Istanbul
5,461 km²
Stockholm
188 km²
Turkey
Sweden
Area Comparison
Istanbul is 29.0x larger than Stockholm
Population Comparison
Istanbul has 15.8x more people than Stockholm
Istanbul is significantly larger, covering 29.0 times the area of Stockholm. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while Stockholm covers 188 km² (73 mi²) — a difference of 5,273 km². You could fit Stockholm inside Istanbul approximately 29 times.
To put Istanbul's size in perspective, its area of 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai. Meanwhile, Stockholm at 188 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C..
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. Stockholm works out to about 26,000 American football fields, 93 times the area of Monaco, or 55 times the area of Central Park.
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.
Stockholm is the capital and most populous city of Sweden, as well as the largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately 1 million people live in the municipality, with 1.6 million in the urban area, and 2.5 million in the metropolitan area. The city stretches across fourteen islands where Lake Mälaren flows into the Baltic Sea. Outside the city to the east, and along the coast, is the island chain of the Stockholm archipelago.
Often called "Venice of the North", Stockholm has an area of 188 km² and is home to 1.0 million people. It was established in 1252. Visitors come for Gamla Stan, Vasa Museum, Royal Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Stockholm Metro (Tunnelbana).
Stockholm stretches across fourteen islands where Lake Mälaren flows into the Baltic Sea, forming the Nordic countries' largest urban area.
Looking beyond city limits, the Stockholm metropolitan area covers 6,519 km², which is 1.2x larger than greater Istanbul at 5,461 km². The Istanbul metro area is also more populous, with 15.5 million people compared to 2.4 million.
Istanbul has a population density of 2,831 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Stockholm, with 5,213 people per km², is a densely populated city. Stockholm is noticeably denser, packing 1.8 times more people per square kilometer.
Both cities are in Europe, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Istanbul (Turkey) and Stockholm (Sweden) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Istanbul has a oceanic climate while Stockholm experiences humid continental conditions. When it's noon in Istanbul, it's 10:00 AM in Stockholm — a 2-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Stockholm fits inside Istanbul ~29 times
Density Gap
Stockholm is 1.8x more densely populated
History
Istanbul is ~1,912 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).
Stockholm covers 188 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Washington D.C. (177 km²), Buenos Aires (203 km²), Helsinki (214 km²), Amsterdam (219 km²), or Brussels (161 km²).
The straight-line distance from Istanbul to Stockholm is 2,174 km (1,351 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 3m.
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