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Spain
China
Area Comparison
Madrid is 10.5x smaller than Shanghai
Population Comparison
Madrid has 7.5x fewer people than Shanghai
In terms of area, Shanghai is 10.5x the size of Madrid. Shanghai spans 6,341 km² (2,448 mi²) while Madrid covers 604 km² (233 mi²) — a difference of 5,737 km². You could fit Madrid inside Shanghai approximately 10 times.
To put Madrid's size in perspective, its area of 604 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, Shanghai at 6,341 km² is about 1.5x the size of Los Angeles metro.
Spain's capital and largest city. Known as "The Capital of the Sun", Madrid covers 604 km² with a population of 3.3 million. The city was established in 852. Madrid is known for Prado Museum, Royal Palace, Retiro Park, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Madrid Metro.
Madrid is the highest capital city in the European Union at 650 meters above sea level
China's largest city and a global financial hub. Nicknamed "The Pearl of the Orient", Shanghai has an area of 6,341 km² and is home to 24.9 million people. The city dates back to 1291. Visitors come for The Bund waterfront, Pudong skyline, Yuyuan Garden, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Shanghai Metro.
Shanghai's Maglev train reaches 431 km/h, the fastest commercial train in the world
Looking beyond city limits, the Madrid metropolitan area covers 8,028 km², which is 1.3x larger than greater Shanghai at 6,341 km². The Shanghai metro area is also more populous, with 28.5 million people compared to 6.8 million.
Madrid has a population density of 5,513 people per km² — a densely populated city. Shanghai, with 3,922 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Madrid is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — Madrid in Europe versus Shanghai in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Madrid has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate while Shanghai experiences humid subtropical conditions. When it's noon in Shanghai, it's 5:00 AM in Madrid — a 7-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Madrid fits inside Shanghai ~10 times
Density Gap
Madrid is 1.4x more densely populated
Time Difference
7 hours apart
History
Madrid is ~439 years older
The straight-line distance from Madrid to Shanghai is 10,255 km (6,372 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~12h 34m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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