City Map Compare/Chengdu vs Washington D.C.
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Chengdu

14,378 km²

Washington D.C.

177 km²

Chengdu vs Washington D.C. - City Size Comparison

Chengdu vs Washington D.C. - City Size Comparison

Chengdu

People's Republic of China

Area14,378 km²
Population20.94M
Density1,456 /km²
Elevation500 m
Founded310 BC
Washington D.C.

USA

Area177 km²
Population0.69M
Density3,898 /km²
Elevation22 m
Metro Pop.6.3M
Founded1790
Climatehumid subtropical

Area Comparison

Chengdu is 81.2x larger than Washington D.C.

Population Comparison

Chengdu has 30.3x more people than Washington D.C.

Is Chengdu Bigger Than Washington D.C.?

Chengdu is significantly larger, covering 81.2 times the area of Washington D.C.. Chengdu spans 14,378 km² (5,551 mi²) while Washington D.C. covers 177 km² (68 mi²) — a difference of 14,201 km². You could fit Washington D.C. inside Chengdu approximately 81 times.

To put Chengdu's size in perspective, its area of 14,378 km² is about 2.3x the size of Shanghai. Meanwhile, Washington D.C. at 177 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C..

In more relatable units, Chengdu's 14,378 km² is about 2,000,000 American football fields, 140 times the area of Paris, or 120 times the area of San Francisco. For Washington D.C., that's about 25,000 American football fields, 88 times the area of Monaco, or 52 times the area of Central Park.

About Chengdu

Chengdu is the capital city of the Chinese province of Sichuan. With a population of 20,937,757 at the 2020 census, it is the fourth most populous city in China, and it is the only city with a population of over 20 million apart from provincial-level municipalities. It is traditionally the hub of Western China.

Known as "Land of Abundance", Chengdu covers 14,378 km² with a population of 20.9 million. The city was founded around 310 BC. Chengdu is known for Giant Panda Breeding Base, Jinli Ancient Street, Wuhou Shrine, among other attractions.

Chengdu has a population of over 20.9 million, making it the fourth most populous city in China.

About Washington D.C.

Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia and commonly known as simply Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River across from Virginia and shares land borders with Maryland to its north and east. It was named after George Washington, a Founding Father and the first president of the United States.

Often called "D.C.", Washington D.C. has an area of 177 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. The city dates back to 1790. Visitors come for White House, U.S. Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Washington Metro.

Washington D.C. sits on the Potomac River across from Virginia and is bordered by Maryland to its north and east

Population Density

Chengdu has a population density of 1,456 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Washington D.C., with 3,898 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Washington D.C. is noticeably denser, packing 2.7 times more people per square kilometer.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Washington D.C. fits inside Chengdu ~81 times

Density Gap

Washington D.C. is 2.7x more densely populated

History

Chengdu is ~2,100 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Chengdu

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

Cities Similar in Size to Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. covers 177 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Stockholm (188 km²), Brussels (161 km²), Buenos Aires (203 km²), Minneapolis (149 km²), or Helsinki (214 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Chengdu or Washington D.C.?
Chengdu is 81.2 times larger than Washington D.C. by area. Chengdu covers 14,378 km² while Washington D.C. spans 177 km², a difference of 14,201 km².
How many times does Washington D.C. fit inside Chengdu?
Washington D.C. (177 km²) fits inside Chengdu (14,378 km²) approximately 81 times. That means Chengdu is 81.2x the area of Washington D.C..
What is the population difference between Chengdu and Washington D.C.?
Chengdu has approximately 20.9 million people, while Washington D.C. has about 0.7 million. Chengdu has 20.3 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Chengdu or Washington D.C.?
Washington D.C. is more densely populated with 3,898 people per km², compared to 1,456 people per km².
Which city is older, Chengdu or Washington D.C.?
Chengdu is older, founded around -310, while Washington D.C. was established around 1790 — a difference of about 2100 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 Chengdu and Washington D.C.

The straight-line distance from Chengdu to Washington D.C. is 12,279 km (7,630 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~14h 57m.

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