Istanbul
5,461 km²
Manila
43 km²
Turkey
Philippines
Area Comparison
Istanbul is 127.0x larger than Manila
Population Comparison
Istanbul has 8.4x more people than Manila
Yes — Istanbul is 127.0x larger than Manila by area. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while Manila covers 43 km² (17 mi²) — a difference of 5,418 km². You could fit Manila inside Istanbul approximately 127 times.
To put Istanbul's size in perspective, its area of 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai. Meanwhile, Manila at 43 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Manhattan.
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. Manila works out to about 6,000 American football fields, 88 times the area of Vatican City, or 21 times the area of Monaco.
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.
Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 1,902,590 people. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on the island of Luzon, it is classified as a highly urbanized city. With 44,935 inhabitants per square kilometer (116,380/sq mi), Manila is one of the world's most densely populated cities proper.
Often called "Pearl of the Orient", Manila has an area of 43 km² and is home to 1.9 million people. Its history stretches back to 1571. Visitors come for Intramuros walled city, Rizal Park, Manila Bay, and much more. Getting around is easy with the LRT & MRT Manila.
Manila has 44,935 inhabitants per square kilometer, making it one of the world's most densely populated cities proper.
Looking beyond city limits, the Istanbul metropolitan area covers 5,461 km², which is 8.8x larger than greater Manila at 620 km². The Istanbul metro area is also more populous, with 15.5 million people compared to 13.9 million.
Istanbul has a population density of 2,831 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Manila, with 43,023 people per km², is one of the most densely packed urban areas on Earth. Manila is dramatically more crowded, with 15.2x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Istanbul in Europe versus Manila in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Istanbul has a oceanic climate while Manila experiences tropical savanna conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Manila stays around 26°C while Istanbul drops to 6°C. When it's noon in Manila, it's 7:00 AM in Istanbul — a 5-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Manila fits inside Istanbul ~127 times
Density Gap
Manila is 15.2x more densely populated
Time Difference
5 hours apart
History
Istanbul is ~2,231 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).
Manila covers 43 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Athens (39 km²), Tel Aviv (52 km²), Zurich (88 km²), Copenhagen (91 km²), or Lisbon (100 km²).
The straight-line distance from Istanbul to Manila is 9,114 km (5,663 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~11h 13m.
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