Manila
43 km²
Taipei
272 km²
Philippines
Taiwan
Area Comparison
Manila is 6.3x smaller than Taipei
Population Comparison
Manila has 1.4x fewer people than Taipei
Yes — Taipei is 6.3x larger than Manila by area. Taipei spans 272 km² (105 mi²) while Manila covers 43 km² (17 mi²) — a difference of 229 km². You could fit Manila inside Taipei approximately 6 times.
To put Manila's size in perspective, its area of 43 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Manhattan. Meanwhile, Taipei at 272 km² is about 1.2x the size of Amsterdam.
In more relatable units, Manila's 43 km² is about 6,000 American football fields, 88 times the area of Vatican City, or 21 times the area of Monaco. For Taipei, that's about 38,000 American football fields, 130 times the area of Monaco, or 80 times the area of Central Park.
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.
Taipei, officially Taipei City, is the capital and a special municipality of Taiwan. Located in Northern Taiwan, Taipei City is an enclave of the municipality of New Taipei City that sits about 25 kilometres (16 mi) southwest of the northern port city of Keelung. Most of the city rests on the Taipei Basin, an ancient lakebed. The basin is bounded by the relatively narrow valleys of the Keelung and Xindian rivers, which join to form the Tamsui River along the city's western border.
Taipei has an area of 272 km² and is home to 2.6 million people. It was established in 1709. Visitors come for Taipei 101 tower, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial, Shilin Night Market, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Taipei Metro (MRT).
Most of Taipei rests on the Taipei Basin, an ancient lakebed bounded by narrow river valleys.
Looking beyond city limits, the Taipei metropolitan area covers 2,458 km², which is 4.0x larger than greater Manila at 620 km². The Manila metro area is also more populous, with 13.9 million people compared to 7.0 million.
Manila has a population density of 43,023 people per km² — one of the most densely packed urban areas on Earth. Taipei, with 9,743 people per km², is a densely populated city. Manila is dramatically more crowded, with 4.4x the population density.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Manila (Philippines) and Taipei (Taiwan) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Manila has a tropical savanna climate while Taipei experiences humid subtropical conditions.
Size Ratio
Manila fits inside Taipei ~6 times
Density Gap
Manila is 4.4x more densely populated
History
Manila is ~138 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).
Taipei covers 272 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Edinburgh (259 km²), Kuala Lumpur (243 km²), Munich (311 km²), Boston (232 km²), or Osaka (225 km²).
The straight-line distance from Manila to Taipei is 1,162 km (722 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 52m.
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