Manila
43 km²
Seoul
605 km²
Philippines
South Korea
Area Comparison
Manila is 14.1x smaller than Seoul
Population Comparison
Manila has 5.3x fewer people than Seoul
In terms of area, Seoul is 14.1x the size of Manila. Seoul spans 605 km² (234 mi²) while Manila covers 43 km² (17 mi²) — a difference of 562 km². You could fit Manila inside Seoul approximately 14 times.
To put Manila's size in perspective, its area of 43 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Manhattan. Meanwhile, Seoul at 605 km² is about 1.3x smaller than New York City.
Manila's footprint is roughly about 6,000 American football fields, 88 times the area of Vatican City, or 21 times the area of Monaco — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. For Seoul, that's about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan.
Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 1,902,590 people. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on the island of Luzon, it is classified as a highly urbanized city. With 44,935 inhabitants per square kilometer (116,380/sq mi), Manila is one of the world's most densely populated cities proper.
Known as "Pearl of the Orient", Manila covers 43 km² with a population of 1.9 million. The city was established in 1571. Manila is known for Intramuros walled city, Rizal Park, Manila Bay, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the LRT & MRT Manila.
Manila has 44,935 inhabitants per square kilometer, making it one of the world's most densely populated cities proper.
Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital and largest city of South Korea, and the largest city in the whole of Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's sixth largest metropolitan economy in 2022, behind New York, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Paris, and London, and hosts more than half of South Korea's population.
Seoul has an area of 605 km² and is home to 9.8 million people. The city dates back to 18 BC. Visitors come for Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gangnam district, Myeongdong shopping, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Seoul Metro.
Seoul Metropolitan Area emerged as the world's sixth largest metropolitan economy in 2022, behind only NYC, Tokyo, LA, Paris, and London.
Looking beyond city limits, the Seoul metropolitan area covers 11,704 km², which is 18.9x larger than greater Manila at 620 km². The Seoul metro area is also more populous, with 25.5 million people compared to 13.9 million.
Manila has a population density of 43,023 people per km² — one of the most densely packed urban areas on Earth. Seoul, with 16,149 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Manila is noticeably denser, packing 2.7 times more people per square kilometer.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Manila (Philippines) and Seoul (South Korea) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Manila has a tropical savanna climate while Seoul experiences humid continental conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Manila stays around 26°C while Seoul drops to -3°C.
Size Ratio
Manila fits inside Seoul ~14 times
Density Gap
Manila is 2.7x more densely populated
History
Seoul is ~1,589 years older
Manila covers 43 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Athens (39 km²), Tel Aviv (52 km²), Zurich (88 km²), Copenhagen (91 km²), or Lisbon (100 km²).
Seoul covers 605 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Chicago (606 km²), Madrid (604 km²), Mumbai (603 km²), Toronto (630 km²), or Hyderabad (650 km²).
The straight-line distance from Manila to Seoul is 2,621 km (1,629 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 35m.
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