Sydney vs Melbourne
Sydney is about 1.2× larger than Melbourne by administrative area. Sydney (Australia) covers 12,145 km² (4,689 mi²) with a population of 5.5 million, while Melbourne (Australia) covers 9,993 km² (3,858 mi²) with 5.4 million residents.
| Metric | Sydney | Melbourne |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 12,145 km² | 9,993 km² |
| Area (mi²) | 4,689 mi² | 3,858 mi² |
| Population | 5,450,496 | 5,350,705 |
| Population density | 449 /km² | 535 /km² |
| Area ratio | Sydney is ~1.2× larger by area than Melbourne. | |
Frequently asked questions
Is Sydney bigger than Melbourne?
Yes — Sydney is about 1.2× larger by area: 12,145 km² vs 9,993 km².
How big is Sydney?
Sydney, Australia, covers about 12,145 km² (4,689 mi²) of administrative area.
How big is Melbourne?
Melbourne, Australia, covers about 9,993 km² (3,858 mi²) of administrative area.
Which city has more people, Sydney or Melbourne?
Sydney has the larger population: 5.5 million vs 5.4 million. Population density is about 449 people/km² in Sydney and 535 people/km² in Melbourne.
City boundaries from OpenStreetMap. Last updated 2026-08-19.
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