City Map Compare/Hong Kong vs Zurich
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5 km
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Hong Kong

1,114 km²

Zurich

88 km²

Hong Kong vs Zurich - City Size Comparison

Hong Kong vs Zurich - City Size Comparison

Hong Kong

China

Area1,114 km²
Population7.41M
Density6,652 /km²
Elevation32 m
Founded1841
Climatehumid subtropical
Zurich

Switzerland

Area88 km²
Population0.43M
Density4,886 /km²
Elevation408 m
Metro Pop.1.4M
Founded15 BC
Climateoceanic

Area Comparison

Hong Kong is 12.7x larger than Zurich

Population Comparison

Hong Kong has 17.2x more people than Zurich

Is Hong Kong Bigger Than Zurich?

In terms of area, Hong Kong is 12.7x the size of Zurich. Hong Kong spans 1,114 km² (430 mi²) while Zurich covers 88 km² (34 mi²) — a difference of 1,026 km². You could fit Zurich inside Hong Kong approximately 12 times.

To put Hong Kong's size in perspective, its area of 1,114 km² is about 1.2x the size of Berlin. Meanwhile, Zurich at 88 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Paris (city proper).

Hong Kong's footprint is roughly about 156,000 American football fields, 19 times the area of Manhattan, or 11 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. For Zurich, that's about 12,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Vatican City, or 44 times the area of Monaco.

About Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. Situated on China's southern coast just south of Shenzhen, it consists of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. With 7.5 million residents in a 1,114-square-kilometre (430 sq mi) territory, Hong Kong is the fourth-most densely populated region in the world.

Known as "Pearl of the Orient", Hong Kong covers 1,114 km² with a population of 7.4 million. The city was established in 1841. Hong Kong is known for Victoria Harbour, Victoria Peak, Star Ferry, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the MTR Hong Kong.

Hong Kong squeezes 7.5 million residents into 1,114 km2, making it the world's fourth-most densely populated region.

About Zurich

Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. As of the end of 2024, the municipality had a population of 436,551, while the urban area was home to 1.45 million people (2020), and the Zurich metropolitan area had a total population of 2.1 million (2020). Zurich is a hub for railways, roads, and air traffic.

Zurich has an area of 88 km² and is home to 0.4 million people. The city dates back to 15 BC. Visitors come for Lake Zurich, Bahnhofstrasse, Grossmünster, and much more. Getting around is easy with the ZVV (S-Bahn & Tram).

Zurich is Switzerland's largest city and sits at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich in north-central Switzerland.

Population Density

Hong Kong has a population density of 6,652 people per km² — a densely populated city. Zurich, with 4,886 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Hong Kong is slightly more compact.

This comparison spans continents — Hong Kong in Asia versus Zurich in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.

Climate & Time Zone

Hong Kong has a humid subtropical climate while Zurich experiences oceanic conditions. Summers are notably different: Hong Kong averages 29°C compared to 19°C in Zurich. When it's noon in Hong Kong, it's 5:00 AM in Zurich — a 7-hour time difference.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Zurich fits inside Hong Kong ~12 times

Density Gap

Hong Kong is 1.4x more densely populated

Time Difference

7 hours apart

History

Zurich is ~1,856 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Hong Kong

Hong Kong covers 1,114 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Lagos (1,172 km²), San Antonio (1,209 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), Dallas (997 km²), or Abu Dhabi (972 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Zurich

Zurich covers 88 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Copenhagen (91 km²), Lisbon (100 km²), Barcelona (101 km²), Paris (105 km²), or Vancouver (115 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hong Kong actually bigger than Zurich?
Hong Kong is 12.7 times larger than Zurich by area. Hong Kong covers 1,114 km² while Zurich spans 88 km², a difference of 1,026 km².
How many times does Zurich fit inside Hong Kong?
Zurich (88 km²) fits inside Hong Kong (1,114 km²) approximately 12 times. That means Hong Kong is 12.7x the area of Zurich.
What is the population difference between Hong Kong and Zurich?
Hong Kong has approximately 7.4 million people, while Zurich has about 0.4 million. Hong Kong has 7.0 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Hong Kong or Zurich?
Hong Kong is more densely populated with 6,652 people per km², compared to 4,886 people per km².
What is the time difference between Hong Kong and Zurich?
Hong Kong is in the UTC+8 timezone while Zurich is UTC+1. There is a 7-hour time difference between the two cities.
Which city is older, Hong Kong or Zurich?
Zurich is older, founded around -15, while Hong Kong was established around 1841 — a difference of about 1856 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 Hong Kong and Zurich

The straight-line distance from Hong Kong to Zurich is 9,301 km (5,779 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~11h 27m.

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