City Map Compare/Athens vs Tehran
vs
5 km
|

Athens

39 km²

Tehran

730 km²

Athens vs Tehran - City Size Comparison

Athens vs Tehran - City Size Comparison

Athens

Greece

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

Iran

Area730 km²
Population9.13M
Density12,507 /km²
Elevation1,189 m
Metro Pop.16.0M
Founded1524
Climatehot-summer Mediterranean

Area Comparison

Athens is 18.7x smaller than Tehran

Population Comparison

Athens has 14.3x fewer people than Tehran

Is Athens Bigger Than Tehran?

Tehran is significantly larger, covering 18.7 times the area of Athens. Tehran spans 730 km² (282 mi²) while Athens covers 39 km² (15 mi²) — a difference of 691 km². You could fit Athens inside Tehran approximately 18 times.

To put Athens's size in perspective, its area of 39 km² is about 1.5x smaller than Manhattan. Meanwhile, Tehran at 730 km² is roughly the same size as New York City.

In more relatable units, Athens's 39 km² is about 5,500 American football fields, 80 times the area of Vatican City, or 19 times the area of Monaco. For Tehran, that's about 102,000 American football fields, 12 times the area of Manhattan, or 7 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 Tehran

Tehran is the capital and largest city of Iran. It is also the capital of Tehran province and the administrative center for Tehran County and its Central District. With a population of around 9 million in the city, and 16.8 million in the metropolitan area, Tehran is the most populous city in Iran and West Asia, the second-largest metropolitan area in the Middle East after Cairo, and the 24th-most-populous metropolitan area in the world.

Tehran has an area of 730 km² and is home to 9.1 million people. The city dates back to 1524. Visitors come for Azadi Tower, Milad Tower, Golestan Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Tehran Metro.

Tehran's metropolitan area holds 16.8 million people, making it the second-largest metropolitan area in the Middle East after Cairo.

Population Density

Athens has a population density of 16,410 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Tehran, with 12,507 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Both cities have comparable density, though Athens is slightly more compact.

Climate & Time Zone

Athens has a Mediterranean climate climate while Tehran experiences hot-summer Mediterranean conditions.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Athens fits inside Tehran ~18 times

Density Gap

Athens is 1.3x more densely populated

History

Athens is ~8,524 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 Tehran

Tehran covers 730 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Singapore (733 km²), Bangalore (741 km²), Hamburg (755 km²), Nairobi (696 km²), or New York (783 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Athens bigger than Tehran?
Tehran is 18.7 times larger than Athens by area. Tehran covers 730 km² while Athens spans 39 km², a difference of 691 km².
How many times does Athens fit inside Tehran?
Athens (39 km²) fits inside Tehran (730 km²) approximately 18 times. That means Tehran is 18.7x the area of Athens.
What is the population difference between Athens and Tehran?
Tehran has approximately 9.1 million people, while Athens has about 0.6 million. Tehran has 8.5 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Athens or Tehran?
Athens is more densely populated with 16,410 people per km², compared to 12,507 people per km².
Which city is older, Athens or Tehran?
Athens is older, founded around -7000, while Tehran was established around 1524 — a difference of about 8524 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 Tehran

The straight-line distance from Athens to Tehran is 2,466 km (1,532 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 24m.

Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.