City Map Compare/Phoenix vs Barcelona
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Phoenix

1,341 km²

Barcelona

101 km²

Phoenix vs Barcelona - City Size Comparison

Phoenix vs Barcelona - City Size Comparison

Phoenix

United States

Area1,341 km²
Population1.61M
Density1,201 /km²
Elevation331 m
Founded1868
Barcelona

Spain

Area101 km²
Population1.66M
Density16,436 /km²
Elevation12 m
Metro Pop.5.6M
Founded230 BC
ClimateMediterranean

Area Comparison

Phoenix is 13.3x larger than Barcelona

Population Comparison

Phoenix has 1.0x fewer people than Barcelona

Is Phoenix Bigger Than Barcelona?

In terms of area, Phoenix is 13.3x the size of Barcelona. Phoenix spans 1,341 km² (518 mi²) while Barcelona covers 101 km² (39 mi²) — a difference of 1,240 km². You could fit Barcelona inside Phoenix approximately 13 times.

To put Phoenix's size in perspective, its area of 1,341 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London. Meanwhile, Barcelona at 101 km² is roughly the same size as Paris (city proper).

Phoenix's footprint is roughly about 188,000 American football fields, 23 times the area of Manhattan, or 13 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Barcelona, by comparison, equals about 14,000 American football fields, 50 times the area of Monaco, or 30 times the area of Central Park.

About Phoenix

Phoenix is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, Phoenix is the fifth-most populous city in the United States and the most populous state capital. The Phoenix metropolitan area, with an estimated 5.19 million residents, is the tenth-most populous metropolitan area in the U.S. and the most populous in the Mountain states and Southwest.

Known as "Valley of the Sun", Phoenix covers 1,341 km² with a population of 1.6 million. The city was established in 1868. Phoenix is known for Camelback Mountain, Desert Botanical Garden, Heard Museum, among other attractions.

Phoenix is the most populous U.S. state capital and the fifth-largest city in the country with 1.6 million residents.

About Barcelona

Barcelona is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.7 million within city limits, its urban area extends to numerous neighbouring municipalities within the province of Barcelona and is home to around 5.7 million people, making it the fifth most populous urban area of the European Union after Paris, the Ruhr area, Madrid and Milan.

Nicknamed "Ciutat Comtal", Barcelona has an area of 101 km² and is home to 1.7 million people. It was founded around 230 BC. Visitors come for Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, La Rambla, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Barcelona Metro (TMB).

Barcelona is the second-most populous municipality in Spain and the capital of the autonomous community of Catalonia.

Population Density

Phoenix has a population density of 1,201 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Barcelona, with 16,436 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Barcelona is dramatically more crowded, with 13.7x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Barcelona fits inside Phoenix ~13 times

Density Gap

Barcelona is 13.7x more densely populated

History

Barcelona is ~2,098 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Phoenix

Phoenix covers 1,341 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Los Angeles (1,302 km²), Rome (1,285 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), Delhi (1,484 km²), or Mexico City (1,485 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Barcelona

Barcelona covers 101 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Lisbon (100 km²), Paris (105 km²), Copenhagen (91 km²), Vancouver (115 km²), or Zurich (88 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Phoenix actually bigger than Barcelona?
Phoenix is 13.3 times larger than Barcelona by area. Phoenix covers 1,341 km² while Barcelona spans 101 km², a difference of 1,240 km².
How many times does Barcelona fit inside Phoenix?
Barcelona (101 km²) fits inside Phoenix (1,341 km²) approximately 13 times. That means Phoenix is 13.3x the area of Barcelona.
What is the population difference between Phoenix and Barcelona?
Barcelona has approximately 1.7 million people, while Phoenix has about 1.6 million. Barcelona has 0.0 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Phoenix or Barcelona?
Barcelona is more densely populated with 16,436 people per km², compared to 1,201 people per km².
Which city is older, Phoenix or Barcelona?
Barcelona is older, founded around -230, while Phoenix was established around 1868 — a difference of about 2098 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 Phoenix and Barcelona

The straight-line distance from Phoenix to Barcelona is 9,322 km (5,792 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~11h 28m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.

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