Osaka
225 km²
Shanghai
6,341 km²
Japan
China
Area Comparison
Osaka is 28.2x smaller than Shanghai
Population Comparison
Osaka has 9.0x fewer people than Shanghai
Yes — Shanghai is 28.2x larger than Osaka by area. Shanghai spans 6,341 km² (2,448 mi²) while Osaka covers 225 km² (87 mi²) — a difference of 6,116 km². You could fit Osaka inside Shanghai approximately 28 times.
To put Osaka's size in perspective, its area of 225 km² is roughly the same size as Amsterdam. Meanwhile, Shanghai at 6,341 km² is about 1.5x the size of Los Angeles metro.
In more relatable units, Osaka's 225 km² is about 32,000 American football fields, 110 times the area of Monaco, or 66 times the area of Central Park. For Shanghai, that's about 888,000 American football fields, 110 times the area of Manhattan, or 60 times the area of Paris.
Osaka is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third-most populous city in Japan, following the special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With an estimated population of 2,816,247 as of October 1, 2025 and a population density of about 12,505 people per square kilometer, it is the largest component of the Keihanshin Metropolitan Area, the second-largest metropolitan area in Japan and the 10th-largest urban…
Known as "Nation's Kitchen", Osaka covers 225 km² with a population of 2.8 million. The city was established in 645. Osaka is known for Osaka Castle, Dotonbori district, Universal Studios Japan, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Osaka Metro.
Osaka is the third-most populous city in Japan, following the special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama.
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.
Nicknamed "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, 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.
Looking beyond city limits, the Osaka metropolitan area covers 13,228 km², which is 2.1x larger than greater Shanghai at 6,341 km². The Shanghai metro area is also more populous, with 28.5 million people compared to 19.3 million.
Osaka has a population density of 12,222 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Shanghai, with 3,922 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Osaka is dramatically more crowded, with 3.1x the population density.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Osaka (Japan) and Shanghai (China) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Both cities share a humid subtropical climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each.
Size Ratio
Osaka fits inside Shanghai ~28 times
Density Gap
Osaka is 3.1x more densely populated
History
Osaka is ~646 years older
Osaka covers 225 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Amsterdam (219 km²), Boston (232 km²), Helsinki (214 km²), Kuala Lumpur (243 km²), or Buenos Aires (203 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 Osaka to Shanghai is 1,363 km (847 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~2h 6m.
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