Beijing vs Shanghai
Beijing is about 2.6× larger than Shanghai by administrative area. Beijing (China) covers 16,411 km² (6,336 mi²) with a population of 21.9 million, while Shanghai (China) covers 6,341 km² (2,448 mi²) with 24.9 million residents.
| Metric | Beijing | Shanghai |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 16,411 km² | 6,341 km² |
| Area (mi²) | 6,336 mi² | 2,448 mi² |
| Population | 21,893,095 | 24,870,895 |
| Population density | 1,334 /km² | 3,922 /km² |
| Area ratio | Beijing is ~2.6× larger by area than Shanghai. | |
Frequently asked questions
Is Beijing bigger than Shanghai?
Yes — Beijing is about 2.6× larger by area: 16,411 km² vs 6,341 km².
How big is Beijing?
Beijing, China, covers about 16,411 km² (6,336 mi²) of administrative area.
How big is Shanghai?
Shanghai, China, covers about 6,341 km² (2,448 mi²) of administrative area.
Which city has more people, Beijing or Shanghai?
Shanghai has the larger population: 24.9 million vs 21.9 million. Population density is about 1,334 people/km² in Beijing and 3,922 people/km² in Shanghai.
City boundaries from OpenStreetMap. Last updated 2026-08-25.
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