City Map Compare/Beijing vs Chennai
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Beijing

16,411 km²

Chennai

426,830,040 km²

Beijing vs Chennai - City Size Comparison

Beijing vs Chennai - City Size Comparison

Beijing

China

Area16,411 km²
Population21.54M
Density1,313 /km²
Elevation43 m
Metro Pop.21.5M
Founded1045 BC
Climatehumid continental
Chennai

India

Area426,830,040 km²
Population6.60M
Density0 /km²
Elevation6 m
Founded1639

Area Comparison

Beijing is 26008.8x smaller than Chennai

Population Comparison

Beijing has 3.3x more people than Chennai

Is Beijing Bigger Than Chennai?

Yes — Chennai is 26008.8x larger than Beijing by area. Chennai spans 426,830,040 km² (164,799,932 mi²) while Beijing covers 16,411 km² (6,336 mi²) — a difference of 426,813,629 km². You could fit Beijing inside Chennai approximately 26008 times.

To put Beijing's size in perspective, its area of 16,411 km² is about 2.6x the size of Shanghai.

In more relatable units, Beijing's 16,411 km² is about 2,300,000 American football fields, 160 times the area of Paris, or 140 times the area of San Francisco. For Chennai, that's about 59,780,100,000 American football fields.

About Beijing

Beijing, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's most populous national capital city, as well as China's second-largest city by urban area, after Shanghai. It is located in Northern China, and is governed as a municipality under the direct administration of the State Council with 16 urban districts.

Known as "Northern Capital", Beijing covers 16,411 km² with a population of 21.5 million. The city was founded around 1045 BC. Beijing is known for Forbidden City, Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Beijing Subway.

With over 22 million residents, Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city.

About Chennai

Chennai, also known as Madras, is the capital and largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India. It is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. As per the 2011 Indian census, Chennai is the sixth-most-populous city in India and forms the fourth-most-populous urban agglomeration. The city is coterminous with Chennai district, which together with the adjoining suburbs constitutes the Chennai Metropolitan Area, one of the largest metropolitan areas of India.

Nicknamed "Madras", Chennai has an area of 426,830,040 km² and is home to 6.6 million people. The city dates back to 1639. Visitors come for Marina Beach, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Fort St. George, and much more.

Chennai, formerly Madras, is the capital of Tamil Nadu and the sixth-most-populous city in India.

Population Density

Beijing has a population density of 1,313 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Chennai, with 0 people per km², is a low-density, sprawling urban area. Beijing is dramatically more crowded, with Infinityx the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Beijing fits inside Chennai ~26008 times

Density Gap

Beijing is Infinityx more densely populated

History

Beijing is ~2,684 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Beijing

Beijing covers 16,411 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Hangzhou (16,854 km²), Brisbane (15,826 km²), Chengdu (14,378 km²), Sydney (12,368 km²), or Xi'an (10,097 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Chennai

Chennai covers 426,830,040 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Doha (132,000,000 km²), Dublin (114,990,000 km²), Hangzhou (16,854 km²), Beijing (16,411 km²), or Brisbane (15,826 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Beijing or Chennai?
Chennai is 26008.8 times larger than Beijing by area. Chennai covers 426,830,040 km² while Beijing spans 16,411 km², a difference of 426,813,629 km².
How many times does Beijing fit inside Chennai?
Beijing (16,411 km²) fits inside Chennai (426,830,040 km²) approximately 26008 times. That means Chennai is 26008.8x the area of Beijing.
What is the population difference between Beijing and Chennai?
Beijing has approximately 21.5 million people, while Chennai has about 6.6 million. Beijing has 14.9 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Beijing or Chennai?
Beijing is more densely populated with 1,313 people per km², compared to 0 people per km².
Which city is older, Beijing or Chennai?
Beijing is older, founded around -1045, while Chennai was established around 1639 — a difference of about 2684 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 Beijing and Chennai

The straight-line distance from Beijing to Chennai is 4,617 km (2,869 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~5h 56m.

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