Shenzhen
1,997 km²
Toronto
630 km²
China
Canada
Area Comparison
Shenzhen is 3.2x larger than Toronto
Population Comparison
Shenzhen has 6.0x more people than Toronto
Shenzhen is significantly larger, covering 3.2 times the area of Toronto. Shenzhen spans 1,997 km² (771 mi²) while Toronto covers 630 km² (243 mi²) — a difference of 1,367 km². You could fit Toronto inside Shenzhen approximately 3 times.
To put Shenzhen's size in perspective, its area of 1,997 km² is roughly the same size as Tokyo (city proper). Meanwhile, Toronto at 630 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul.
In more relatable units, Shenzhen's 1,997 km² is about 280,000 American football fields, 34 times the area of Manhattan, or 19 times the area of Paris. Toronto, by comparison, equals about 88,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 11 times the area of Manhattan.
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
Toronto is the most populous city in Canada and the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. It is located on a harbour at the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. The city is the fourth-most populous city in North America, behind Mexico City, New York City, and Los Angeles, with a census population of 2,794,356 as of 2021.
Nicknamed "The Six", Toronto has an area of 630 km² and is home to 2.9 million people. Its history stretches back to 1793. Visitors come for CN Tower, Rogers Centre, Distillery District, and much more. Getting around is easy with the TTC Subway.
Toronto is the fourth-most populous city in North America, ranking behind only Mexico City, New York City, and Los Angeles.
Looking beyond city limits, the Toronto metropolitan area covers 5,906 km², which is 3.0x larger than greater Shenzhen at 1,997 km². The Shenzhen metro area is also more populous, with 17.6 million people compared to 6.2 million.
Shenzhen has a population density of 8,793 people per km² — a densely populated city. Toronto, with 4,651 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Shenzhen is noticeably denser, packing 1.9 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Shenzhen in Asia versus Toronto in North America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Shenzhen has a humid subtropical climate while Toronto experiences humid continental conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Shenzhen stays around 15°C while Toronto drops to -4°C. When it's noon in Shenzhen, it's midnight in Toronto — a 13-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Toronto fits inside Shenzhen ~3 times
Density Gap
Shenzhen is 1.9x more densely populated
Time Difference
13 hours apart
History
Toronto is ~186 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).
Toronto covers 630 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Hyderabad (650 km²), Chicago (606 km²), Seoul (605 km²), Madrid (604 km²), or Mumbai (603 km²).
The straight-line distance from Shenzhen to Toronto is 12,527 km (7,784 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~15h 14m.
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