser, packing 2.6 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Barcelona in Europe versus Tokyo in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate while Tokyo experiences humid subtropical conditions. When it's noon in Tokyo, it's 4:00 AM in Barcelona — a 8-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Barcelona fits inside Tokyo ~21 times
Density Gap
Barcelona is 2.6x more densely populated
Time Difference
8 hours apart
History
Barcelona is ~1,687 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).
Tokyo covers 2,194 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Ho Chi Minh City (2,061 km²), Shenzhen (1,997 km²), Cape Town (2,455 km²), Moscow (2,511 km²), or Lima (2,672 km²).
The straight-line distance from Barcelona to Tokyo is 10,413 km (6,470 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~12h 45m.
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