City Map Compare/Houston vs Oslo
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5 km
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Houston

1,725 km²

Oslo

454 km²

Houston vs Oslo - City Size Comparison

Houston vs Oslo - City Size Comparison

Houston

United States

Area1,725 km²
Population2.30M
Density1,333 /km²
Elevation13 m
Founded1836
Oslo

Norway

Area454 km²
Population0.72M
Density1,586 /km²
Elevation23 m
Founded1048

Area Comparison

Houston is 3.8x larger than Oslo

Population Comparison

Houston has 3.2x more people than Oslo

Is Houston Bigger Than Oslo?

Yes — Houston is 3.8x larger than Oslo by area. Houston spans 1,725 km² (666 mi²) while Oslo covers 454 km² (175 mi²) — a difference of 1,271 km². You could fit Oslo inside Houston approximately 3 times.

To put Houston's size in perspective, its area of 1,725 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, Oslo at 454 km² is about 1.3x smaller than Seoul.

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. Oslo, by comparison, equals about 64,000 American football fields, 130 times the area of Central Park, or 8 times the area of Manhattan.

About Houston

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.

About Oslo

Oslo is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of 724,290 in 2025, while the city's greater urban area had a population of 1,110,887 in 2025, and the metropolitan area had an estimated population of 1,546,706 in 2021.

Nicknamed "Tigerstaden", Oslo has an area of 454 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. Its history stretches back to 1048. Visitors come for Vigeland Park, Oslo Opera House, Akershus Fortress, and much more.

Oslo is both a county and a municipality, with the city itself home to about 724,000 residents in 2025.

Population Density

Houston has a population density of 1,333 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Oslo, with 1,586 people per km², is a relatively spread-out city. Both cities have comparable density, though Oslo is slightly more compact.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Oslo fits inside Houston ~3 times

History

Oslo is ~788 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Houston

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).

Cities Similar in Size to Oslo

Oslo covers 454 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Prague (496 km²), Vienna (415 km²), Montreal (498 km²), Denver (401 km²), or Warsaw (517 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Houston actually bigger than Oslo?
Houston is 3.8 times larger than Oslo by area. Houston covers 1,725 km² while Oslo spans 454 km², a difference of 1,271 km².
How many times does Oslo fit inside Houston?
Oslo (454 km²) fits inside Houston (1,725 km²) approximately 3 times. That means Houston is 3.8x the area of Oslo.
What is the population difference between Houston and Oslo?
Houston has approximately 2.3 million people, while Oslo has about 0.7 million. Houston has 1.6 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Houston or Oslo?
Oslo is more densely populated with 1,586 people per km², compared to 1,333 people per km².
Which city is older, Houston or Oslo?
Oslo is older, founded around 1048, while Houston was established around 1836 — a difference of about 788 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 Houston and Oslo

The straight-line distance from Houston to Oslo is 8,008 km (4,976 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~9h 55m.

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