Istanbul
5,461 km²
Los Angeles
1,302 km²
Turkey
USA
Area Comparison
Istanbul is 4.2x larger than Los Angeles
Population Comparison
Istanbul has 3.9x more people than Los Angeles
In terms of area, Istanbul is 4.2x the size of Los Angeles. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while Los Angeles covers 1,302 km² (503 mi²) — a difference of 4,159 km². You could fit Los Angeles inside Istanbul approximately 4 times.
To put Istanbul's size in perspective, its area of 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai. Meanwhile, Los Angeles at 1,302 km² is about 1.2x smaller than 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. Los Angeles works out to about 182,000 American football fields, 22 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 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.
Los Angeles (LA) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Southern California. With an estimated 3.88 million residents within the city limits as of 2024, it is the second-most populous city in the United States, behind New York City, and the largest city in the Western United States. The city has an ethnically and culturally diverse population, and is the principal city of a metropolitan area of 12.9 million people (2024).
Also known as "The City of Angels", Los Angeles has an area of 1,302 km² and is home to 4.0 million people. Its history stretches back to 1781. Visitors come for Hollywood Sign, Santa Monica Pier, Beverly Hills, and much more. Getting around is easy with the LA Metro.
Los Angeles is the second-most populous city in the United States, home to 3.88 million residents within city limits as of 2024.
Looking beyond city limits, the Los Angeles metropolitan area covers 12,562 km², which is 2.3x larger than greater Istanbul at 5,461 km². The Istanbul metro area is also more populous, with 15.5 million people compared to 13.2 million.
Istanbul has a population density of 2,831 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Los Angeles, with 3,049 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Los Angeles is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — Istanbul in Europe versus Los Angeles in North America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Istanbul has a oceanic climate while Los Angeles experiences Mediterranean conditions. When it's noon in Istanbul, it's 1:00 AM in Los Angeles — a 11-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Los Angeles fits inside Istanbul ~4 times
Time Difference
11 hours apart
History
Istanbul is ~2,441 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).
Los Angeles covers 1,302 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Rome (1,285 km²), Phoenix (1,341 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), San Antonio (1,209 km²), or Lagos (1,172 km²).
The straight-line distance from Istanbul to Los Angeles is 11,020 km (6,848 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~13h 28m.
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