Istanbul
5,461 km²
Riyadh
1,798 km²
Turkey
Saudi Arabia
Area Comparison
Istanbul is 3.0x larger than Riyadh
Population Comparison
Istanbul has 2.2x more people than Riyadh
Yes — Istanbul is 3.0x larger than Riyadh by area. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while Riyadh covers 1,798 km² (694 mi²) — a difference of 3,663 km². You could fit Riyadh 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, Riyadh at 1,798 km² is about 1.1x the size of 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. Riyadh works out to about 252,000 American football fields, 30 times the area of Manhattan, or 17 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.
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of the Riyadh Province and the centre of the Riyadh Governorate. Located on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa, the current form of the metropolis largely emerged in the 1950s as an expansion of the 18th-century walled town, following the dismantling of its defensive fortifications.
Riyadh has an area of 1,798 km² and is home to 7.0 million people. Its history stretches back to 1746. Visitors come for Kingdom Centre Tower, Masmak Fortress, Al Faisaliah Tower, and much more.
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia, sitting on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa.
Istanbul has a population density of 2,831 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Riyadh, with 3,899 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Riyadh is slightly more compact.
Size Ratio
Riyadh fits inside Istanbul ~3 times
Density Gap
Riyadh is 1.4x more densely populated
History
Istanbul is ~2,406 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).
Riyadh covers 1,798 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Houston (1,725 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), Shenzhen (1,997 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), or London (1,572 km²).
The straight-line distance from Istanbul to Riyadh is 2,452 km (1,524 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 23m.
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