City Map Compare/Athens vs Riyadh
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5 km
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Athens

39 km²

Riyadh

1,798 km²

Athens vs Riyadh - City Size Comparison

Athens vs Riyadh - City Size Comparison

Athens

Greece

Area39 km²
Population0.64M
Density16,410 /km²
Elevation74 m
Founded7000 BC
ClimateMediterranean climate
Riyadh

Saudi Arabia

Area1,798 km²
Population7.01M
Density3,899 /km²
Elevation612 m
Founded1746

Area Comparison

Athens is 46.1x smaller than Riyadh

Population Comparison

Athens has 11.0x fewer people than Riyadh

Is Athens Bigger Than Riyadh?

In terms of area, Riyadh is 46.1x the size of Athens. Riyadh spans 1,798 km² (694 mi²) while Athens covers 39 km² (15 mi²) — a difference of 1,759 km². You could fit Athens inside Riyadh approximately 46 times.

To put Athens's size in perspective, its area of 39 km² is about 1.5x smaller than Manhattan. Meanwhile, Riyadh at 1,798 km² is about 1.1x the size of London.

Athens's footprint is roughly about 5,500 American football fields, 80 times the area of Vatican City, or 19 times the area of Monaco — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Riyadh works out to about 252,000 American football fields, 30 times the area of Manhattan, or 17 times the area of Paris.

About Athens

Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica region and is the southernmost capital on the European mainland. With its urban area's population numbering over 3.6 million, it is the eighth-largest urban area in the European Union (EU).

Known as "Cradle of Western Civilization", Athens covers 39 km² with a population of 0.6 million. The city was founded around 7000 BC. Athens is known for Acropolis of Athens, Parthenon, Plaka neighborhood, among other attractions.

Athens is the southernmost capital on the European mainland and capital of the Attica region.

About Riyadh

Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of the Riyadh Province and the centre of the Riyadh Governorate. Located on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa, the current form of the metropolis largely emerged in the 1950s as an expansion of the 18th-century walled town, following the dismantling of its defensive fortifications.

Riyadh has an area of 1,798 km² and is home to 7.0 million people. Its history stretches back to 1746. Visitors come for Kingdom Centre Tower, Masmak Fortress, Al Faisaliah Tower, and much more.

Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia, sitting on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa.

Population Density

Athens has a population density of 16,410 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Riyadh, with 3,899 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Athens is dramatically more crowded, with 4.2x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Athens fits inside Riyadh ~46 times

Density Gap

Athens is 4.2x more densely populated

History

Athens is ~8,746 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Athens

Athens covers 39 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Manila (43 km²), Tel Aviv (52 km²), Zurich (88 km²), Copenhagen (91 km²), or Lisbon (100 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Riyadh

Riyadh covers 1,798 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Houston (1,725 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), Shenzhen (1,997 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), or London (1,572 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Athens or Riyadh?
Riyadh is 46.1 times larger than Athens by area. Riyadh covers 1,798 km² while Athens spans 39 km², a difference of 1,759 km².
How many times does Athens fit inside Riyadh?
Athens (39 km²) fits inside Riyadh (1,798 km²) approximately 46 times. That means Riyadh is 46.1x the area of Athens.
What is the population difference between Athens and Riyadh?
Riyadh has approximately 7.0 million people, while Athens has about 0.6 million. Riyadh has 6.4 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Athens or Riyadh?
Athens is more densely populated with 16,410 people per km², compared to 3,899 people per km².
Which city is older, Athens or Riyadh?
Athens is older, founded around -7000, while Riyadh was established around 1746 — a difference of about 8746 years.
How does the map comparison work?
Our synchronized map comparison tool displays both cities at the same zoom level. When you zoom in or out on one map, the other automatically adjusts to maintain the same scale, allowing you to directly compare the relative sizes of both cities.
Can I compare other cities?
Yes! Use the city selectors at the top of the page to choose any two cities from our database of 50+ major cities worldwide, or enter custom coordinates for any location.

Distance Between Athens and Riyadh

The straight-line distance from Athens to Riyadh is 2,629 km (1,633 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 36m.

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