Lima
2,672 km²
Shanghai
6,341 km²
Peru
China
Area Comparison
Lima is 2.4x smaller than Shanghai
Population Comparison
Lima has 2.5x fewer people than Shanghai
In terms of area, Shanghai is 2.4x the size of Lima. Shanghai spans 6,341 km² (2,448 mi²) while Lima covers 2,672 km² (1,032 mi²) — a difference of 3,669 km². You could fit Lima inside Shanghai approximately 2 times.
To put Lima's size in perspective, its area of 2,672 km² is roughly the same size as Luxembourg. Meanwhile, Shanghai at 6,341 km² is about 1.5x the size of Los Angeles metro.
Lima's footprint is roughly about 374,000 American football fields, 45 times the area of Manhattan, or 25 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Shanghai works out to about 888,000 American football fields, 110 times the area of Manhattan, or 60 times the area of Paris.
Lima is the capital and largest city of Peru, as well as a primate city. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of the central coastal part of the country, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The city is considered the political, cultural, financial and commercial center of Peru. Due to its geostrategic importance, the Globalization and World Cities Research Network has categorized it as a "beta" tier city.
Known as "City of Kings", Lima covers 2,672 km² with a population of 9.9 million. The city was established in 1535. Lima is known for Plaza Mayor de Lima, Miraflores district, Larco Museum, among other attractions.
Lima sprawls across the desert valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers along Peru's Pacific coast.
Shanghai is a direct-administered municipality and the most populous urban area in China. It has a population of 29,558,908 in the urban area as of 2025. The city is located on the Chinese shoreline on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the Huangpu River bisecting the city. Shanghai is a global center for finance, business and economics, research, science and technology, manufacturing, transportation, tourism, and culture. The Port of Shanghai is the world's busiest container port.
Also known as "Pearl of the Orient", Shanghai has an area of 6,341 km² and is home to 24.9 million people. Its history stretches back to 1291. Visitors come for The Bund, Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Shanghai Metro.
Shanghai's urban population reached 29.5 million in 2025, making it the most populous urban area in all of China.
Lima has a population density of 3,720 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Shanghai, with 3,922 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Shanghai is slightly more compact.
Lima has a desert climate climate while Shanghai experiences humid subtropical conditions.
Size Ratio
Lima fits inside Shanghai ~2 times
History
Shanghai is ~244 years older
Lima covers 2,672 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Moscow (2,511 km²), Cape Town (2,455 km²), Cairo (3,085 km²), Tokyo (2,194 km²), or Hanoi (3,359 km²).
Shanghai covers 6,341 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Perth (6,417 km²), Istanbul (5,461 km²), Guangzhou (7,434 km²), Wuhan (8,569 km²), or Dubai (4,114 km²).
The straight-line distance from Lima to Shanghai is 17,160 km (10,663 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~20h 41m.
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