Beijing
16,411 km²
Moscow
2,511 km²
China
Russia
Area Comparison
Beijing is 6.5x larger than Moscow
Population Comparison
Beijing has 1.7x more people than Moscow
Beijing is significantly larger, covering 6.5 times the area of Moscow. Beijing spans 16,411 km² (6,336 mi²) while Moscow covers 2,511 km² (970 mi²) — a difference of 13,900 km². You could fit Moscow inside Beijing approximately 6 times.
To put Beijing's size in perspective, its area of 16,411 km² is about 2.6x the size of Shanghai. Meanwhile, Moscow at 2,511 km² is roughly the same size as Luxembourg.
In more relatable units, Beijing's 16,411 km² is about 2,300,000 American football fields, 160 times the area of Paris, or 140 times the area of San Francisco. For Moscow, that's about 352,000 American football fields, 42 times the area of Manhattan, or 24 times the area of Paris.
Beijing, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's most populous national capital city, as well as China's second-largest city by urban area, after Shanghai. It is located in Northern China, and is governed as a municipality under the direct administration of the State Council with 16 urban districts.
Known as "Northern Capital", Beijing covers 16,411 km² with a population of 21.5 million. The city was founded around 1045 BC. Beijing is known for Forbidden City, Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Beijing Subway.
With over 22 million residents, Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city.
Moscow is the capital and largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents within the city limits, over 19.1 million residents in the urban area, and over 21.5 million residents in its metropolitan area. The city covers an area of 2,511 square kilometers (970 mi2), while the urban area covers 5,891 square kilometers (2,275 mi2), and the metropolitan area covers over 26,000 square kilometers (10,000 mi2).
Also known as "Third Rome", Moscow has an area of 2,511 km² and is home to 12.5 million people. Its history stretches back to 1147. Visitors come for Red Square, Kremlin, Saint Basil's Cathedral, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Moscow Metro.
Moscow's metropolitan area covers over 26,000 square kilometers, making it one of the largest metropolitan footprints in Europe.
Looking beyond city limits, the Beijing metropolitan area covers 16,411 km², which is 2.8x larger than greater Moscow at 5,891 km². The Beijing metro area is also more populous, with 21.5 million people compared to 17.1 million.
Beijing has a population density of 1,313 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Moscow, with 4,994 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Moscow is dramatically more crowded, with 3.8x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Beijing in Asia versus Moscow in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Both cities share a humid continental climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each. When it's noon in Beijing, it's 7:00 AM in Moscow — a 5-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Moscow fits inside Beijing ~6 times
Density Gap
Moscow is 3.8x more densely populated
Time Difference
5 hours apart
History
Beijing is ~2,192 years older
Beijing covers 16,411 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Hangzhou (16,854 km²), Brisbane (15,826 km²), Chengdu (14,378 km²), Sydney (12,368 km²), or Xi'an (10,097 km²).
Moscow covers 2,511 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Cape Town (2,455 km²), Lima (2,672 km²), Tokyo (2,194 km²), Ho Chi Minh City (2,061 km²), or Cairo (3,085 km²).
The straight-line distance from Beijing to Moscow is 5,794 km (3,600 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~7h 19m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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