City Map Compare/Delhi vs Johannesburg
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Delhi

1,484 km²

Johannesburg

1,644 km²

Delhi vs Johannesburg - City Size Comparison

Delhi vs Johannesburg - City Size Comparison

Delhi

India

Area1,484 km²
Population16.79M
Density11,314 /km²
Elevation216 m
Metro Pop.32.9M
Founded1500 BC
Climatehumid subtropical
Johannesburg

South Africa

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

Area Comparison

Delhi is 1.1x smaller than Johannesburg

Population Comparison

Delhi has 3.5x more people than Johannesburg

Is Delhi Bigger Than Johannesburg?

Johannesburg is significantly larger, covering 1.1 times the area of Delhi. Johannesburg spans 1,644 km² (635 mi²) while Delhi covers 1,484 km² (573 mi²) — a difference of 160 km².

To put Delhi's size in perspective, its area of 1,484 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, Johannesburg at 1,644 km² is roughly the same size as London.

Delhi's footprint is roughly about 208,000 American football fields, 25 times the area of Manhattan, or 14 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. For Johannesburg, that's about 230,000 American football fields, 28 times the area of Manhattan, or 16 times the area of Paris.

About Delhi

Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a megacity and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, but spread chiefly to the west, or beyond its right bank, Delhi shares borders with the state of Uttar Pradesh in the east and with the state of Haryana in the remaining directions. Delhi became a union territory on 1 November 1956 and the NCT in 1995. The NCT covers an area of 1,484 square kilometres (573 sq mi).

Known as "City of Djinns", Delhi covers 1,484 km² with a population of 16.8 million. The city was founded around 1500 BC. Delhi is known for Red Fort, India Gate, Qutub Minar, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Delhi Metro.

Delhi is a megacity and union territory of India, containing New Delhi, the capital of the country.

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.

Often called "Jozi", Johannesburg has an area of 1,644 km² and is home to 4.8 million people. It was established in 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

Delhi has a population density of 11,314 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Johannesburg, with 2,920 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Delhi is dramatically more crowded, with 3.9x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Density Gap

Delhi is 3.9x more densely populated

History

Delhi is ~3,386 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Delhi

Delhi covers 1,484 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Mexico City (1,485 km²), São Paulo (1,521 km²), Bangkok (1,569 km²), London (1,572 km²), or Bogotá (1,578 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 Delhi actually bigger than Johannesburg?
Johannesburg is 1.1 times larger than Delhi by area. Johannesburg covers 1,644 km² while Delhi spans 1,484 km², a difference of 160 km².
How many times does Delhi fit inside Johannesburg?
Delhi (1,484 km²) fits inside Johannesburg (1,644 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Johannesburg is 1.1x the area of Delhi.
What is the population difference between Delhi and Johannesburg?
Delhi has approximately 16.8 million people, while Johannesburg has about 4.8 million. Delhi has 12.0 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Delhi or Johannesburg?
Delhi is more densely populated with 11,314 people per km², compared to 2,920 people per km².
Which city is older, Delhi or Johannesburg?
Delhi is older, founded around -1500, while Johannesburg was established around 1886 — a difference of about 3386 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 Delhi and Johannesburg

The straight-line distance from Delhi to Johannesburg is 8,042 km (4,997 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~9h 58m.

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