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Malaysia
Philippines
Area Comparison
Kuala Lumpur is 5.7x larger than Manila
Population Comparison
Kuala Lumpur has 1.1x more people than Manila
In terms of area, Kuala Lumpur is 5.7x the size of Manila. Kuala Lumpur spans 243 km² (94 mi²) while Manila covers 43 km² (17 mi²) — a difference of 200 km². You could fit Manila inside Kuala Lumpur approximately 5 times.
To put Kuala Lumpur's size in perspective, its area of 243 km² is about 1.1x the size of Amsterdam. Meanwhile, Manila at 43 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Manhattan.
Malaysia's capital, known for the Petronas Twin Towers. Known as "KL", Kuala Lumpur covers 243 km² with a population of 2.0 million. The city was established in 1857. Kuala Lumpur is known for Petronas Twin Towers, Batu Caves, Bukit Bintang shopping, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the RapidKL (LRT, MRT & Monorail).
Kuala Lumpur means 'muddy confluence' in Malay, named for the meeting point of two rivers
Capital of the Philippines and one of the most densely populated cities. Often called "Pearl of the Orient Seas", Manila has an area of 43 km² and is home to 1.9 million people. It was established in 1571. Visitors come for Intramuros walled city, Rizal Park, San Agustin Church, and much more. Getting around is easy with the LRT & MRT Manila.
At 43 km², Manila's city proper is one of the smallest in Asia but has the highest population density of any major city in the world
Looking beyond city limits, the Kuala Lumpur metropolitan area covers 2,793 km², which is 4.5x larger than greater Manila at 620 km². The Manila metro area is also more populous, with 13.9 million people compared to 8.4 million.
Kuala Lumpur has a population density of 8,148 people per km² — a densely populated city. Manila, with 43,023 people per km², is one of the most densely packed urban areas on Earth. Manila is dramatically more crowded, with 5.3x the population density.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and Manila (Philippines) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Kuala Lumpur has a tropical rainforest climate while Manila experiences tropical savanna conditions.
Size Ratio
Manila fits inside Kuala Lumpur ~5 times
Density Gap
Manila is 5.3x more densely populated
History
Manila is ~286 years older
The straight-line distance from Kuala Lumpur to Manila is 2,470 km (1,535 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 24m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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