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Brazil
China
Area Comparison
Rio de Janeiro is 5.2x smaller than Shanghai
Population Comparison
Rio de Janeiro has 3.7x fewer people than Shanghai
In terms of area, Shanghai is 5.2x the size of Rio de Janeiro. Shanghai spans 6,341 km² (2,448 mi²) while Rio de Janeiro covers 1,221 km² (471 mi²) — a difference of 5,120 km². You could fit Rio de Janeiro inside Shanghai approximately 5 times.
To put Rio de Janeiro's size in perspective, its area of 1,221 km² is about 1.3x smaller than London. Meanwhile, Shanghai at 6,341 km² is about 1.5x the size of Los Angeles metro.
Brazil's iconic coastal city known for Carnival. Known as "The Marvelous City", Rio de Janeiro covers 1,221 km² with a population of 6.8 million. The city was established in 1565. Rio de Janeiro is known for Christ the Redeemer, Copacabana Beach, Carnival, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the MetrôRio.
Rio's Christ the Redeemer statue is struck by lightning an average of 6 times per year
China's largest city and a global financial hub. Also known as "The Pearl of the Orient", Shanghai has an area of 6,341 km² and is home to 24.9 million people. Its history stretches 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 Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area covers 6,744 km², which is 1.1x larger than greater Shanghai at 6,341 km². The Shanghai metro area is also more populous, with 28.5 million people compared to 13.5 million.
Rio de Janeiro has a population density of 5,528 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 Rio de Janeiro is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — Rio de Janeiro in South America versus Shanghai in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Rio de Janeiro has a tropical savanna climate while Shanghai experiences humid subtropical conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Rio de Janeiro stays around 21°C while Shanghai drops to 5°C. When it's noon in Shanghai, it's 1:00 AM in Rio de Janeiro — a 11-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Rio de Janeiro fits inside Shanghai ~5 times
Density Gap
Rio de Janeiro is 1.4x more densely populated
Time Difference
11 hours apart
History
Shanghai is ~274 years older
The straight-line distance from Rio de Janeiro to Shanghai is 18,238 km (11,333 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~21h 57m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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