Hong Kong
1,114 km²
Seoul
605 km²
China
South Korea
Area Comparison
Hong Kong is 1.8x larger than Seoul
Population Comparison
Hong Kong has 1.3x fewer people than Seoul
Hong Kong is significantly larger, covering 1.8 times the area of Seoul. Hong Kong spans 1,114 km² (430 mi²) while Seoul covers 605 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 509 km².
To put Hong Kong's size in perspective, its area of 1,114 km² is about 1.2x the size of Berlin. Meanwhile, Seoul at 605 km² is about 1.3x smaller than New York City.
In more relatable units, Hong Kong's 1,114 km² is about 156,000 American football fields, 19 times the area of Manhattan, or 11 times the area of Paris. For Seoul, that's about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan.
Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. Situated on China's southern coast just south of Shenzhen, it consists of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. With 7.5 million residents in a 1,114-square-kilometre (430 sq mi) territory, Hong Kong is the fourth-most densely populated region in the world.
Known as "Pearl of the Orient", Hong Kong covers 1,114 km² with a population of 7.4 million. The city was established in 1841. Hong Kong is known for Victoria Harbour, Victoria Peak, Star Ferry, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the MTR Hong Kong.
Hong Kong squeezes 7.5 million residents into 1,114 km2, making it the world's fourth-most densely populated region.
Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital and largest city of South Korea, and the largest city in the whole of Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's sixth largest metropolitan economy in 2022, behind New York, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Paris, and London, and hosts more than half of South Korea's population.
Seoul has an area of 605 km² and is home to 9.8 million people. It was founded around 18 BC. Visitors come for Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gangnam district, Myeongdong shopping, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Seoul Metro.
Seoul Metropolitan Area emerged as the world's sixth largest metropolitan economy in 2022, behind only NYC, Tokyo, LA, Paris, and London.
Hong Kong has a population density of 6,652 people per km² — a densely populated city. Seoul, with 16,149 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Seoul is noticeably denser, packing 2.4 times more people per square kilometer.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Hong Kong (China) and Seoul (South Korea) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Hong Kong has a humid subtropical climate while Seoul experiences humid continental conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Hong Kong stays around 16°C while Seoul drops to -3°C.
Density Gap
Seoul is 2.4x more densely populated
History
Seoul is ~1,859 years older
Hong Kong covers 1,114 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Lagos (1,172 km²), San Antonio (1,209 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), Dallas (997 km²), or Abu Dhabi (972 km²).
Seoul covers 605 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Chicago (606 km²), Madrid (604 km²), Mumbai (603 km²), Toronto (630 km²), or Hyderabad (650 km²).
The straight-line distance from Hong Kong to Seoul is 2,092 km (1,300 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~2h 58m.
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