Place comparison

Miyako Island compared with Penghu: area, population and density

Miyako Island has more land than Penghu County but far fewer residents, creating a clear difference in average density.

Place A Grouped by country or region Place B Grouped by country or region

Equal-area outline comparison

Outlines are centered and scaled by official land area; position does not show geographic location.

Area

Population

Population density

Area data date

Population data date

The guide below belongs to this pair: Miyako Island and Penghu County. Change the selector above and the page follows, so the reading always matches the tool.

Direct answer

How different are Miyako Island and Penghu County?

Miyako Island covers 158.5 km² (61.2 sq mi); Miyako Island's area is 1.24 times Penghu County's. Its reported population is 50,218; Miyako Island's population is about 46.5% of Penghu County's. By average density, Miyako Island's population density is about 37.6% of Penghu County's.

Area difference

Miyako Island's area is 1.24 times Penghu County's 158.5 km² (61.2 sq mi) · 128 km² (49.4 sq mi)

Population difference

Miyako Island's population is about 46.5% of Penghu County's 50,218 · 107,901

Density difference

Miyako Island's population density is about 37.6% of Penghu County's 316.8 /km² (820 /sq mi) · 843.2 /km² (2,184 /sq mi)

Full data and sources for each place: Miyako Island area & population, Penghu County area & population

Straight-line distance between geometric centres: about 598 km; time difference: 1 hour.

On a familiar scale

Miyako Island ≈ the size of Washington, D.C. (reference rung) 3,157 m² of land per resident
Penghu County ≈ 81% of Washington, D.C. (reference rung) 1,186 m² of land per resident

Reference scales come from U.S. Census Bureau: 2025 Gazetteer Files: land area of states and counties , as of 2025-01-01.

How to read it

This compares one island with an entire county archipelago. The labels and outlines preserve that distinction instead of treating Miyakojima City as a single island.

Geography and shape

Miyako Island is one comparatively continuous, low-lying island. Penghu County is an archipelago whose land is divided among many islands. A similar total land scale can therefore produce very different travel distances, coastlines and settlement patterns.

Population context

Miyako Island has more land but fewer residents than Penghu County, which produces a substantially lower average density. Penghu’s county total also combines residents across its inhabited islands rather than describing Penghu Main Island alone.

Boundaries and definitions

Miyako statistics here exclude the other islands governed by Miyakojima City. Penghu uses the full county inventory of 90 islands. This single-island versus county-archipelago distinction is essential when interpreting both the outline and density.

Miyako Island: Miyako Island only. Population excludes Ikema, Kurima, Ogami, Irabu and Shimoji islands, even though all are part of Miyakojima City.

Penghu County: The full Penghu County archipelago: 90 islands in the county inventory. Population is the registered year-end total; the area figure is the current official inventory accessed September 4, 2026.

In-depth guide

How should Miyako Island and Penghu County be understood in context?

Miyako Island and Penghu are often grouped together as warm island destinations, yet the statistical objects are different. Atlas compares one continuous island with an entire county archipelago, which changes how area, population and travel scale should be interpreted.

One island versus ninety islands

Miyako means Miyako Island itself. Penghu means all 90 islands in the county inventory, including inhabited and uninhabited islands. The labels deliberately do not call both sides simply “islands,” because that would hide the most important boundary difference.

Miyako Island’s land is comparatively continuous. Penghu’s total is divided by water, so the same number of square kilometres would not create the same road network, shoreline or access between settlements.

Why the larger island can have fewer residents

Land size does not determine population by itself. Settlement history, employment, administrative services and connections to larger urban systems all matter. In the current sources, Miyako Island has more land but fewer reported residents than Penghu County.

Penghu’s population figure pools residents across the county’s inhabited islands. It should not be read as the population of Penghu Main Island alone. Miyako’s figure excludes the other islands administered by Miyakojima City.

A better way to use the result

Use the page to understand total land and reported population, then use local transport maps to plan an actual trip. County-wide density cannot tell whether attractions are close together, whether a bridge exists, or how often a ferry operates.

For a strict island-to-island study, Penghu Main Island would need its own aligned outline, area and population record. Until then, the title and scope make the asymmetry explicit rather than pretending the units are identical.

Questions people ask

About this geographic comparison

Which is bigger, Miyako Island or Penghu County?

Miyako Island is bigger, with a land area about 1.24× that of Penghu County (Miyako Island 158.5 vs Penghu County 128 km², or 61.2 sq mi vs 49.4 sq mi).

How big is Miyako Island compared to Penghu County?

Miyako Island has 158.5 km² (61.2 sq mi) and Penghu County has 128 km² (49.4 sq mi): the ratio is 1.24×. Conversely, Penghu County has 80.7% of Miyako Island's area.

Does Miyako Island or Penghu County have more people?

Penghu County has 107,901 people (2024-12-31), versus 50,218 in Miyako Island (2024-12-31): 2.15×. In reverse, Miyako Island has 46.5% of Penghu County's population. Miyako Island is 1.24× the size of Penghu County — 158.5 km² vs 128 km² (61.2 sq mi vs 49.4 sq mi). Population is 46.5% as high; average density is 37.6% as high. Each side’s scope and reference date are set out under “Boundaries and definitions” on this page.

Is Miyako Island bigger than Penghu County?

Yes. Miyako Island is bigger, with a land area about 1.24× that of Penghu County (Miyako Island 158.5 vs Penghu County 128 km², or 61.2 sq mi vs 49.4 sq mi). The area difference is 30.6 km². Miyako Island has 158.5 km² (61.2 sq mi) and Penghu County has 128 km² (49.4 sq mi): the ratio is 1.24×. Conversely, Penghu County has 80.7% of Miyako Island's area.

Which is larger, Miyako Island or Penghu?

Miyako Island has the larger land area in this comparison. Miyako Island is 1.24× the size of Penghu County — 158.5 km² vs 128 km² (61.2 sq mi vs 49.4 sq mi).

Why does Penghu have more people even though it has less land?

Penghu is counted as an entire county archipelago, while the Miyako figure covers Miyako Island alone. Their settlement histories and administrative scopes differ, so land size does not predict population by itself.

Does Miyako Island include all of Miyakojima City?

No. Ikema, Kurima, Ogami, Irabu and Shimoji are excluded so that the figure represents Miyako Island itself.

Sources

Outline data: