City Map Compare/Lima vs Shenzhen
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Lima

2,672 km²

Shenzhen

1,997 km²

Lima vs Shenzhen - City Size Comparison

Lima vs Shenzhen - City Size Comparison

Lima

Peru

Area2,672 km²
Population9.94M
Density3,720 /km²
Elevation154 m
Founded1535
Climatedesert climate
Shenzhen

China

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

Area Comparison

Lima is 1.3x larger than Shenzhen

Population Comparison

Lima has 1.8x fewer people than Shenzhen

Is Lima Bigger Than Shenzhen?

Yes — Lima is 1.3x larger than Shenzhen by area. Lima spans 2,672 km² (1,032 mi²) while Shenzhen covers 1,997 km² (771 mi²) — a difference of 675 km².

To put Lima's size in perspective, its area of 2,672 km² is roughly the same size as Luxembourg. Meanwhile, Shenzhen at 1,997 km² is roughly the same size as Tokyo (city proper).

Picture Lima another way: its area is large enough to fit about 374,000 American football fields, 45 times the area of Manhattan, or 25 times the area of Paris. Shenzhen, by comparison, equals about 280,000 American football fields, 34 times the area of Manhattan, or 19 times the area of Paris.

About Lima

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.

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.

Nicknamed "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

Lima has a population density of 3,720 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Shenzhen, with 8,793 people per km², is a densely populated city. Shenzhen is noticeably denser, packing 2.4 times more people per square kilometer.

Climate & Time Zone

Lima has a desert climate climate while Shenzhen experiences humid subtropical conditions.

Key Differences at a Glance

Density Gap

Shenzhen is 2.4x more densely populated

History

Lima is ~444 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Lima

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).

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 Lima actually bigger than Shenzhen?
Lima is 1.3 times larger than Shenzhen by area. Lima covers 2,672 km² while Shenzhen spans 1,997 km², a difference of 675 km².
How many times does Shenzhen fit inside Lima?
Shenzhen (1,997 km²) fits inside Lima (2,672 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Lima is 1.3x the area of Shenzhen.
What is the population difference between Lima and Shenzhen?
Shenzhen has approximately 17.6 million people, while Lima has about 9.9 million. Shenzhen has 7.6 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Lima or Shenzhen?
Shenzhen is more densely populated with 8,793 people per km², compared to 3,720 people per km².
Which city is older, Lima or Shenzhen?
Lima is older, founded around 1535, while Shenzhen was established around 1979 — a difference of about 444 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 Lima and Shenzhen

The straight-line distance from Lima to Shenzhen is 18,360 km (11,408 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~22h 6m.

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