City Map Compare/Cape Town vs Minneapolis
vs
5 km
|

Cape Town

2,455 km²

Minneapolis

149 km²

Cape Town vs Minneapolis - City Size Comparison

Cape Town vs Minneapolis - City Size Comparison

Cape Town

South Africa

Area2,455 km²
Population3.78M
Density1,540 /km²
Elevation5 m
Founded1652
Minneapolis

United States

Area149 km²
Population0.43M
Density2,886 /km²
Elevation264 m
Founded1850
Climatehot-summer humid continental climate

Area Comparison

Cape Town is 16.5x larger than Minneapolis

Population Comparison

Cape Town has 8.8x more people than Minneapolis

Is Cape Town Bigger Than Minneapolis?

In terms of area, Cape Town is 16.5x the size of Minneapolis. Cape Town spans 2,455 km² (948 mi²) while Minneapolis covers 149 km² (58 mi²) — a difference of 2,306 km². You could fit Minneapolis inside Cape Town approximately 16 times.

To put Cape Town's size in perspective, its area of 2,455 km² is roughly the same size as Moscow. Meanwhile, Minneapolis at 149 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Washington D.C..

Picture Cape Town another way: its area is large enough to fit about 344,000 American football fields, 42 times the area of Manhattan, or 23 times the area of Paris. For Minneapolis, that's about 21,000 American football fields, 74 times the area of Monaco, or 44 times the area of Central Park.

About Cape Town

Cape Town is the legislative capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. Cape Town is the country's second-largest city by population, after Johannesburg, and the largest city in the Western Cape. The city is part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality.

Known as "The Mother City", Cape Town covers 2,455 km² with a population of 3.8 million. The city was established in 1652. Cape Town is known for Table Mountain, Cape of Good Hope, Robben Island, among other attractions.

Cape Town is South Africa's oldest city, founded in 1652 and home to the seat of the national Parliament.

About Minneapolis

Minneapolis is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 429,954 as of the 2020 census, it is the state's most populous city. Located in the state's center near the eastern border, it occupies both banks of the Upper Mississippi River and adjoins Saint Paul, the state capital of Minnesota. Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and the surrounding area are collectively known as the Twin Cities, a metropolitan area with 3.69 million residents.

Often called "Twin Cities", Minneapolis has an area of 149 km² and is home to 0.4 million people. Its history stretches back to 1850. Visitors come for Mall of America, Mississippi River, Minnehaha Falls, and much more.

Minneapolis straddles both banks of the Upper Mississippi River and adjoins Saint Paul, Minnesota's state capital.

Population Density

Cape Town has a population density of 1,540 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Minneapolis, with 2,886 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Minneapolis is noticeably denser, packing 1.9 times more people per square kilometer.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Minneapolis fits inside Cape Town ~16 times

Density Gap

Minneapolis is 1.9x more densely populated

History

Cape Town is ~198 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Cape Town

Cape Town covers 2,455 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Moscow (2,511 km²), Lima (2,672 km²), Tokyo (2,194 km²), Ho Chi Minh City (2,061 km²), or Shenzhen (1,997 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Minneapolis

Minneapolis covers 149 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Miami (143 km²), Brussels (161 km²), Washington D.C. (177 km²), San Francisco (121 km²), or Stockholm (188 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cape Town bigger than Minneapolis?
Cape Town is 16.5 times larger than Minneapolis by area. Cape Town covers 2,455 km² while Minneapolis spans 149 km², a difference of 2,306 km².
How many times does Minneapolis fit inside Cape Town?
Minneapolis (149 km²) fits inside Cape Town (2,455 km²) approximately 16 times. That means Cape Town is 16.5x the area of Minneapolis.
What is the population difference between Cape Town and Minneapolis?
Cape Town has approximately 3.8 million people, while Minneapolis has about 0.4 million. Cape Town has 3.3 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Cape Town or Minneapolis?
Minneapolis is more densely populated with 2,886 people per km², compared to 1,540 people per km².
Which city is older, Cape Town or Minneapolis?
Cape Town is older, founded around 1652, while Minneapolis was established around 1850 — a difference of about 198 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 Cape Town and Minneapolis

The straight-line distance from Cape Town to Minneapolis is 14,199 km (8,823 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~17h 12m.

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