City Map Compare/Barcelona vs Vancouver
vs
5 km
|

Barcelona

101 km²

Vancouver

115 km²

Barcelona vs Vancouver - City Size Comparison

Barcelona vs Vancouver - City Size Comparison

Barcelona

Spain

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

Canada

Area115 km²
Population0.66M
Density5,739 /km²
Elevation2 m
Founded1886
ClimateMarine west coast climate

Area Comparison

Barcelona is 1.1x smaller than Vancouver

Population Comparison

Barcelona has 2.5x more people than Vancouver

Is Barcelona Bigger Than Vancouver?

Yes — Vancouver is 1.1x larger than Barcelona by area. Vancouver spans 115 km² (44 mi²) while Barcelona covers 101 km² (39 mi²) — a difference of 14 km².

To put Barcelona's size in perspective, its area of 101 km² is roughly the same size as Paris (city proper). Meanwhile, Vancouver at 115 km² is roughly the same size as San Francisco.

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. For Vancouver, that's about 16,000 American football fields, 57 times the area of Monaco, or 34 times the area of Central Park.

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 Vancouver

Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the city, up from 631,486 in 2016. The Metro Vancouver area had a population of 2.6 million in 2021, making it the third-largest metropolitan area in Canada. Greater Vancouver, along with the Fraser Valley, comprises the Lower Mainland with a regional population of over 3 million.

Nicknamed "Hollywood North", Vancouver has an area of 115 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. Its history stretches back to 1886. Visitors come for Stanley Park, Granville Island, Capilano Suspension Bridge, and much more.

Vancouver grew from 631,486 residents in 2016 to 662,248 by the 2021 census, leading all of British Columbia.

Population Density

Barcelona has a population density of 16,436 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Vancouver, with 5,739 people per km², is a densely populated city. Barcelona is noticeably denser, packing 2.9 times more people per square kilometer.

Climate & Time Zone

Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate while Vancouver experiences Marine west coast climate conditions.

Key Differences at a Glance

Density Gap

Barcelona is 2.9x more densely populated

History

Barcelona is ~2,116 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 Vancouver

Vancouver covers 115 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include San Francisco (121 km²), Paris (105 km²), Barcelona (101 km²), Lisbon (100 km²), or Miami (143 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Barcelona bigger than Vancouver?
Vancouver is 1.1 times larger than Barcelona by area. Vancouver covers 115 km² while Barcelona spans 101 km², a difference of 14 km².
How many times does Barcelona fit inside Vancouver?
Barcelona (101 km²) fits inside Vancouver (115 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Vancouver is 1.1x the area of Barcelona.
What is the population difference between Barcelona and Vancouver?
Barcelona has approximately 1.7 million people, while Vancouver has about 0.7 million. Barcelona has 1.0 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Barcelona or Vancouver?
Barcelona is more densely populated with 16,436 people per km², compared to 5,739 people per km².
Which city is older, Barcelona or Vancouver?
Barcelona is older, founded around -230, while Vancouver was established around 1886 — a difference of about 2116 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 Vancouver

The straight-line distance from Barcelona to Vancouver is 8,607 km (5,348 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~10h 38m.

Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.