Manila
43 km²
Zurich
88 km²
Philippines
Switzerland
Area Comparison
Manila is 2.0x smaller than Zurich
Population Comparison
Manila has 4.3x more people than Zurich
Yes — Zurich is 2.0x larger than Manila by area. Zurich spans 88 km² (34 mi²) while Manila covers 43 km² (17 mi²) — a difference of 45 km². You could fit Manila inside Zurich approximately 2 times.
To put Manila's size in perspective, its area of 43 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Manhattan. Meanwhile, Zurich at 88 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Paris (city proper).
Picture Manila another way: its area is large enough to fit about 6,000 American football fields, 88 times the area of Vatican City, or 21 times the area of Monaco. Zurich, by comparison, equals about 12,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Vatican City, or 44 times the area of Monaco.
Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 1,902,590 people. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on the island of Luzon, it is classified as a highly urbanized city. With 44,935 inhabitants per square kilometer (116,380/sq mi), Manila is one of the world's most densely populated cities proper.
Known as "Pearl of the Orient", Manila covers 43 km² with a population of 1.9 million. The city was established in 1571. Manila is known for Intramuros walled city, Rizal Park, Manila Bay, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the LRT & MRT Manila.
Manila has 44,935 inhabitants per square kilometer, making it one of the world's most densely populated cities proper.
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. It was founded around 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.
Looking beyond city limits, the Zurich metropolitan area covers 1,334 km², which is 2.2x larger than greater Manila at 620 km². The Manila metro area is also more populous, with 13.9 million people compared to 1.4 million.
Manila has a population density of 43,023 people per km² — one of the most densely packed urban areas on Earth. Zurich, with 4,886 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Manila is dramatically more crowded, with 8.8x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Manila in Asia versus Zurich in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Manila has a tropical savanna climate while Zurich experiences oceanic conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Manila stays around 26°C while Zurich drops to 1°C. When it's noon in Manila, it's 5:00 AM in Zurich — a 7-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Manila fits inside Zurich ~2 times
Density Gap
Manila is 8.8x more densely populated
Time Difference
7 hours apart
History
Zurich is ~1,586 years older
Manila covers 43 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Athens (39 km²), Tel Aviv (52 km²), Zurich (88 km²), Copenhagen (91 km²), or Lisbon (100 km²).
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).
The straight-line distance from Manila to Zurich is 10,420 km (6,475 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~12h 46m.
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