City Map Compare/Phoenix vs Shenzhen
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Phoenix

1,341 km²

Shenzhen

1,997 km²

Phoenix vs Shenzhen - City Size Comparison

Phoenix vs Shenzhen - City Size Comparison

Phoenix

United States

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

China

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

Area Comparison

Phoenix is 1.5x smaller than Shenzhen

Population Comparison

Phoenix has 10.9x fewer people than Shenzhen

Is Phoenix Bigger Than Shenzhen?

Yes — Shenzhen is 1.5x larger than Phoenix by area. Shenzhen spans 1,997 km² (771 mi²) while Phoenix covers 1,341 km² (518 mi²) — a difference of 656 km².

To put Phoenix's size in perspective, its area of 1,341 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London. Meanwhile, Shenzhen at 1,997 km² is roughly the same size as Tokyo (city proper).

In more relatable units, Phoenix's 1,341 km² is about 188,000 American football fields, 23 times the area of Manhattan, or 13 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 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 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.

Often called "China's Silicon Valley", Shenzhen has an area of 1,997 km² and is home to 17.6 million people. Its history stretches back to 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

Phoenix has a population density of 1,201 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Shenzhen, with 8,793 people per km², is a densely populated city. Shenzhen is dramatically more crowded, with 7.3x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Density Gap

Shenzhen is 7.3x more densely populated

History

Phoenix is ~111 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 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 Phoenix bigger than Shenzhen?
Shenzhen is 1.5 times larger than Phoenix by area. Shenzhen covers 1,997 km² while Phoenix spans 1,341 km², a difference of 656 km².
How many times does Phoenix fit inside Shenzhen?
Phoenix (1,341 km²) fits inside Shenzhen (1,997 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Shenzhen is 1.5x the area of Phoenix.
What is the population difference between Phoenix and Shenzhen?
Shenzhen has approximately 17.6 million people, while Phoenix has about 1.6 million. Shenzhen has 15.9 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Phoenix or Shenzhen?
Shenzhen is more densely populated with 8,793 people per km², compared to 1,201 people per km².
Which city is older, Phoenix or Shenzhen?
Phoenix is older, founded around 1868, while Shenzhen was established around 1979 — a difference of about 111 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 Shenzhen

The straight-line distance from Phoenix to Shenzhen is 12,101 km (7,519 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~14h 44m.

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