City Map Compare/Denver vs Shenzhen
vs
5 km
|

Denver

401 km²

Shenzhen

1,997 km²

Denver vs Shenzhen - City Size Comparison

Denver vs Shenzhen - City Size Comparison

Denver

United States

Area401 km²
Population0.72M
Density1,796 /km²
Elevation1,609 m
Founded1858
Climatecold semi-arid climate
Shenzhen

China

Area1,997 km²
Population17.56M
Density8,793 /km²
Elevation35 m
Metro Pop.17.6M
Founded1979
Climatehumid subtropical

Area Comparison

Denver is 5.0x smaller than Shenzhen

Population Comparison

Denver has 24.4x fewer people than Shenzhen

Is Denver Bigger Than Shenzhen?

In terms of area, Shenzhen is 5.0x the size of Denver. Shenzhen spans 1,997 km² (771 mi²) while Denver covers 401 km² (155 mi²) — a difference of 1,596 km². You could fit Denver inside Shenzhen approximately 4 times.

To put Denver's size in perspective, its area of 401 km² is about 1.5x smaller than Seoul. Meanwhile, Shenzhen at 1,997 km² is roughly the same size as Tokyo (city proper).

In more relatable units, Denver's 401 km² is about 56,000 American football fields, 200 times the area of Monaco, or 120 times the area of Central Park. Shenzhen works out to about 280,000 American football fields, 34 times the area of Manhattan, or 19 times the area of Paris.

About Denver

Denver is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Officially a consolidated city and county, it is located in the South Platte River valley on the western edge of the High Plains, and is just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains (Rockies). Denver is the 19th-most populous city in the United States and the fifth-most populous state capital, with a population of 715,522 at the 2020 census.

Known as "Mile High City", Denver covers 401 km² with a population of 0.7 million. The city was established in 1858. Denver is known for Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Denver Art Museum, Union Station, among other attractions.

Denver sits in the South Platte River valley just east of the Rocky Mountains' Front Range.

About Shenzhen

Shenzhen is a prefecture-level city in the province of Guangdong, China. A special economic zone, it is located on the east bank of the Pearl River estuary on the central coast of Guangdong, bordering Hong Kong to the south, Dongguan to the north, Huizhou to the northeast, and Macau to the southwest. With a population of 17.5 million in 2020, Shenzhen is the third-most-populous city by urban population in China after Shanghai and Beijing.

Also known as "China's Silicon Valley", Shenzhen has an area of 1,997 km² and is home to 17.6 million people. It was established in 1979. Visitors come for Ping An Finance Centre, Window of the World, OCT Loft, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Shenzhen Metro.

Shenzhen grew from a small town into China's third-most-populous urban city, hitting 17.5 million residents by 2020

Population Density

Denver has a population density of 1,796 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Shenzhen, with 8,793 people per km², is a densely populated city. Shenzhen is dramatically more crowded, with 4.9x the population density.

Climate & Time Zone

Denver has a cold semi-arid climate climate while Shenzhen experiences humid subtropical conditions.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Denver fits inside Shenzhen ~4 times

Density Gap

Shenzhen is 4.9x more densely populated

History

Denver is ~121 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Denver

Denver covers 401 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Vienna (415 km²), Portland (376 km²), Philadelphia (370 km²), Seattle (369 km²), or Dhaka (368 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Shenzhen

Shenzhen covers 1,997 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Ho Chi Minh City (2,061 km²), Tokyo (2,194 km²), Riyadh (1,798 km²), Houston (1,725 km²), or Johannesburg (1,644 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Denver actually bigger than Shenzhen?
Shenzhen is 5.0 times larger than Denver by area. Shenzhen covers 1,997 km² while Denver spans 401 km², a difference of 1,596 km².
How many times does Denver fit inside Shenzhen?
Denver (401 km²) fits inside Shenzhen (1,997 km²) approximately 4 times. That means Shenzhen is 5.0x the area of Denver.
What is the population difference between Denver and Shenzhen?
Shenzhen has approximately 17.6 million people, while Denver has about 0.7 million. Shenzhen has 16.8 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Denver or Shenzhen?
Shenzhen is more densely populated with 8,793 people per km², compared to 1,796 people per km².
Which city is older, Denver or Shenzhen?
Denver is older, founded around 1858, while Shenzhen was established around 1979 — a difference of about 121 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 Denver and Shenzhen

The straight-line distance from Denver to Shenzhen is 11,992 km (7,451 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~14h 36m.

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