City Map Compare/Houston vs Paris
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5 km
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Houston

1,725 km²

Paris

105 km²

Houston vs Paris - City Size Comparison

Houston vs Paris - City Size Comparison

Houston

United States

Area1,725 km²
Population2.30M
Density1,333 /km²
Elevation13 m
Founded1836
Paris

France

Area105 km²
Population2.16M
Density20,571 /km²
Elevation35 m
Metro Pop.12.3M
Founded250 BC
Climateoceanic

Area Comparison

Houston is 16.4x larger than Paris

Population Comparison

Houston has 1.1x more people than Paris

Is Houston Bigger Than Paris?

Yes — Houston is 16.4x larger than Paris by area. Houston spans 1,725 km² (666 mi²) while Paris covers 105 km² (41 mi²) — a difference of 1,620 km². You could fit Paris inside Houston approximately 16 times.

To put Houston's size in perspective, its area of 1,725 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, Paris at 105 km² is about 1.2x smaller than San Francisco.

In more relatable units, Houston's 1,725 km² is about 242,000 American football fields, 29 times the area of Manhattan, or 16 times the area of Paris. Paris works out to about 15,000 American football fields, 52 times the area of Monaco, or 31 times the area of Central Park.

About Houston

Houston is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and the Southern United States. It is the fourth-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 2.3 million at the 2020 census. The Greater Houston metropolitan area, at 7.8 million residents, is the fifth-most populous metropolitan area in the nation and second-most populous in Texas. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, Houston is the county seat of Harris County.

Known as "Space City", Houston covers 1,725 km² with a population of 2.3 million. The city was established in 1836. Houston is known for NASA Johnson Space Center, Space Center Houston, Houston Astros, among other attractions.

Houston is the fourth-most populous US city with 2.3 million residents at the 2020 census, leading the entire South.

About Paris

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. It was founded around 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.

Population Density

Houston has a population density of 1,333 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 15.4x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Paris fits inside Houston ~16 times

Density Gap

Paris is 15.4x more densely populated

History

Paris is ~2,086 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Houston

Houston covers 1,725 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Riyadh (1,798 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), London (1,572 km²), or Bangkok (1,569 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Paris

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).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Houston or Paris?
Houston is 16.4 times larger than Paris by area. Houston covers 1,725 km² while Paris spans 105 km², a difference of 1,620 km².
How many times does Paris fit inside Houston?
Paris (105 km²) fits inside Houston (1,725 km²) approximately 16 times. That means Houston is 16.4x the area of Paris.
What is the population difference between Houston and Paris?
Houston has approximately 2.3 million people, while Paris has about 2.2 million. Houston has 0.1 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Houston or Paris?
Paris is more densely populated with 20,571 people per km², compared to 1,333 people per km².
Which city is older, Houston or Paris?
Paris is older, founded around -250, while Houston was established around 1836 — a difference of about 2086 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 Houston and Paris

The straight-line distance from Houston to Paris is 8,086 km (5,024 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~10h 1m.

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