Category: Geography

The Gaza Strip covers approximately 365 square kilometers (141 square miles). Here’s how it compares to ten major world cities:

1. Mexico City: 1,485 sq km (573 sq mi) – Gaza is about 25% the size of Mexico City
2. Tokyo: 2,194 sq km (847 sq mi) – Gaza is about 17% the size of Tokyo
3. New York City: 783 sq km (302 sq mi) – Gaza is about 47% the size of NYC
4. London: 1,572 sq km (607 sq mi) – Gaza is about 23% the size of London
5. Paris: 105 sq km (41 sq mi) – Gaza is about 3.5 times larger than Paris proper (though much smaller than Greater Paris)
6. Mumbai: 603 sq km (233 sq mi) – Gaza is about 61% the size of Mumbai
7. Cairo: 606 sq km (234 sq mi) – Gaza is about 60% the size of Cairo
8. São Paulo: 1,521 sq km (587 sq mi) – Gaza is about 24% the size of São Paulo
9. Shanghai: 6,341 sq km (2,448 sq mi) – Gaza is only about 6% the size of Shanghai
10. Los Angeles: 1,302 sq km (503 sq mi) – Gaza is about 28% the size of LA

The Gaza Strip is notably smaller than most major global cities, with approximately 2.3 million people living in this confined area, making it one of the most densely populated places on Earth.

Comparison to Mexico City’s Alcaldías (boroughs)

When comparing the Gaza Strip (365 sq km) to Mexico City’s 16 alcaldías (boroughs), we can see how it measures up to each administrative division:

1. Álvaro Obregón: 96 sq km – Gaza is about 3.8 times larger
2. Azcapotzalco: 34 sq km – Gaza is about 10.7 times larger
3. Benito Juárez: 27 sq km – Gaza is about 13.5 times larger
4. Coyoacán: 54 sq km – Gaza is about 6.8 times larger
5. Cuajimalpa: 74 sq km – Gaza is about 4.9 times larger
6. Cuauhtémoc: 33 sq km – Gaza is about 11.1 times larger
7. Gustavo A. Madero: 94 sq km – Gaza is about 3.9 times larger
8. Iztacalco: 23 sq km – Gaza is about 15.9 times larger
9. Iztapalapa: 117 sq km – Gaza is about 3.1 times larger
10. Magdalena Contreras: 74 sq km – Gaza is about 4.9 times larger
11. Miguel Hidalgo: 47 sq km – Gaza is about 7.8 times larger
12. Milpa Alta: 268 sq km – Gaza is about 1.4 times larger
13. Tláhuac: 86 sq km – Gaza is about 4.2 times larger
14. Tlalpan: 312 sq km – Gaza is about 1.2 times larger
15. Venustiano Carranza: 34 sq km – Gaza is about 10.7 times larger
16. Xochimilco: 122 sq km – Gaza is about 3 times larger

Interestingly, Gaza is larger than any individual alcaldía in Mexico City, though it comes closest in size to Tlalpan (312 sq km) and Milpa Alta (268 sq km), which are the two largest and least densely populated alcaldías. Gaza is many times larger than the central, more densely populated alcaldías like Benito Juárez and Iztacalco.

A cluster of Alcaldías comparable to the size of the Gaza Strip

Here’s a contiguous combination of adjacent alcaldías in the north and center of Mexico City that includes Miguel Hidalgo and comes within 10% of the Gaza Strip’s 365 sq km:

(Allowing a 10% tolerance limit)

Miguel Hidalgo (47 sq km) + Cuauhtémoc (33 sq km) + Azcapotzalco (34 sq km) + Gustavo A. Madero (94 sq km) + Venustiano Carranza (34 sq km) + Benito Juárez (27 sq km) + Iztacalco (23 sq km) + Álvaro Obregón (96 sq km) = 388 sq km

This totals 388 sq km, which is about 6.3% larger than Gaza’s 365 sq km, still within the 10% tolerance limit.

This contiguous block now encompasses the complete administrative territories of these eight alcaldías, forming a substantial portion of Mexico City’s north, center, and west. It includes major commercial, cultural, and governmental centers, as well as diverse residential neighborhoods ranging from affluent areas to working-class communities.

This comparison gives a clearer picture of Gaza’s spatial scale in relation to a recognizable urban context in Mexico City.