The true size of London vs Tokyo

Tokyo is roughly 1.40× the area of London — a difference of about 622 km² (240 sq mi).

United Kingdom
London
1,572 km² (607 sq mi)
~8.9M people

Greater London spans 1,572 km² (607 sq mi) along the River Thames in southeast England.

Japan
Tokyo
2,194 km² (847 sq mi)
~13.9M people

Tokyo Metropolis covers 2,194 km² (847 sq mi), stretching from Tokyo Bay into forested mountains.

Why raw area is misleading on a world map

Standard web maps use the Mercator projection, which stretches shapes further from the equator. That's why London and Tokyo can look similar on a map even when one is many times larger. To really feel the difference, you have to overlay one city's outline directly on top of the other at true scale.

Compare London and Tokyo on the map →

Quick facts

  • London: 1,572 km² · 607 sq mi
  • Tokyo: 2,194 km² · 847 sq mi
  • Ratio: Tokyo is 1.40× London
  • Absolute difference: 622 km²

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