How big is the Tokyo area, really?

It is actually the world largest metro area, population wise. 38 million people are living in an area that is roughly 14 000 km2. That is about 2 700 people per km2.

Let us compare that with something we are more familiar with. Copenhagen metro area is the most populous metro area in the Nordic countries. With its 2,4 million inhabitants and 3 500 km2 of land area, that equals to 685 people per km2. Or about one-quarter of the density in Tokyo.

The Norwegian county Hordaland is about 14 500 km2 and is the third largest county in Norway based on the number of inhabitants, approx 517 000 people. If Hordaland would have the same density as Tokyo, then the number of inhabitants would have to increase by a factor of 81!