City Map Compare/Jakarta vs Johannesburg
vs
5 km
|

Jakarta

662 km²

Johannesburg

1,644 km²

Jakarta vs Johannesburg - City Size Comparison

Jakarta vs Johannesburg - City Size Comparison

Jakarta

Indonesia

Area662 km²
Population10.56M
Density15,952 /km²
Elevation8 m
Metro Pop.34.5M
Founded1527
Climatetropical monsoon
Johannesburg

South Africa

Area1,644 km²
Population4.80M
Density2,920 /km²
Elevation1,753 m
Founded1886

Area Comparison

Jakarta is 2.5x smaller than Johannesburg

Population Comparison

Jakarta has 2.2x more people than Johannesburg

Is Jakarta Bigger Than Johannesburg?

Yes — Johannesburg is 2.5x larger than Jakarta by area. Johannesburg spans 1,644 km² (635 mi²) while Jakarta covers 662 km² (256 mi²) — a difference of 982 km². You could fit Jakarta inside Johannesburg approximately 2 times.

To put Jakarta's size in perspective, its area of 662 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, Johannesburg at 1,644 km² is roughly the same size as London.

Jakarta's footprint is roughly about 93,000 American football fields, 190 times the area of Central Park, or 11 times the area of Manhattan — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Johannesburg, by comparison, equals about 230,000 American football fields, 28 times the area of Manhattan, or 16 times the area of Paris.

About Jakarta

Jakarta, officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta, is the de facto capital and largest city of Indonesia, with administrative status equivalent to a province. It lies on the northwestern coast of Java, borders the provinces of West Java and Banten, and faces the Java Sea to the north. Jakarta itself covers about 662 square kilometres, but the wider Jakarta metropolitan area—locally known as Jabodetabek—is among the largest urban agglomerations in the world.

Known as "Big Durian", Jakarta covers 662 km² with a population of 10.6 million. The city was established in 1527. Jakarta is known for National Monument Monas, Istiqlal Mosque, Kota Tua old town, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Jakarta MRT.

Jakarta has administrative status equivalent to a province as the Special Capital Region of Indonesia.

About Johannesburg

Johannesburg, colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg or "The City of Gold", is the most populous city in South Africa. The City of Johannesburg itself has a population of 5,538,596, while the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality has a population of 6,599,190, making it one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, and seat of the country's highest court, the Constitutional Court.

Also known as "Jozi", Johannesburg has an area of 1,644 km² and is home to 4.8 million people. The city dates back to 1886. Visitors come for Apartheid Museum, Soweto township, Constitutional Court, and much more.

Johannesburg ranks among the world's 100 largest urban areas, with a metro population of about 6.6 million.

Population Density

Jakarta has a population density of 15,952 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Johannesburg, with 2,920 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Jakarta is dramatically more crowded, with 5.5x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Jakarta fits inside Johannesburg ~2 times

Density Gap

Jakarta is 5.5x more densely populated

History

Jakarta is ~359 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Jakarta

Jakarta covers 662 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Hyderabad (650 km²), Toronto (630 km²), Nairobi (696 km²), Chicago (606 km²), or Seoul (605 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Johannesburg

Johannesburg covers 1,644 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Bogotá (1,578 km²), London (1,572 km²), Bangkok (1,569 km²), Houston (1,725 km²), or São Paulo (1,521 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Jakarta actually bigger than Johannesburg?
Johannesburg is 2.5 times larger than Jakarta by area. Johannesburg covers 1,644 km² while Jakarta spans 662 km², a difference of 982 km².
How many times does Jakarta fit inside Johannesburg?
Jakarta (662 km²) fits inside Johannesburg (1,644 km²) approximately 2 times. That means Johannesburg is 2.5x the area of Jakarta.
What is the population difference between Jakarta and Johannesburg?
Jakarta has approximately 10.6 million people, while Johannesburg has about 4.8 million. Jakarta has 5.8 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Jakarta or Johannesburg?
Jakarta is more densely populated with 15,952 people per km², compared to 2,920 people per km².
Which city is older, Jakarta or Johannesburg?
Jakarta is older, founded around 1527, while Johannesburg was established around 1886 — a difference of about 359 years.
How does the map comparison work?
Our synchronized map comparison tool displays both cities at the same zoom level. When you zoom in or out on one map, the other automatically adjusts to maintain the same scale, allowing you to directly compare the relative sizes of both cities.
Can I compare other cities?
Yes! Use the city selectors at the top of the page to choose any two cities from our database of 50+ major cities worldwide, or enter custom coordinates for any location.

Distance Between Jakarta and Johannesburg

The straight-line distance from Jakarta to Johannesburg is 8,588 km (5,336 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~10h 36m.

Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.