Osaka
225 km²
Seoul
605 km²
Japan
South Korea
Area Comparison
Osaka is 2.7x smaller than Seoul
Population Comparison
Osaka has 3.6x fewer people than Seoul
Yes — Seoul is 2.7x larger than Osaka by area. Seoul spans 605 km² (234 mi²) while Osaka covers 225 km² (87 mi²) — a difference of 380 km². You could fit Osaka inside Seoul approximately 2 times.
To put Osaka's size in perspective, its area of 225 km² is roughly the same size as Amsterdam. Meanwhile, Seoul at 605 km² is about 1.3x smaller than New York City.
In more relatable units, Osaka's 225 km² is about 32,000 American football fields, 110 times the area of Monaco, or 66 times the area of Central Park. Seoul, by comparison, equals about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan.
Osaka is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third-most populous city in Japan, following the special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With an estimated population of 2,816,247 as of October 1, 2025 and a population density of about 12,505 people per square kilometer, it is the largest component of the Keihanshin Metropolitan Area, the second-largest metropolitan area in Japan and the 10th-largest urban…
Known as "Nation's Kitchen", Osaka covers 225 km² with a population of 2.8 million. The city was established in 645. Osaka is known for Osaka Castle, Dotonbori district, Universal Studios Japan, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Osaka Metro.
Osaka is the third-most populous city in Japan, following the special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama.
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. It was founded around 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 Osaka metropolitan area covers 13,228 km², which is 1.1x larger than greater Seoul at 11,704 km². The Seoul metro area is also more populous, with 25.5 million people compared to 19.3 million.
Osaka has a population density of 12,222 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Seoul, with 16,149 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Both cities have comparable density, though Seoul is slightly more compact.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Osaka (Japan) and Seoul (South Korea) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Osaka has a humid subtropical climate while Seoul experiences humid continental conditions.
Size Ratio
Osaka fits inside Seoul ~2 times
Density Gap
Seoul is 1.3x more densely populated
History
Seoul is ~663 years older
Osaka covers 225 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Amsterdam (219 km²), Boston (232 km²), Helsinki (214 km²), Kuala Lumpur (243 km²), or Buenos Aires (203 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 Osaka to Seoul is 829 km (515 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 29m.
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