City Map Compare/Bangkok vs Johannesburg
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5 km
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Bangkok

1,569 km²

Johannesburg

1,644 km²

Bangkok vs Johannesburg - City Size Comparison

Bangkok vs Johannesburg - City Size Comparison

Bangkok

Thailand

Area1,569 km²
Population10.54M
Density6,718 /km²
Elevation2 m
Metro Pop.16.2M
Founded1782
Climatetropical savanna
Johannesburg

South Africa

Area1,644 km²
Population4.80M
Density2,920 /km²
Elevation1,753 m
Founded1886

Area Comparison

Bangkok is 1.0x smaller than Johannesburg

Population Comparison

Bangkok has 2.2x more people than Johannesburg

Is Bangkok Bigger Than Johannesburg?

Johannesburg is significantly larger, covering 1.0 times the area of Bangkok. Johannesburg spans 1,644 km² (635 mi²) while Bangkok covers 1,569 km² (606 mi²) — a difference of 75 km².

To put Bangkok's size in perspective, its area of 1,569 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, Johannesburg at 1,644 km² is roughly the same size as London.

Bangkok's footprint is roughly about 220,000 American football fields, 27 times the area of Manhattan, or 15 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Johannesburg works out to about 230,000 American football fields, 28 times the area of Manhattan, or 16 times the area of Paris.

About Bangkok

Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies 1,568.7 square kilometres (605.7 sq mi) in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated population of 11.4 million people as of 2024, 15.9% of the country's population.

Known as "City of Angels", Bangkok covers 1,569 km² with a population of 10.5 million. The city was established in 1782. Bangkok is known for Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Wat Pho, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the BTS Skytrain & MRT.

Bangkok's official Thai name is Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, with the full ceremonial name being one of the longest place names in the world.

About Johannesburg

Johannesburg, colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg or "The City of Gold", is the most populous city in South Africa. The City of Johannesburg itself has a population of 5,538,596, while the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality has a population of 6,599,190, making it one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, and seat of the country's highest court, the Constitutional Court.

Also known as "Jozi", Johannesburg has an area of 1,644 km² and is home to 4.8 million people. Its history stretches back to 1886. Visitors come for Apartheid Museum, Soweto township, Constitutional Court, and much more.

Johannesburg ranks among the world's 100 largest urban areas, with a metro population of about 6.6 million.

Population Density

Bangkok has a population density of 6,718 people per km² — a densely populated city. Johannesburg, with 2,920 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Bangkok is noticeably denser, packing 2.3 times more people per square kilometer.

Key Differences at a Glance

Density Gap

Bangkok is 2.3x more densely populated

History

Bangkok is ~104 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Bangkok

Bangkok covers 1,569 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include London (1,572 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), São Paulo (1,521 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), or Mexico City (1,485 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Johannesburg

Johannesburg covers 1,644 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Bogotá (1,578 km²), London (1,572 km²), Bangkok (1,569 km²), Houston (1,725 km²), or São Paulo (1,521 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bangkok actually bigger than Johannesburg?
Johannesburg is 1.0 times larger than Bangkok by area. Johannesburg covers 1,644 km² while Bangkok spans 1,569 km², a difference of 75 km².
How many times does Bangkok fit inside Johannesburg?
Bangkok (1,569 km²) fits inside Johannesburg (1,644 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Johannesburg is 1.0x the area of Bangkok.
What is the population difference between Bangkok and Johannesburg?
Bangkok has approximately 10.5 million people, while Johannesburg has about 4.8 million. Bangkok has 5.7 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Bangkok or Johannesburg?
Bangkok is more densely populated with 6,718 people per km², compared to 2,920 people per km².
Which city is older, Bangkok or Johannesburg?
Bangkok is older, founded around 1782, while Johannesburg was established around 1886 — a difference of about 104 years.
How does the map comparison work?
Our synchronized map comparison tool displays both cities at the same zoom level. When you zoom in or out on one map, the other automatically adjusts to maintain the same scale, allowing you to directly compare the relative sizes of both cities.
Can I compare other cities?
Yes! Use the city selectors at the top of the page to choose any two cities from our database of 50+ major cities worldwide, or enter custom coordinates for any location.

Distance Between Bangkok and Johannesburg

The straight-line distance from Bangkok to Johannesburg is 8,999 km (5,592 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~11h 5m.

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