Istanbul
5,461 km²
Seoul
605 km²
Turkey
South Korea
Area Comparison
Istanbul is 9.0x larger than Seoul
Population Comparison
Istanbul has 1.6x more people than Seoul
Istanbul is significantly larger, covering 9.0 times the area of Seoul. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while Seoul covers 605 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 4,856 km². You could fit Seoul inside Istanbul approximately 9 times.
To put Istanbul's size in perspective, its area of 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai. Meanwhile, Seoul at 605 km² is about 1.3x smaller than New York City.
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. For Seoul, that's about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan.
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.
Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital and largest city of South Korea, and the largest city in the whole of Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's sixth largest metropolitan economy in 2022, behind New York, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Paris, and London, and hosts more than half of South Korea's population.
Seoul has an area of 605 km² and is home to 9.8 million people. Its history stretches back to 18 BC. Visitors come for Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gangnam district, Myeongdong shopping, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Seoul Metro.
Seoul Metropolitan Area emerged as the world's sixth largest metropolitan economy in 2022, behind only NYC, Tokyo, LA, Paris, and London.
Looking beyond city limits, the Seoul metropolitan area covers 11,704 km², which is 2.1x larger than greater Istanbul at 5,461 km². The Seoul metro area is also more populous, with 25.5 million people compared to 15.5 million.
Istanbul has a population density of 2,831 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Seoul, with 16,149 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Seoul is dramatically more crowded, with 5.7x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Istanbul in Europe versus Seoul in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Istanbul has a oceanic climate while Seoul experiences humid continental conditions. When it's noon in Seoul, it's 6:00 AM in Istanbul — a 6-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Seoul fits inside Istanbul ~9 times
Density Gap
Seoul is 5.7x more densely populated
Time Difference
6 hours apart
History
Istanbul is ~642 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).
Seoul covers 605 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Chicago (606 km²), Madrid (604 km²), Mumbai (603 km²), Toronto (630 km²), or Hyderabad (650 km²).
The straight-line distance from Istanbul to Seoul is 7,954 km (4,942 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~9h 51m.
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