How Big Is Johannesburg?
South Africa
Area
1,644 km²
635 mi²
Population
4.8M
Density
2,920/km²
Founded
1886
Johannesburg Size Overview
Johannesburg covers an area of 1,644 km² (635 mi²) in South Africa. Largest city in South Africa. The city is often called "Jozi". To put this in perspective, Johannesburg is roughly the same size as London. In more relatable units, that's about 230,000 American football fields, 28 times the area of Manhattan, or 16 times the area of Paris.
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.
With a population of 4.8 million, Johannesburg has a population density of 2,920 people per km².
Johannesburg has a history stretching back to 1886. The city is renowned for Apartheid Museum, Soweto township, Constitutional Court, and Nelson Mandela Square.
Did You Know?
- Johannesburg ranks among the world's 100 largest urban areas, with a metro population of about 6.6 million.
- It is the seat of South Africa's Constitutional Court, the country's highest court, and capital of wealthy Gauteng province.
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).