Sydney
12,368 km²
Tokyo
2,194 km²
Australia
Japan
Area Comparison
Sydney is 5.6x larger than Tokyo
Population Comparison
Sydney has 2.6x fewer people than Tokyo
Yes — Sydney is 5.6x larger than Tokyo by area. Sydney spans 12,368 km² (4,775 mi²) while Tokyo covers 2,194 km² (847 mi²) — a difference of 10,174 km². You could fit Tokyo inside Sydney approximately 5 times.
To put Sydney's size in perspective, its area of 12,368 km² is about 2.0x the size of Shanghai. Meanwhile, Tokyo at 2,194 km² is about 1.1x smaller than Moscow.
In more relatable units, Sydney's 12,368 km² is about 1,700,000 American football fields, 120 times the area of Paris, or 100 times the area of San Francisco. Tokyo, by comparison, equals about 307,000 American football fields, 37 times the area of Manhattan, or 21 times the area of Paris.
Sydney is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and is the most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about 80 kilometres (50 mi) from the Pacific Ocean in the east to the Blue Mountains in the west, and about 80 kilometres (50 mi) from Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and the Hawkesbury River in the north and north-west, to the Royal National Park and Macarthur in the south and south-west.
Known as "Sydneysiders", Sydney covers 12,368 km² with a population of 5.3 million. The city was established in 1788. Sydney is known for Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Sydney Trains.
Sydney stretches roughly 80 km from the Pacific Ocean in the east to the Blue Mountains in the west.
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital and most populous city of Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is one of the most populous urban areas in the world. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes Tokyo and parts of six neighboring prefectures, is the most populous metropolitan area in the world, with 41 million residents as of 2024.
Nicknamed "Eastern Capital", Tokyo has an area of 2,194 km² and is home to 14.0 million people. Its history stretches back to 1457. Visitors come for Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Tower, Imperial Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Tokyo Metro & JR East.
Greater Tokyo holds 41 million residents as of 2024, making it the most populous metropolitan area on Earth.
Looking beyond city limits, the Tokyo metropolitan area covers 13,572 km², which is 1.1x larger than greater Sydney at 12,368 km². The Tokyo metro area is also more populous, with 37.4 million people compared to 5.3 million.
Sydney has a population density of 429 people per km² — a low-density, sprawling urban area. Tokyo, with 6,363 people per km², is a densely populated city. Tokyo is dramatically more crowded, with 14.8x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Sydney in Oceania versus Tokyo in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Both cities share a humid subtropical climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each.
Size Ratio
Tokyo fits inside Sydney ~5 times
Density Gap
Tokyo is 14.8x more densely populated
History
Tokyo is ~331 years older
Sydney covers 12,368 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Chengdu (14,378 km²), Xi'an (10,097 km²), Melbourne (9,993 km²), Brisbane (15,826 km²), or Beijing (16,411 km²).
Tokyo covers 2,194 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Ho Chi Minh City (2,061 km²), Shenzhen (1,997 km²), Cape Town (2,455 km²), Moscow (2,511 km²), or Lima (2,672 km²).
The straight-line distance from Sydney to Tokyo is 7,826 km (4,863 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~9h 42m.
Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.