Largest Cities by Area

This comprehensive list features the world's largest cities ranked by their administrative area. The rankings are based on official city boundaries and provide fascinating insights into how different countries define their urban areas.

Key Insights

Before exploring the rankings, here are some fascinating insights about city sizes:

• Population vs Area: Some of the most populous cities have surprisingly small geographic areas
• Administrative Boundaries: We focus on official city limits, not metropolitan areas
• Global Distribution: Large cities are found across all continents
• Urban Planning: City size often reflects historical development and planning decisions

Fascinating Insights from the Data

• Surprising Leaders: Hulunbuir in China tops the list with over 263,000 km² - larger than many countries!
• Population vs Area: Some of the world's most populous cities (like Mumbai at 603 km²) have surprisingly small areas
• American Cities: Many US cities rank high due to expansive administrative boundaries
• European Compactness: European cities tend to have smaller administrative areas but higher population density
• Chinese Megacities: Several Chinese cities feature prominently due to their massive administrative regions

Top 50 Largest Cities by Area

Rank	City	Country	Area (km²)	Continent
1	Hulunbuir	China	263,953	Asia
2	Altamira	Brazil	159,533	South America
3	Chongqing	China	82,400	Asia
4	Mount Isa	Australia	43,188	Australia
5	Harbin	China	53,068	Asia
6	Calama	Chile	15,596	South America
7	Kinshasa	Democratic Republic of the Congo	9,965	Africa
8	Brasília	Brazil	5,802	South America
9	Anchorage	United States	5,035	North America
10	Dalian	China	13,237	Asia
11	Qingdao	China	11,282	Asia
12	Beijing	China	16,410	Asia
13	Shanghai	China	6,341	Asia
14	Guangzhou	China	7,434	Asia
15	Shenzhen	China	1,997	Asia
16	Tokyo	Japan	2,194	Asia
17	Delhi	India	1,484	Asia
18	Mumbai	India	603	Asia
19	Jakarta	Indonesia	664	Asia
20	Manila	Philippines	619	Asia
21	Bangkok	Thailand	1,569	Asia
22	Ho Chi Minh City	Vietnam	2,095	Asia
23	Seoul	South Korea	605	Asia
24	Moscow	Russia	2,511	Europe
25	London	United Kingdom	1,572	Europe
26	Paris	France	105	Europe
27	Berlin	Germany	892	Europe
28	Madrid	Spain	604	Europe
29	Rome	Italy	1,285	Europe
30	New York	United States	778	North America
31	Los Angeles	United States	1,302	North America
32	Chicago	United States	606	North America
33	Houston	United States	1,651	North America
34	Phoenix	United States	1,338	North America
35	Philadelphia	United States	369	North America
36	San Antonio	United States	1,208	North America
37	San Diego	United States	964	North America
38	Dallas	United States	997	North America
39	San Jose	United States	467	North America
40	Austin	United States	790	North America
41	Jacksonville	United States	2,265	North America
42	Fort Worth	United States	916	North America
43	Columbus	United States	577	North America
44	Charlotte	United States	796	North America
45	San Francisco	United States	121	North America
46	Indianapolis	United States	953	North America
47	Seattle	United States	367	North America
48	Denver	United States	401	North America
49	Washington, D.C.	United States	177	North America
50	Boston	United States	232	North America

Understanding City Size Rankings

It's important to note that these rankings are based on official administrative boundaries, which can vary significantly from country to country:

• Administrative vs Metropolitan: We measure official city limits, not metropolitan areas
• Historical Factors: City boundaries often reflect historical development and political decisions
• Population Density: Large geographic area doesn't always mean large population
• Urban Planning: Some cities have expanded boundaries to include surrounding areas

Compare These Cities Yourself

Curious to see how these cities compare visually? Use our interactive tool to compare them side-by-side on a map, or browse ready-made matchups on our comparison pages.

Use our interactive tool

Explore Related City Rankings

Put geographic size in context with our other city data rankings:

• Most Populous Cities: See which cities have the largest populations — often with surprisingly small areas
• Most Densely Populated Cities: Large area does not always mean low density — explore both metrics
• Curated City Comparisons: Ready-made side-by-side comparisons with area and population stats

Methodology & Data Sources

Our area calculations are based on official administrative boundaries and verified geographic data from authoritative sources. We use precise geometric calculations to provide the most accurate city area comparisons available.

• 📊 Data Sources: We utilize multiple authoritative geographic data sources to ensure accuracy. Primary sources include OpenStreetMap, Government Geographic Agencies, Cross-referenced Government Sources, and Verified Geographic Databases. Data covers 50+ major global cities across all continents with official administrative city boundaries and regular updates as boundaries change.
• 🔄 Calculation Methodology: We use spherical geometry formulas accounting for Earth's curvature with precise area calculations using geographic coordinate systems and WGS84 projection system for global consistency. Official administrative boundaries are prioritized with complex boundaries simplified for calculation accuracy. Cross-verification with multiple data sources ensures quality with manual review of boundary accuracy for major cities.
• 🎯 Data Quality & Reliability: High Reliability Cities (90% of data): Major global cities with well-defined boundaries including New York, London, Tokyo, Moscow, Sydney, and Los Angeles. Moderate Reliability Cities (8% of data): Cities with good boundary data but some complexity. Lower Reliability Cities (2% of data): Cities with evolving or disputed boundaries.
• ⚠️ Limitations & Considerations: Areas may vary due to different boundary definitions and calculation methods. Administrative boundaries can change over time. Rankings reflect total administrative area, not population density. Water bodies and uninhabited areas are included in calculations. Some cities may have significant rural areas within boundaries.