City Map Compare/Johannesburg vs Minneapolis
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Johannesburg

1,644 km²

Minneapolis

149 km²

Johannesburg vs Minneapolis - City Size Comparison

Johannesburg vs Minneapolis - City Size Comparison

Johannesburg

South Africa

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

United States

Area149 km²
Population0.43M
Density2,886 /km²
Elevation264 m
Founded1850
Climatehot-summer humid continental climate

Area Comparison

Johannesburg is 11.0x larger than Minneapolis

Population Comparison

Johannesburg has 11.2x more people than Minneapolis

Is Johannesburg Bigger Than Minneapolis?

Yes — Johannesburg is 11.0x larger than Minneapolis by area. Johannesburg spans 1,644 km² (635 mi²) while Minneapolis covers 149 km² (58 mi²) — a difference of 1,495 km². You could fit Minneapolis inside Johannesburg approximately 11 times.

To put Johannesburg's size in perspective, its area of 1,644 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, Minneapolis at 149 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Washington D.C..

Johannesburg's footprint is roughly about 230,000 American football fields, 28 times the area of Manhattan, or 16 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. For Minneapolis, that's about 21,000 American football fields, 74 times the area of Monaco, or 44 times the area of Central Park.

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.

Known as "Jozi", Johannesburg covers 1,644 km² with a population of 4.8 million. The city was established in 1886. Johannesburg is known for Apartheid Museum, Soweto township, Constitutional Court, among other attractions.

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

About Minneapolis

Minneapolis is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 429,954 as of the 2020 census, it is the state's most populous city. Located in the state's center near the eastern border, it occupies both banks of the Upper Mississippi River and adjoins Saint Paul, the state capital of Minnesota. Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and the surrounding area are collectively known as the Twin Cities, a metropolitan area with 3.69 million residents.

Nicknamed "Twin Cities", Minneapolis has an area of 149 km² and is home to 0.4 million people. It was established in 1850. Visitors come for Mall of America, Mississippi River, Minnehaha Falls, and much more.

Minneapolis straddles both banks of the Upper Mississippi River and adjoins Saint Paul, Minnesota's state capital.

Population Density

Johannesburg has a population density of 2,920 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Minneapolis, with 2,886 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Johannesburg is slightly more compact.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Minneapolis fits inside Johannesburg ~11 times

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).

Cities Similar in Size to Minneapolis

Minneapolis covers 149 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Miami (143 km²), Brussels (161 km²), Washington D.C. (177 km²), San Francisco (121 km²), or Stockholm (188 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Johannesburg actually bigger than Minneapolis?
Johannesburg is 11.0 times larger than Minneapolis by area. Johannesburg covers 1,644 km² while Minneapolis spans 149 km², a difference of 1,495 km².
How many times does Minneapolis fit inside Johannesburg?
Minneapolis (149 km²) fits inside Johannesburg (1,644 km²) approximately 11 times. That means Johannesburg is 11.0x the area of Minneapolis.
What is the population difference between Johannesburg and Minneapolis?
Johannesburg has approximately 4.8 million people, while Minneapolis has about 0.4 million. Johannesburg has 4.4 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Johannesburg or Minneapolis?
Johannesburg is more densely populated with 2,920 people per km², compared to 2,886 people per km².
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 Johannesburg and Minneapolis

The straight-line distance from Johannesburg to Minneapolis is 14,449 km (8,978 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~17h 30m.

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