Beijing
16,411 km²
Paris
105 km²
China
France
Area Comparison
Beijing is 156.3x larger than Paris
Population Comparison
Beijing has 10.0x more people than Paris
Beijing is significantly larger, covering 156.3 times the area of Paris. Beijing spans 16,411 km² (6,336 mi²) while Paris covers 105 km² (41 mi²) — a difference of 16,306 km². You could fit Paris inside Beijing approximately 156 times.
To put Beijing's size in perspective, its area of 16,411 km² is about 2.6x the size of Shanghai. Meanwhile, Paris at 105 km² is about 1.2x smaller than San Francisco.
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 Paris, that's about 15,000 American football fields, 52 times the area of Monaco, or 31 times the area of Central Park.
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.
Paris is the capital and largest city of France, with an estimated city population of 2.04 million in an area of 105.4 km2 (40.7 sq mi), and a metropolitan population of 13.2 million as of January 2026. Located on the river Seine in the centre of the Île-de-France region, it is the largest metropolitan area and fourth-most populous city in the European Union (EU).
Often called "City of Light", Paris has an area of 105 km² and is home to 2.2 million people. The city dates back to 250 BC. Visitors come for Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Paris Métro.
Paris packs 2.04 million people into just 105 km2, giving it one of the highest urban densities in Europe.
Looking beyond city limits, the Paris metropolitan area covers 17,174 km², which is 1.0x larger than greater Beijing at 16,411 km². The Beijing metro area is also more populous, with 21.5 million people compared to 12.3 million.
Beijing has a population density of 1,313 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Paris, with 20,571 people per km², is one of the most densely packed urban areas on Earth. Paris is dramatically more crowded, with 15.7x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Beijing in Asia versus Paris in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Beijing has a humid continental climate while Paris experiences oceanic conditions. When it's noon in Beijing, it's 5:00 AM in Paris — a 7-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Paris fits inside Beijing ~156 times
Density Gap
Paris is 15.7x more densely populated
Time Difference
7 hours apart
History
Beijing is ~795 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).
Paris covers 105 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Barcelona (101 km²), Lisbon (100 km²), Vancouver (115 km²), San Francisco (121 km²), or Copenhagen (91 km²).
The straight-line distance from Beijing to Paris is 8,217 km (5,106 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~10h 10m.
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