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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.
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
Capital of South Korea and a major tech hub. Also known as "The Soul of Asia", 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, K-pop culture, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Seoul Metro.
Seoul's metro area contains nearly half of South Korea's entire population
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
The straight-line distance from Istanbul to Seoul is 7,954 km (4,942 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~9h 51m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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