City Map Compare/Chengdu vs Kuala Lumpur
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Chengdu

14,378 km²

Kuala Lumpur

243 km²

Chengdu vs Kuala Lumpur - City Size Comparison

Chengdu vs Kuala Lumpur - City Size Comparison

Chengdu

People's Republic of China

Area14,378 km²
Population20.94M
Density1,456 /km²
Elevation500 m
Founded310 BC
Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

Area243 km²
Population1.98M
Density8,148 /km²
Elevation22 m
Metro Pop.8.4M
Founded1857
Climatetropical rainforest

Area Comparison

Chengdu is 59.2x larger than Kuala Lumpur

Population Comparison

Chengdu has 10.6x more people than Kuala Lumpur

Is Chengdu Bigger Than Kuala Lumpur?

In terms of area, Chengdu is 59.2x the size of Kuala Lumpur. Chengdu spans 14,378 km² (5,551 mi²) while Kuala Lumpur covers 243 km² (94 mi²) — a difference of 14,135 km². You could fit Kuala Lumpur inside Chengdu approximately 59 times.

To put Chengdu's size in perspective, its area of 14,378 km² is about 2.3x the size of Shanghai. Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur at 243 km² is about 1.1x the size of Amsterdam.

In more relatable units, Chengdu's 14,378 km² is about 2,000,000 American football fields, 140 times the area of Paris, or 120 times the area of San Francisco. For Kuala Lumpur, that's about 34,000 American football fields, 120 times the area of Monaco, or 71 times the area of Central Park.

About Chengdu

Chengdu is the capital city of the Chinese province of Sichuan. With a population of 20,937,757 at the 2020 census, it is the fourth most populous city in China, and it is the only city with a population of over 20 million apart from provincial-level municipalities. It is traditionally the hub of Western China.

Known as "Land of Abundance", Chengdu covers 14,378 km² with a population of 20.9 million. The city was founded around 310 BC. Chengdu is known for Giant Panda Breeding Base, Jinli Ancient Street, Wuhou Shrine, among other attractions.

Chengdu has a population of over 20.9 million, making it the fourth most populous city in China.

About Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur (KL), officially the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, is the capital city and a federal territory of Malaysia. It is the most populous city in the country, covering an area of 243 km2 (94 sq mi) with a population of 2,075,600 as of 2024. Greater Kuala Lumpur, which itself includes the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 8.8 million people as of 2024. It is among the fastest growing metropolitan regions in Southeast Asia, in terms of both population and economic development.

Often called "KL", Kuala Lumpur has an area of 243 km² and is home to 2.0 million people. The city dates back to 1857. Visitors come for Petronas Twin Towers, Batu Caves, Merdeka 118, and much more. Getting around is easy with the RapidKL (LRT, MRT & Monorail).

Kuala Lumpur packs 2.07 million people into just 243 km2, making it Malaysia's most populous city by far

Population Density

Chengdu has a population density of 1,456 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Kuala Lumpur, with 8,148 people per km², is a densely populated city. Kuala Lumpur is dramatically more crowded, with 5.6x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Kuala Lumpur fits inside Chengdu ~59 times

Density Gap

Kuala Lumpur is 5.6x more densely populated

History

Chengdu is ~2,167 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Chengdu

Chengdu covers 14,378 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Brisbane (15,826 km²), Beijing (16,411 km²), Sydney (12,368 km²), Hangzhou (16,854 km²), or Xi'an (10,097 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur covers 243 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Boston (232 km²), Edinburgh (259 km²), Osaka (225 km²), Amsterdam (219 km²), or Taipei (272 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chengdu bigger than Kuala Lumpur?
Chengdu is 59.2 times larger than Kuala Lumpur by area. Chengdu covers 14,378 km² while Kuala Lumpur spans 243 km², a difference of 14,135 km².
How many times does Kuala Lumpur fit inside Chengdu?
Kuala Lumpur (243 km²) fits inside Chengdu (14,378 km²) approximately 59 times. That means Chengdu is 59.2x the area of Kuala Lumpur.
What is the population difference between Chengdu and Kuala Lumpur?
Chengdu has approximately 20.9 million people, while Kuala Lumpur has about 2.0 million. Chengdu has 19.0 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Chengdu or Kuala Lumpur?
Kuala Lumpur is more densely populated with 8,148 people per km², compared to 1,456 people per km².
Which city is older, Chengdu or Kuala Lumpur?
Chengdu is older, founded around -310, while Kuala Lumpur was established around 1857 — a difference of about 2167 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 Chengdu and Kuala Lumpur

The straight-line distance from Chengdu to Kuala Lumpur is 3,070 km (1,908 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~4h 7m.

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