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Is Sydney the largest city in the world by land area (without agglomerations)?

September 9, 2023 by MySydneyDetour Leave a Comment

Table of Contents

  • Is Sydney the largest city in the world by land area (without agglomerations)?
  • What is the largest city in the world by land area?
  • How does Sydney compare to other cities in terms of land area?
  • What makes Sydney unique?

Is Sydney the largest city in the world by land area (without agglomerations)?

Short answer: no, there are many cities covering a larger area than Sydney no matter what definition of “city” you use. Longer answer: The Sydney metropolitan has an area of 12,367 sq km. But the actual City of Sydney has a remarkably tiny area of just 26.15 sq km. Despite its small size, Sydney is still one of the most populous cities in the world, with over 5 million inhabitants.

What is the largest city in the world by land area?

Sydney's The Rocks historic residential district and suburb at sunset
Taras Vyshnya / Shutterstock

According to the United Nations, the largest city in the world by land area is Hulunbuir in China, with an area of 263,953 sq km. However, Hulunbuir is not considered a “city” in the traditional sense. It is a prefecture-level city, which is a large administrative division in China that encompasses multiple smaller cities and towns.

If we look at cities in the traditional sense, the largest city by land area is Altamira in Brazil, with an area of 159,533 sq km. Altamira is located in the Amazon rainforest and has a population of just over 100,000 people.

How does Sydney compare to other cities in terms of land area?

City skyline of Singapore
THINK b / Adobe Stock

Sydney is not even close to being the largest city in the world by land area. In fact, it doesn’t even crack the top 100. Here are some examples of cities that are larger than Sydney by land area:

New York City: 12,375 sq km
Tokyo: 13,500 sq km
Moscow: 17,098 sq km
Mexico City: 21,815 sq km
Shanghai: 24,256 sq km
Beijing: 16,410 sq km

As you can see, Sydney is much smaller than these cities in terms of land area. However, it is important to note that these cities are all classified as “megacities,” which means they have a population of over 10 million people. Sydney, on the other hand, is not a megacity.

See Related: Is it safe to walk on Sydney streets at night?

What makes Sydney unique?

People having meals at cafe near Opera house
Image from TripAdvisor

While Sydney may not be the largest city in the world by land area, it is still a fascinating and unique destination for travelers. Sydney is home to some of the most recognizable landmarks in the world.

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  • What are the steps in buying a used car in Sydney from inspection to paperwork, including costs?
  • How to travel the distance between Melbourne and Sydney

Filed Under: Sydney Life & Culture

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