City Map Compare/Shanghai vs Vienna
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5 km
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Shanghai

6,341 km²

Vienna

415 km²

Shanghai vs Vienna - City Size Comparison

Shanghai vs Vienna - City Size Comparison

Shanghai

China

Area6,341 km²
Population24.87M
Density3,922 /km²
Elevation4 m
Metro Pop.28.5M
Founded1291
Climatehumid subtropical
Vienna

Austria

Area415 km²
Population1.98M
Density4,771 /km²
Elevation171 m
Metro Pop.2.8M
Founded500 BC
Climateoceanic

Area Comparison

Shanghai is 15.3x larger than Vienna

Population Comparison

Shanghai has 12.6x more people than Vienna

Is Shanghai Bigger Than Vienna?

In terms of area, Shanghai is 15.3x the size of Vienna. Shanghai spans 6,341 km² (2,448 mi²) while Vienna covers 415 km² (160 mi²) — a difference of 5,926 km². You could fit Vienna inside Shanghai approximately 15 times.

To put Shanghai's size in perspective, its area of 6,341 km² is about 1.5x the size of Los Angeles metro. Meanwhile, Vienna at 415 km² is about 1.5x smaller than Seoul.

In more relatable units, Shanghai's 6,341 km² is about 888,000 American football fields, 110 times the area of Manhattan, or 60 times the area of Paris. Vienna works out to about 58,000 American football fields, 120 times the area of Central Park, or 7 times the area of Manhattan.

About Shanghai

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.

Known as "Pearl of the Orient", Shanghai covers 6,341 km² with a population of 24.9 million. The city was established in 1291. Shanghai is known for The Bund, Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Shanghai Metro.

Shanghai's urban population reached 29.5 million in 2025, making it the most populous urban area in all of China.

About Vienna

Vienna is the capital, most populous city, and one of the nine states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. Its larger metropolitan area has a population of nearly 2.9 million, representing nearly one-third of the country's population. Vienna is the cultural, economic, and political centre of the country, the fifth-largest city by population in the European Union, and the most populous of the cities on the river Danube.

Also known as "City of Music", Vienna has an area of 415 km² and is home to 2.0 million people. It was founded around 500 BC. Visitors come for Schönbrunn Palace, St. Stephen's Cathedral, Hofburg Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Wiener Linien (U-Bahn).

Vienna's metropolitan area holds nearly 2.9 million people, representing roughly one-third of Austria's entire population

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the Shanghai metropolitan area covers 6,341 km², which is 1.7x larger than greater Vienna at 3,840 km². The Shanghai metro area is also more populous, with 28.5 million people compared to 2.8 million.

Population Density

Shanghai has a population density of 3,922 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Vienna, with 4,771 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Vienna is slightly more compact.

This comparison spans continents — Shanghai in Asia versus Vienna in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.

Climate & Time Zone

Shanghai has a humid subtropical climate while Vienna experiences oceanic conditions. When it's noon in Shanghai, it's 5:00 AM in Vienna — a 7-hour time difference.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Vienna fits inside Shanghai ~15 times

Time Difference

7 hours apart

History

Vienna is ~1,791 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Shanghai

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).

Cities Similar in Size to Vienna

Vienna covers 415 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Denver (401 km²), Oslo (454 km²), Portland (376 km²), Philadelphia (370 km²), or Seattle (369 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Shanghai actually bigger than Vienna?
Shanghai is 15.3 times larger than Vienna by area. Shanghai covers 6,341 km² while Vienna spans 415 km², a difference of 5,926 km².
How many times does Vienna fit inside Shanghai?
Vienna (415 km²) fits inside Shanghai (6,341 km²) approximately 15 times. That means Shanghai is 15.3x the area of Vienna.
What is the population difference between Shanghai and Vienna?
Shanghai has approximately 24.9 million people, while Vienna has about 2.0 million. Shanghai has 22.9 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Shanghai or Vienna?
Vienna is more densely populated with 4,771 people per km², compared to 3,922 people per km².
What is the time difference between Shanghai and Vienna?
Shanghai is in the UTC+8 timezone while Vienna is UTC+1. There is a 7-hour time difference between the two cities.
Which city is older, Shanghai or Vienna?
Vienna is older, founded around -500, while Shanghai was established around 1291 — a difference of about 1791 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 Shanghai and Vienna

The straight-line distance from Shanghai to Vienna is 8,476 km (5,267 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~10h 28m.

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