City Map Compare/Berlin vs Johannesburg
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Berlin

892 km²

Johannesburg

1,644 km²

Berlin vs Johannesburg - City Size Comparison

Berlin vs Johannesburg - City Size Comparison

Berlin

Germany

Area892 km²
Population3.65M
Density4,092 /km²
Elevation34 m
Metro Pop.6.1M
Founded1237
Climateoceanic
Johannesburg

South Africa

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

Area Comparison

Berlin is 1.8x smaller than Johannesburg

Population Comparison

Berlin has 1.3x fewer people than Johannesburg

Is Berlin Bigger Than Johannesburg?

Johannesburg is significantly larger, covering 1.8 times the area of Berlin. Johannesburg spans 1,644 km² (635 mi²) while Berlin covers 892 km² (344 mi²) — a difference of 752 km².

To put Berlin's size in perspective, its area of 892 km² is about 1.1x the size of New York City. Meanwhile, Johannesburg at 1,644 km² is roughly the same size as London.

Berlin's footprint is roughly about 125,000 American football fields, 15 times the area of Manhattan, or 8 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Johannesburg, by comparison, equals about 230,000 American football fields, 28 times the area of Manhattan, or 16 times the area of Paris.

About Berlin

Berlin is the capital of Germany, as well as its largest city by both area and population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the highest population within its city limits of any city in the European Union. The city is also one of the states of Germany, being the third-smallest state in the country by area. Berlin is surrounded by the state of Brandenburg, bordering Brandenburg's capital Potsdam to the southwest.

Berlin covers 892 km² with a population of 3.6 million. The city was established in 1237. Berlin is known for Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Wall, Reichstag Building, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the BVG (U-Bahn & S-Bahn).

Berlin holds the highest population within city limits of any city in the European Union, with 3.7 million inhabitants.

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. The city dates 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

Berlin has a population density of 4,092 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Johannesburg, with 2,920 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Berlin is slightly more compact.

Key Differences at a Glance

Density Gap

Berlin is 1.4x more densely populated

History

Berlin is ~649 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Berlin

Berlin covers 892 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Santiago (838 km²), Kyoto (828 km²), San Diego (964 km²), Abu Dhabi (972 km²), or Dallas (997 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 Berlin actually bigger than Johannesburg?
Johannesburg is 1.8 times larger than Berlin by area. Johannesburg covers 1,644 km² while Berlin spans 892 km², a difference of 752 km².
How many times does Berlin fit inside Johannesburg?
Berlin (892 km²) fits inside Johannesburg (1,644 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Johannesburg is 1.8x the area of Berlin.
What is the population difference between Berlin and Johannesburg?
Johannesburg has approximately 4.8 million people, while Berlin has about 3.6 million. Johannesburg has 1.1 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Berlin or Johannesburg?
Berlin is more densely populated with 4,092 people per km², compared to 2,920 people per km².
Which city is older, Berlin or Johannesburg?
Berlin is older, founded around 1237, while Johannesburg was established around 1886 — a difference of about 649 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 Berlin and Johannesburg

The straight-line distance from Berlin to Johannesburg is 8,869 km (5,511 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~10h 56m.

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