Shenzhen
1,997 km²
Tokyo
2,194 km²
China
Japan
Area Comparison
Shenzhen is 1.1x smaller than Tokyo
Population Comparison
Shenzhen has 1.3x more people than Tokyo
Tokyo is significantly larger, covering 1.1 times the area of Shenzhen. Tokyo spans 2,194 km² (847 mi²) while Shenzhen covers 1,997 km² (771 mi²) — a difference of 197 km².
To put Shenzhen's size in perspective, its area of 1,997 km² is roughly the same size as Tokyo (city proper). Meanwhile, Tokyo at 2,194 km² is about 1.1x smaller than Moscow.
Shenzhen's footprint is roughly about 280,000 American football fields, 34 times the area of Manhattan, or 19 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Tokyo, by comparison, equals about 307,000 American football fields, 37 times the area of Manhattan, or 21 times the area of Paris.
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.
Known as "China's Silicon Valley", Shenzhen covers 1,997 km² with a population of 17.6 million. The city was established in 1979. Shenzhen is known for Ping An Finance Centre, Window of the World, OCT Loft, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Shenzhen Metro.
Shenzhen grew from a small town into China's third-most-populous urban city, hitting 17.5 million residents by 2020
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital and most populous city of Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is one of the most populous urban areas in the world. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes Tokyo and parts of six neighboring prefectures, is the most populous metropolitan area in the world, with 41 million residents as of 2024.
Often called "Eastern Capital", Tokyo has an area of 2,194 km² and is home to 14.0 million people. It was established in 1457. Visitors come for Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Tower, Imperial Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Tokyo Metro & JR East.
Greater Tokyo holds 41 million residents as of 2024, making it the most populous metropolitan area on Earth.
Looking beyond city limits, the Tokyo metropolitan area covers 13,572 km², which is 6.8x larger than greater Shenzhen at 1,997 km². The Tokyo metro area is also more populous, with 37.4 million people compared to 17.6 million.
Shenzhen has a population density of 8,793 people per km² — a densely populated city. Tokyo, with 6,363 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though Shenzhen is slightly more compact.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Shenzhen (China) and Tokyo (Japan) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Both cities share a humid subtropical climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each.
Density Gap
Shenzhen is 1.4x more densely populated
History
Tokyo is ~522 years older
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).
Tokyo covers 2,194 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Ho Chi Minh City (2,061 km²), Shenzhen (1,997 km²), Cape Town (2,455 km²), Moscow (2,511 km²), or Lima (2,672 km²).
The straight-line distance from Shenzhen to Tokyo is 2,870 km (1,783 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 53m.
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