Istanbul
5,461 km²
Karachi
3,527 km²
Turkey
Pakistan
Area Comparison
Istanbul is 1.5x larger than Karachi
Population Comparison
Istanbul has 1.0x more people than Karachi
In terms of area, Istanbul is 1.5x the size of Karachi. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while Karachi covers 3,527 km² (1,362 mi²) — a difference of 1,934 km².
To put Istanbul's size in perspective, its area of 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai. Meanwhile, Karachi at 3,527 km² is about 1.1x smaller than Rhode Island.
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. Karachi works out to about 494,000 American football fields, 60 times the area of Manhattan, or 33 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.
Karachi is the capital city of the province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is the largest city in Pakistan and 12th largest in the world, with a population of over 20 million. It is situated at the southern tip of the country along the Arabian Sea coast and formerly served as the country's capital from 1947 to 1959. Ranked as a beta-global city, it is Pakistan's premier industrial and financial centre, with an estimated GDP of over $200 billion (PPP) as of 2021.
Also known as "City of Lights", Karachi has an area of 3,527 km² and is home to 14.9 million people. The city dates back to 1729. Visitors come for Port of Karachi, Mazar-e-Quaid mausoleum, Clifton Beach, and much more.
Karachi is Pakistan's largest city and the 12th largest in the world, with a population of over 20 million.
Istanbul has a population density of 2,831 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Karachi, with 4,227 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Karachi is slightly more compact.
Density Gap
Karachi is 1.5x more densely populated
History
Istanbul is ~2,389 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).
Karachi covers 3,527 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Hanoi (3,359 km²), Cairo (3,085 km²), Dubai (4,114 km²), Lima (2,672 km²), or Moscow (2,511 km²).
The straight-line distance from Istanbul to Karachi is 3,936 km (2,446 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~5h 8m.
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