Istanbul
5,461 km²
Washington D.C.
177 km²
Turkey
USA
Area Comparison
Istanbul is 30.9x larger than Washington D.C.
Population Comparison
Istanbul has 22.4x more people than Washington D.C.
Istanbul is significantly larger, covering 30.9 times the area of Washington D.C.. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while Washington D.C. covers 177 km² (68 mi²) — a difference of 5,284 km². You could fit Washington D.C. inside Istanbul approximately 30 times.
To put Istanbul's size in perspective, its area of 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai. Meanwhile, Washington D.C. at 177 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. For Washington D.C., that's about 25,000 American football fields, 88 times the area of Monaco, or 52 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.
Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia and commonly known as simply Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River across from Virginia and shares land borders with Maryland to its north and east. It was named after George Washington, a Founding Father and the first president of the United States.
Nicknamed "D.C.", Washington D.C. has an area of 177 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. Its history stretches back to 1790. Visitors come for White House, U.S. Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Washington Metro.
Washington D.C. sits on the Potomac River across from Virginia and is bordered by Maryland to its north and east
Looking beyond city limits, the Washington D.C. metropolitan area covers 14,412 km², which is 2.6x larger than greater Istanbul at 5,461 km². The Istanbul metro area is also more populous, with 15.5 million people compared to 6.3 million.
Istanbul has a population density of 2,831 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Washington D.C., with 3,898 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Washington D.C. is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — Istanbul in Europe versus Washington D.C. in North America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Istanbul has a oceanic climate while Washington D.C. experiences humid subtropical conditions. When it's noon in Istanbul, it's 4:00 AM in Washington D.C. — a 8-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Washington D.C. fits inside Istanbul ~30 times
Density Gap
Washington D.C. is 1.4x more densely populated
Time Difference
8 hours apart
History
Istanbul is ~2,450 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).
Washington D.C. covers 177 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Stockholm (188 km²), Brussels (161 km²), Buenos Aires (203 km²), Minneapolis (149 km²), or Helsinki (214 km²).
The straight-line distance from Istanbul to Washington D.C. is 8,397 km (5,218 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~10h 23m.
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