Beijing
16,411 km²
Istanbul
5,461 km²
China
Turkey
Area Comparison
Beijing is 3.0x larger than Istanbul
Population Comparison
Beijing has 1.4x more people than Istanbul
In terms of area, Beijing is 3.0x the size of Istanbul. Beijing spans 16,411 km² (6,336 mi²) while Istanbul covers 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) — a difference of 10,950 km². You could fit Istanbul inside Beijing approximately 3 times.
To put Beijing's size in perspective, its area of 16,411 km² is about 2.6x the size of Shanghai. Meanwhile, Istanbul at 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai.
Beijing's footprint is roughly about 2,300,000 American football fields, 160 times the area of Paris, or 140 times the area of San Francisco — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. For Istanbul, that's about 765,000 American football fields, 92 times the area of Manhattan, or 52 times the area of Paris.
Beijing, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's most populous national capital city, as well as China's second-largest city by urban area, after Shanghai. It is located in Northern China, and is governed as a municipality under the direct administration of the State Council with 16 urban districts.
Known as "Northern Capital", Beijing covers 16,411 km² with a population of 21.5 million. The city was founded around 1045 BC. Beijing is known for Forbidden City, Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Beijing Subway.
With over 22 million residents, Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city.
Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical center. With a population of over 15 million, it is home to 18% of the population of Turkey. Istanbul is among the largest cities in Europe and in the world by population. It is a city on two continents; about two-thirds of its population live in Europe and the rest in Asia.
Also known as "City on Two Continents", Istanbul has an area of 5,461 km² and is home to 15.5 million people. The city dates back to 660 BC. Visitors come for Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Istanbul Metro.
Istanbul is one of the only major cities to span two continents, with about two-thirds of its population living in Europe and the rest in Asia.
Looking beyond city limits, the Beijing metropolitan area covers 16,411 km², which is 3.0x larger than greater Istanbul at 5,461 km². The Beijing metro area is also more populous, with 21.5 million people compared to 15.5 million.
Beijing has a population density of 1,313 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Istanbul, with 2,831 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Istanbul is noticeably denser, packing 2.2 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Beijing in Asia versus Istanbul in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Beijing has a humid continental climate while Istanbul experiences oceanic conditions. When it's noon in Beijing, it's 7:00 AM in Istanbul — a 5-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Istanbul fits inside Beijing ~3 times
Density Gap
Istanbul is 2.2x more densely populated
Time Difference
5 hours apart
History
Beijing is ~385 years older
Beijing covers 16,411 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Hangzhou (16,854 km²), Brisbane (15,826 km²), Chengdu (14,378 km²), Sydney (12,368 km²), or Xi'an (10,097 km²).
Istanbul covers 5,461 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Shanghai (6,341 km²), Perth (6,417 km²), Dubai (4,114 km²), Guangzhou (7,434 km²), or Karachi (3,527 km²).
The straight-line distance from Beijing to Istanbul is 7,056 km (4,384 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~8h 48m.
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