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Turkey
Australia
Area Comparison
Istanbul is 2.3x smaller than Sydney
Population Comparison
Istanbul has 2.9x more people than Sydney
Yes — Sydney is 2.3x larger than Istanbul by area. Sydney spans 12,368 km² (4,775 mi²) while Istanbul covers 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) — a difference of 6,907 km². You could fit Istanbul inside Sydney approximately 2 times.
To put Istanbul's size in perspective, its area of 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai. Meanwhile, Sydney at 12,368 km² is about 2.0x the size of Shanghai.
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
Australia's largest city, known for the Opera House. Often called "The Harbour City", Sydney has an area of 12,368 km² and is home to 5.3 million people. Its history stretches back to 1788. Visitors come for Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Sydney Trains.
Sydney's administrative area is so large it stretches from the coast to the Blue Mountains foothills
Looking beyond city limits, the Sydney metropolitan area covers 12,368 km², which is 2.3x larger than greater Istanbul at 5,461 km². The Istanbul metro area is also more populous, with 15.5 million people compared to 5.3 million.
Istanbul has a population density of 2,831 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Sydney, with 429 people per km², is a low-density, sprawling urban area. Istanbul is dramatically more crowded, with 6.6x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Istanbul in Europe versus Sydney in Oceania. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Istanbul has a oceanic climate while Sydney experiences humid subtropical conditions. When it's noon in Sydney, it's 5:00 AM in Istanbul — a 7-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Istanbul fits inside Sydney ~2 times
Density Gap
Istanbul is 6.6x more densely populated
Time Difference
7 hours apart
History
Istanbul is ~2,448 years older
The straight-line distance from Istanbul to Sydney is 14,946 km (9,287 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~18h 5m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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