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Turkey
USA
Area Comparison
Istanbul is 45.1x larger than San Francisco
Population Comparison
Istanbul has 17.8x more people than San Francisco
In terms of area, Istanbul is 45.1x the size of San Francisco. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while San Francisco covers 121 km² (47 mi²) — a difference of 5,340 km². You could fit San Francisco inside Istanbul approximately 45 times.
To put Istanbul's size in perspective, its area of 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai. Meanwhile, San Francisco at 121 km² is about 1.2x the size of Paris (city proper).
Turkey's largest city, spanning Europe and Asia. Known as "The 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 the only city in the world that spans two continents — Europe and Asia
A cultural and financial center in Northern California. Often called "SF", San Francisco has an area of 121 km² and is home to 0.9 million people. The city dates back to 1776. Visitors come for Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Cable cars, and much more. Getting around is easy with the BART & Muni.
San Francisco's 121 km² makes it one of the smallest major US cities by area
Looking beyond city limits, the San Francisco metropolitan area covers 6,984 km², which is 1.3x larger than greater Istanbul at 5,461 km². The Istanbul metro area is also more populous, with 15.5 million people compared to 4.7 million.
Istanbul has a population density of 2,831 people per km² — a moderately dense city. San Francisco, with 7,190 people per km², is a densely populated city. San Francisco is noticeably denser, packing 2.5 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Istanbul in Europe versus San Francisco in North America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Istanbul has a oceanic climate while San Francisco experiences Mediterranean conditions. When it's noon in Istanbul, it's 1:00 AM in San Francisco — a 11-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
San Francisco fits inside Istanbul ~45 times
Density Gap
San Francisco is 2.5x more densely populated
Time Difference
11 hours apart
History
Istanbul is ~2,436 years older
The straight-line distance from Istanbul to San Francisco is 10,785 km (6,702 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~13h 11m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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