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Shanghai vs Houston

Shanghai is about 3.7× larger than Houston by administrative area. Shanghai (China) covers 6,341 km² (2,448 mi²) with a population of 24.9 million, while Houston (United States) covers 1,725 km² (666 mi²) with 2.3 million residents.

Metric Shanghai Houston
Area 6,341 km² 1,725 km²
Area (mi²) 2,448 mi² 666 mi²
Population 24,870,895 2,304,580
Population density 3,922 /km² 1,336 /km²
Area ratioShanghai is ~3.7× larger by area than Houston.

Frequently asked questions

Is Shanghai bigger than Houston?

Yes — Shanghai is about 3.7× larger by area: 6,341 km² vs 1,725 km².

How big is Shanghai?

Shanghai, China, covers about 6,341 km² (2,448 mi²) of administrative area.

How big is Houston?

Houston, United States, covers about 1,725 km² (666 mi²) of administrative area.

Which city has more people, Shanghai or Houston?

Shanghai has the larger population: 24.9 million vs 2.3 million. Population density is about 3,922 people/km² in Shanghai and 1,336 people/km² in Houston.

City boundaries from OpenStreetMap. Last updated 2026-08-20.

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