Istanbul
5,461 km²
Mexico City
1,485 km²
Turkey
Mexico
Area Comparison
Istanbul is 3.7x larger than Mexico City
Population Comparison
Istanbul has 1.7x more people than Mexico City
In terms of area, Istanbul is 3.7x the size of Mexico City. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while Mexico City covers 1,485 km² (573 mi²) — a difference of 3,976 km². You could fit Mexico City 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, Mexico City at 1,485 km² is roughly the same size as London.
In more relatable units, Istanbul's 5,461 km² is about 765,000 American football fields, 92 times the area of Manhattan, or 52 times the area of Paris. For Mexico City, that's about 208,000 American football fields, 25 times the area of Manhattan, or 14 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.
Mexico City is the capital and most populous city of Mexico, as well as the most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and financial centers in the world, and is classified as an Alpha world city according to the Globalization and World Cities Research Network (GaWC) 2024 ranking. Mexico City is located in the Valley of Mexico within the high Mexican central plateau, at an altitude of 2,240 meters.
Often called "CDMX", Mexico City has an area of 1,485 km² and is home to 9.2 million people. The city dates back to 1325. Visitors come for Zocalo square, Chapultepec Park, Frida Kahlo Museum, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Mexico City Metro.
Mexico City sits at an altitude of 2,240 meters in the Valley of Mexico on the high Mexican central plateau.
Looking beyond city limits, the Mexico City metropolitan area covers 7,854 km², which is 1.4x larger than greater Istanbul at 5,461 km². The Mexico City metro area is also more populous, with 21.8 million people compared to 15.5 million.
Istanbul has a population density of 2,831 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Mexico City, with 6,202 people per km², is a densely populated city. Mexico City is noticeably denser, packing 2.2 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Istanbul in Europe versus Mexico City in North America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Istanbul has a oceanic climate while Mexico City experiences subtropical highland conditions. When it's noon in Istanbul, it's 3:00 AM in Mexico City — a 9-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Mexico City fits inside Istanbul ~3 times
Density Gap
Mexico City is 2.2x more densely populated
Time Difference
9 hours apart
History
Istanbul is ~1,985 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).
Mexico City covers 1,485 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Delhi (1,484 km²), São Paulo (1,521 km²), Bangkok (1,569 km²), London (1,572 km²), or Bogotá (1,578 km²).
The straight-line distance from Istanbul to Mexico City is 11,427 km (7,100 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~13h 57m.
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