Houston
1,725 km²
Istanbul
5,461 km²
United States
Turkey
Area Comparison
Houston is 3.2x smaller than Istanbul
Population Comparison
Houston has 6.7x fewer people than Istanbul
Yes — Istanbul is 3.2x larger than Houston by area. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while Houston covers 1,725 km² (666 mi²) — a difference of 3,736 km². You could fit Houston inside Istanbul approximately 3 times.
To put Houston's size in perspective, its area of 1,725 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, Istanbul at 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai.
In more relatable units, Houston's 1,725 km² is about 242,000 American football fields, 29 times the area of Manhattan, or 16 times the area of Paris. Istanbul, by comparison, equals about 765,000 American football fields, 92 times the area of Manhattan, or 52 times the area of Paris.
Houston is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and the Southern United States. It is the fourth-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 2.3 million at the 2020 census. The Greater Houston metropolitan area, at 7.8 million residents, is the fifth-most populous metropolitan area in the nation and second-most populous in Texas. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, Houston is the county seat of Harris County.
Known as "Space City", Houston covers 1,725 km² with a population of 2.3 million. The city was established in 1836. Houston is known for NASA Johnson Space Center, Space Center Houston, Houston Astros, among other attractions.
Houston is the fourth-most populous US city with 2.3 million residents at the 2020 census, leading the entire South.
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.
Often called "City on Two Continents", Istanbul has an area of 5,461 km² and is home to 15.5 million people. Its history stretches 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.
Houston has a population density of 1,333 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Istanbul, with 2,831 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Istanbul is noticeably denser, packing 2.1 times more people per square kilometer.
Size Ratio
Houston fits inside Istanbul ~3 times
Density Gap
Istanbul is 2.1x more densely populated
History
Istanbul is ~2,496 years older
Houston covers 1,725 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Riyadh (1,798 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), London (1,572 km²), or Bangkok (1,569 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 Houston to Istanbul is 10,287 km (6,392 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~12h 36m.
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