Tehran
730 km²
Istanbul
5,461 km²
Iran
Turkey
Area Comparison
Tehran is 7.5x smaller than Istanbul
Population Comparison
Tehran has 1.7x fewer people than Istanbul
In terms of area, Istanbul is 7.5x the size of Tehran. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while Tehran covers 730 km² (282 mi²) — a difference of 4,731 km². You could fit Tehran inside Istanbul approximately 7 times.
To put Tehran's size in perspective, its area of 730 km² is roughly the same size as New York City. Meanwhile, Istanbul at 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai.
Picture Tehran another way: its area is large enough to fit about 102,000 American football fields, 12 times the area of Manhattan, or 7 times the area of Paris. Istanbul works out to about 765,000 American football fields, 92 times the area of Manhattan, or 52 times the area of Paris.
Tehran is the capital and largest city of Iran. It is also the capital of Tehran province and the administrative center for Tehran County and its Central District. With a population of around 9 million in the city, and 16.8 million in the metropolitan area, Tehran is the most populous city in Iran and West Asia, the second-largest metropolitan area in the Middle East after Cairo, and the 24th-most-populous metropolitan area in the world.
Tehran covers 730 km² with a population of 9.1 million. The city was established in 1524. Tehran is known for Azadi Tower, Milad Tower, Golestan Palace, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Tehran Metro.
Tehran's metropolitan area holds 16.8 million people, making it the second-largest metropolitan area in the Middle East after Cairo.
Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical center. With a population of over 15 million, it is home to 18% of the population of Turkey. Istanbul is among the largest cities in Europe and in the world by population. It is a city on two continents; about two-thirds of its population live in Europe and the rest in Asia.
Also known as "City on Two Continents", Istanbul has an area of 5,461 km² and is home to 15.5 million people. It was founded around 660 BC. Visitors come for Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Istanbul Metro.
Istanbul is one of the only major cities to span two continents, with about two-thirds of its population living in Europe and the rest in Asia.
Looking beyond city limits, the Istanbul metropolitan area covers 5,461 km², which is 2.4x larger than greater Tehran at 2,235 km². The Tehran metro area is also more populous, with 16.0 million people compared to 15.5 million.
Tehran has a population density of 12,507 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Istanbul, with 2,831 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Tehran is dramatically more crowded, with 4.4x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Tehran in Asia versus Istanbul in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Tehran has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate while Istanbul experiences oceanic conditions.
Size Ratio
Tehran fits inside Istanbul ~7 times
Density Gap
Tehran is 4.4x more densely populated
History
Istanbul is ~2,184 years older
Tehran covers 730 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Singapore (733 km²), Bangalore (741 km²), Hamburg (755 km²), Nairobi (696 km²), or New York (783 km²).
Istanbul covers 5,461 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Shanghai (6,341 km²), Perth (6,417 km²), Dubai (4,114 km²), Guangzhou (7,434 km²), or Karachi (3,527 km²).
The straight-line distance from Tehran to Istanbul is 2,035 km (1,265 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~2h 54m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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