City Map Compare/Istanbul vs Lima
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Istanbul

5,461 km²

Lima

2,672 km²

Istanbul vs Lima - City Size Comparison

Istanbul vs Lima - City Size Comparison

Istanbul

Turkey

Area5,461 km²
Population15.46M
Density2,831 /km²
Elevation40 m
Metro Pop.15.5M
Founded660 BC
Climateoceanic
Lima

Peru

Area2,672 km²
Population9.94M
Density3,720 /km²
Elevation154 m
Founded1535
Climatedesert climate

Area Comparison

Istanbul is 2.0x larger than Lima

Population Comparison

Istanbul has 1.6x more people than Lima

Is Istanbul Bigger Than Lima?

Istanbul is significantly larger, covering 2.0 times the area of Lima. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while Lima covers 2,672 km² (1,032 mi²) — a difference of 2,789 km². You could fit Lima inside Istanbul approximately 2 times.

To put Istanbul's size in perspective, its area of 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai. Meanwhile, Lima at 2,672 km² is roughly the same size as Luxembourg.

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 Lima, that's about 374,000 American football fields, 45 times the area of Manhattan, or 25 times the area of Paris.

About Istanbul

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.

About Lima

Lima is the capital and largest city of Peru, as well as a primate city. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of the central coastal part of the country, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The city is considered the political, cultural, financial and commercial center of Peru. Due to its geostrategic importance, the Globalization and World Cities Research Network has categorized it as a "beta" tier city.

Often called "City of Kings", Lima has an area of 2,672 km² and is home to 9.9 million people. The city dates back to 1535. Visitors come for Plaza Mayor de Lima, Miraflores district, Larco Museum, and much more.

Lima sprawls across the desert valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers along Peru's Pacific coast.

Population Density

Istanbul has a population density of 2,831 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Lima, with 3,720 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Lima is slightly more compact.

Climate & Time Zone

Istanbul has a oceanic climate while Lima experiences desert climate conditions.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Lima fits inside Istanbul ~2 times

Density Gap

Lima is 1.3x more densely populated

History

Istanbul is ~2,195 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Istanbul

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).

Cities Similar in Size to Lima

Lima covers 2,672 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Moscow (2,511 km²), Cape Town (2,455 km²), Cairo (3,085 km²), Tokyo (2,194 km²), or Hanoi (3,359 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Istanbul bigger than Lima?
Istanbul is 2.0 times larger than Lima by area. Istanbul covers 5,461 km² while Lima spans 2,672 km², a difference of 2,789 km².
How many times does Lima fit inside Istanbul?
Lima (2,672 km²) fits inside Istanbul (5,461 km²) approximately 2 times. That means Istanbul is 2.0x the area of Lima.
What is the population difference between Istanbul and Lima?
Istanbul has approximately 15.5 million people, while Lima has about 9.9 million. Istanbul has 5.5 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Istanbul or Lima?
Lima is more densely populated with 3,720 people per km², compared to 2,831 people per km².
Which city is older, Istanbul or Lima?
Istanbul is older, founded around -660, while Lima was established around 1535 — a difference of about 2195 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 Istanbul and Lima

The straight-line distance from Istanbul to Lima is 12,223 km (7,595 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~14h 53m.

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