Is Melbourne Bigger Than London? Size Sprawl and What It Means Day-to-Day

Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The short answer: by population, Melbourne is smaller than London — Greater Melbourne sits at approximately 5.1 million versus Greater London’s 9.0 million. By geographic area, Melbourne is meaningfully larger and more sprawling. By daily living density, the two cities feel completely different, and the difference catches British arrivals off guard within the first week.

The Population Numbers

Greater Melbourne: approximately 5.1 million people (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2024 Estimated Resident Population for the Melbourne Greater Capital City Statistical Area).

Population Comparison on MELBZ

Is Melbourne Bigger Than London? Size Sprawl and What It Means Day-to-Day

The Population Numbers