Istanbul
5,461 km²
Johannesburg
1,644 km²
Turkey
South Africa
Area Comparison
Istanbul is 3.3x larger than Johannesburg
Population Comparison
Istanbul has 3.2x more people than Johannesburg
In terms of area, Istanbul is 3.3x the size of Johannesburg. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while Johannesburg covers 1,644 km² (635 mi²) — a difference of 3,817 km². You could fit Johannesburg inside Istanbul approximately 3 times.
To put Istanbul's size in perspective, its area of 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai. Meanwhile, Johannesburg at 1,644 km² is roughly the same size as London.
Picture Istanbul another way: its area is large enough to fit about 765,000 American football fields, 92 times the area of Manhattan, or 52 times the area of Paris. For Johannesburg, that's about 230,000 American football fields, 28 times the area of Manhattan, or 16 times the area of Paris.
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.
Known as "City on Two Continents", Istanbul covers 5,461 km² with a population of 15.5 million. The city was founded around 660 BC. Istanbul is known for Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is 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.
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. Its history stretches back to 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.
Istanbul has a population density of 2,831 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Johannesburg, with 2,920 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Johannesburg is slightly more compact.
Size Ratio
Johannesburg fits inside Istanbul ~3 times
History
Istanbul is ~2,546 years older
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).
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).
The straight-line distance from Istanbul to Johannesburg is 7,474 km (4,644 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~9h 18m.
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