How Big Is San Diego?

United States

Area

964 km²

372 mi²

Population

1.4M

Density

1,442/km²

Founded

1769

San Diego Size Overview

San Diego covers an area of 964 km² (372 mi²) in United States. City in California, United States. The city is often called "America's Finest City". To put this in perspective, San Diego is roughly the same size as Berlin. In more relatable units, that's about 135,000 American football fields, 16 times the area of Manhattan, or 9 times the area of Paris.

San Diego is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. It is the eighth-most populous city in the U.S. and second-most populous city in California with a population of over 1.4 million, while the San Diego metropolitan area with over 3.3 million residents is the 18th-largest metropolitan area in the country. San Diego is the county seat of San Diego County.

With a population of 1.4 million, San Diego has a population density of 1,442 people per km².

San Diego has a history stretching back to 1769. The city is renowned for San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, Coronado Beach, and Gaslamp Quarter.

Did You Know?

  • San Diego sits directly on the Mexico-United States border, making it California's southwesternmost major city.
  • With over 1.4 million residents, San Diego is California's second-most populous city after Los Angeles.
  • The San Diego metropolitan area holds more than 3.3 million people, ranking as the 18th-largest in the country.

Cities Similar in Size to San Diego

San Diego covers 964 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Abu Dhabi (972 km²), Dallas (997 km²), Berlin (892 km²), Santiago (838 km²), or Hong Kong (1,114 km²).

Frequently Asked Questions about San Diego

How big is San Diego in square miles?
San Diego covers 964 km², which is approximately 372 square miles.
What is the population of San Diego?
San Diego has a population of approximately 1.4 million people.
What is the population density of San Diego?
San Diego has a population density of 1,442 people per km² (3,735 per mi²).
Can I compare San Diego with other cities on a map?
Yes! City Map Compare lets you compare San Diego with any of 50+ cities side by side on synchronized maps. Both maps maintain the same zoom level so you can see the real difference in size.