City Map Compare/Brisbane vs Edinburgh
vs
5 km
|

Brisbane

15,826 km²

Edinburgh

259 km²

Brisbane vs Edinburgh - City Size Comparison

Brisbane vs Edinburgh - City Size Comparison

Brisbane

Australia

Area15,826 km²
Population2.71M
Density171 /km²
Elevation0 m
Founded1824
Edinburgh

United Kingdom

Area259 km²
Population0.49M
Density1,892 /km²
Elevation47 m
Founded601

Area Comparison

Brisbane is 61.1x larger than Edinburgh

Population Comparison

Brisbane has 5.5x more people than Edinburgh

Is Brisbane Bigger Than Edinburgh?

Brisbane is significantly larger, covering 61.1 times the area of Edinburgh. Brisbane spans 15,826 km² (6,110 mi²) while Edinburgh covers 259 km² (100 mi²) — a difference of 15,567 km². You could fit Edinburgh inside Brisbane approximately 61 times.

To put Brisbane's size in perspective, its area of 15,826 km² is about 2.5x the size of Shanghai. Meanwhile, Edinburgh at 259 km² is about 1.2x the size of Amsterdam.

In more relatable units, Brisbane's 15,826 km² is about 2,200,000 American football fields, 150 times the area of Paris, or 130 times the area of San Francisco. Edinburgh, by comparison, equals about 36,000 American football fields, 130 times the area of Monaco, or 76 times the area of Central Park.

About Brisbane

Brisbane is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Queensland and the third-most populous city in Australia, with a population of approximately 2.8 million. Brisbane lies at the centre of South East Queensland, a bio-geographical and urban region with an estimated population of 4.1 million as of 2024. The central business district is situated within a peninsula of the Brisbane River approximately 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from its mouth at Moreton Bay.

Known as "Brissy", Brisbane covers 15,826 km² with a population of 2.7 million. The city was established in 1824. Brisbane is known for Brisbane River, South Bank Parklands, Story Bridge, among other attractions.

Brisbane is Queensland's capital and Australia's third-most populous city with around 2.8 million residents.

About Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. It is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh had a population of 506,520 in 2020, making it the second-most-populous city in Scotland and the seventh-most-populous in the United Kingdom. The wider metropolitan area had a population of 912,490 in the same year.

Also known as "Auld Reekie", Edinburgh has an area of 259 km² and is home to 0.5 million people. Its history stretches back to 601. Visitors come for Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, Arthur's Seat, and much more.

Edinburgh is bounded by the Firth of Forth to the north and the Pentland Hills to the south.

Population Density

Brisbane has a population density of 171 people per km² — a low-density, sprawling urban area. Edinburgh, with 1,892 people per km², is a relatively spread-out city. Edinburgh is dramatically more crowded, with 11.1x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Edinburgh fits inside Brisbane ~61 times

Density Gap

Edinburgh is 11.1x more densely populated

History

Edinburgh is ~1,223 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Brisbane

Brisbane covers 15,826 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Beijing (16,411 km²), Hangzhou (16,854 km²), Chengdu (14,378 km²), Sydney (12,368 km²), or Xi'an (10,097 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Edinburgh

Edinburgh covers 259 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Taipei (272 km²), Kuala Lumpur (243 km²), Boston (232 km²), Osaka (225 km²), or Amsterdam (219 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brisbane bigger than Edinburgh?
Brisbane is 61.1 times larger than Edinburgh by area. Brisbane covers 15,826 km² while Edinburgh spans 259 km², a difference of 15,567 km².
How many times does Edinburgh fit inside Brisbane?
Edinburgh (259 km²) fits inside Brisbane (15,826 km²) approximately 61 times. That means Brisbane is 61.1x the area of Edinburgh.
What is the population difference between Brisbane and Edinburgh?
Brisbane has approximately 2.7 million people, while Edinburgh has about 0.5 million. Brisbane has 2.2 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Brisbane or Edinburgh?
Edinburgh is more densely populated with 1,892 people per km², compared to 171 people per km².
Which city is older, Brisbane or Edinburgh?
Edinburgh is older, founded around 601, while Brisbane was established around 1824 — a difference of about 1223 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 Brisbane and Edinburgh

The straight-line distance from Brisbane to Edinburgh is 16,323 km (10,143 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~19h 42m.

Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.