Brussels
161 km²
Istanbul
5,461 km²
Belgium
Turkey
Area Comparison
Brussels is 33.9x smaller than Istanbul
Population Comparison
Brussels has 12.3x fewer people than Istanbul
Istanbul is significantly larger, covering 33.9 times the area of Brussels. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while Brussels covers 161 km² (62 mi²) — a difference of 5,300 km². You could fit Brussels inside Istanbul approximately 33 times.
To put Brussels's size in perspective, its area of 161 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C.. Meanwhile, Istanbul at 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai.
In more relatable units, Brussels's 161 km² is about 23,000 American football fields, 80 times the area of Monaco, or 47 times the area of Central Park. Istanbul, by comparison, equals about 765,000 American football fields, 92 times the area of Manhattan, or 52 times the area of Paris.
Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, is a region of Belgium comprising 19 municipalities, including the City of Brussels, which is the capital of Belgium. The Brussels-Capital Region is located in the central portion of the country. It is a part of both the French Community of Belgium and the Flemish Community, and is separate from the Flemish Region (Flanders), within which it forms an enclave, and the Walloon Region (Wallonia), located less than 4 km (2.5 mi) south.
Known as "Capital of Europe", Brussels covers 161 km² with a population of 1.3 million. The city was established in 1989. Brussels is known for Grand Place, Manneken Pis, Atomium, among other attractions.
The Brussels-Capital Region comprises 19 municipalities and forms an enclave entirely within the Flemish Region.
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.
Brussels has a population density of 7,826 people per km² — a densely populated city. Istanbul, with 2,831 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Brussels is noticeably denser, packing 2.8 times more people per square kilometer.
Size Ratio
Brussels fits inside Istanbul ~33 times
Density Gap
Brussels is 2.8x more densely populated
History
Istanbul is ~2,649 years older
Brussels covers 161 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Minneapolis (149 km²), Washington D.C. (177 km²), Miami (143 km²), Stockholm (188 km²), or Buenos Aires (203 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 Brussels to Istanbul is 2,181 km (1,355 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 4m.
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