City Map Compare/Chennai vs Istanbul
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Chennai

426,830,040 km²

Istanbul

5,461 km²

Chennai vs Istanbul - City Size Comparison

Chennai vs Istanbul - City Size Comparison

Chennai

India

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

Turkey

Area5,461 km²
Population15.46M
Density2,831 /km²
Elevation40 m
Metro Pop.15.5M
Founded660 BC
Climateoceanic

Area Comparison

Chennai is 78159.7x larger than Istanbul

Population Comparison

Chennai has 2.3x fewer people than Istanbul

Is Chennai Bigger Than Istanbul?

Chennai is significantly larger, covering 78159.7 times the area of Istanbul. Chennai spans 426,830,040 km² (164,799,932 mi²) while Istanbul covers 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) — a difference of 426,824,579 km². You could fit Istanbul inside Chennai approximately 78159 times.

Meanwhile, Istanbul at 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai.

Picture Chennai another way: its area is large enough to fit about 59,780,100,000 American football fields. Istanbul works out to about 765,000 American football fields, 92 times the area of Manhattan, or 52 times the area of Paris.

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.

Known as "Madras", Chennai covers 426,830,040 km² with a population of 6.6 million. The city was established in 1639. Chennai is known for Marina Beach, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Fort St. George, among other attractions.

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

About Istanbul

Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical center. With a population of over 15 million, it is home to 18% of the population of Turkey. Istanbul is among the largest cities in Europe and in the world by population. It is a city on two continents; about two-thirds of its population live in Europe and the rest in Asia.

Nicknamed "City on Two Continents", Istanbul has an area of 5,461 km² and is home to 15.5 million people. It was founded around 660 BC. Visitors come for Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Istanbul Metro.

Istanbul is one of the only major cities to span two continents, with about two-thirds of its population living in Europe and the rest in Asia.

Population Density

Chennai has a population density of 0 people per km² — a low-density, sprawling urban area. Istanbul, with 2,831 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Istanbul is dramatically more crowded, with Infinityx the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Istanbul fits inside Chennai ~78159 times

Density Gap

Istanbul is Infinityx more densely populated

History

Istanbul is ~2,299 years older

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).

Cities Similar in Size to Istanbul

Istanbul covers 5,461 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Shanghai (6,341 km²), Perth (6,417 km²), Dubai (4,114 km²), Guangzhou (7,434 km²), or Karachi (3,527 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Chennai or Istanbul?
Chennai is 78159.7 times larger than Istanbul by area. Chennai covers 426,830,040 km² while Istanbul spans 5,461 km², a difference of 426,824,579 km².
How many times does Istanbul fit inside Chennai?
Istanbul (5,461 km²) fits inside Chennai (426,830,040 km²) approximately 78159 times. That means Chennai is 78159.7x the area of Istanbul.
What is the population difference between Chennai and Istanbul?
Istanbul has approximately 15.5 million people, while Chennai has about 6.6 million. Istanbul has 8.9 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Chennai or Istanbul?
Istanbul is more densely populated with 2,831 people per km², compared to 0 people per km².
Which city is older, Chennai or Istanbul?
Istanbul is older, founded around -660, while Chennai was established around 1639 — a difference of about 2299 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 Chennai and Istanbul

The straight-line distance from Chennai to Istanbul is 5,843 km (3,631 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~7h 22m.

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