City Map Compare/Chennai vs Johannesburg
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5 km
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Chennai

427 km²

Johannesburg

1,644 km²

Chennai vs Johannesburg - City Size Comparison

Chennai vs Johannesburg - City Size Comparison

Chennai

India

Area427 km²
Population6.60M
Density15,457 /km²
Elevation6 m
Founded1639
Johannesburg

South Africa

Area1,644 km²
Population4.80M
Density2,920 /km²
Elevation1,753 m
Founded1886

Area Comparison

Chennai is 3.9x smaller than Johannesburg

Population Comparison

Chennai has 1.4x more people than Johannesburg

Is Chennai Bigger Than Johannesburg?

Yes — Johannesburg is 3.9x larger than Chennai by area. Johannesburg spans 1,644 km² (635 mi²) while Chennai covers 427 km² (165 mi²) — a difference of 1,217 km². You could fit Chennai inside Johannesburg approximately 3 times.

To put Chennai's size in perspective, its area of 427 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Seoul. Meanwhile, Johannesburg at 1,644 km² is roughly the same size as London.

Picture Chennai another way: its area is large enough to fit about 60,000 American football fields, 130 times the area of Central Park, or 7 times the area of Manhattan. Johannesburg, by comparison, equals about 230,000 American football fields, 28 times the area of Manhattan, or 16 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 427 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 Johannesburg

Johannesburg, colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg or "The City of Gold", is the most populous city in South Africa. The City of Johannesburg itself has a population of 5,538,596, while the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality has a population of 6,599,190, making it one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, and seat of the country's highest court, the Constitutional Court.

Nicknamed "Jozi", Johannesburg has an area of 1,644 km² and is home to 4.8 million people. It was established in 1886. Visitors come for Apartheid Museum, Soweto township, Constitutional Court, and much more.

Johannesburg ranks among the world's 100 largest urban areas, with a metro population of about 6.6 million.

Population Density

Chennai has a population density of 15,457 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Johannesburg, with 2,920 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Chennai is dramatically more crowded, with 5.3x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Chennai fits inside Johannesburg ~3 times

Density Gap

Chennai is 5.3x more densely populated

History

Chennai is ~247 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Chennai

Chennai covers 427 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Vienna (415 km²), Oslo (454 km²), Denver (401 km²), Portland (376 km²), or Philadelphia (370 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Johannesburg

Johannesburg covers 1,644 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Bogotá (1,578 km²), London (1,572 km²), Bangkok (1,569 km²), Houston (1,725 km²), or São Paulo (1,521 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Chennai or Johannesburg?
Johannesburg is 3.9 times larger than Chennai by area. Johannesburg covers 1,644 km² while Chennai spans 427 km², a difference of 1,217 km².
How many times does Chennai fit inside Johannesburg?
Chennai (427 km²) fits inside Johannesburg (1,644 km²) approximately 3 times. That means Johannesburg is 3.9x the area of Chennai.
What is the population difference between Chennai and Johannesburg?
Chennai has approximately 6.6 million people, while Johannesburg has about 4.8 million. Chennai has 1.8 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Chennai or Johannesburg?
Chennai is more densely populated with 15,457 people per km², compared to 2,920 people per km².
Which city is older, Chennai or Johannesburg?
Chennai is older, founded around 1639, while Johannesburg was established around 1886 — a difference of about 247 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 Johannesburg

The straight-line distance from Chennai to Johannesburg is 7,138 km (4,435 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~8h 54m.

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