City Map Compare/Chennai vs London
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5 km
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Chennai

427 km²

London

1,572 km²

Chennai vs London - City Size Comparison

Chennai vs London - City Size Comparison

Chennai

India

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

United Kingdom

Area1,572 km²
Population8.98M
Density5,712 /km²
Elevation11 m
Metro Pop.14.3M
Founded43
Climateoceanic

Area Comparison

Chennai is 3.7x smaller than London

Population Comparison

Chennai has 1.4x fewer people than London

Is Chennai Bigger Than London?

Yes — London is 3.7x larger than Chennai by area. London spans 1,572 km² (607 mi²) while Chennai covers 427 km² (165 mi²) — a difference of 1,145 km². You could fit Chennai inside London approximately 3 times.

To put Chennai's size in perspective, its area of 427 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Seoul. Meanwhile, London at 1,572 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Tokyo (city proper).

In more relatable units, Chennai's 427 km² is about 60,000 American football fields, 130 times the area of Central Park, or 7 times the area of Manhattan. London works out to about 220,000 American football fields, 27 times the area of Manhattan, or 15 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 London

London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of 9.1 million people in 2024. Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Western Europe, with a population of 15.1 million. London stands on the River Thames in southeast England, at the head of a 50-mile (80 km) tidal estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major settlement for nearly 2,000 years.

Nicknamed "The Big Smoke", London has an area of 1,572 km² and is home to 9.0 million people. The city dates back to 43. Visitors come for Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the London Underground.

London has been a major settlement for nearly 2,000 years, tracing its roots back to Roman times around 47 AD.

Population Density

Chennai has a population density of 15,457 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. London, with 5,712 people per km², is a densely populated city. Chennai is noticeably denser, packing 2.7 times more people per square kilometer.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Chennai fits inside London ~3 times

Density Gap

Chennai is 2.7x more densely populated

History

London is ~1,596 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 London

London covers 1,572 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Bangkok (1,569 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), São Paulo (1,521 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), or Mexico City (1,485 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chennai bigger than London?
London is 3.7 times larger than Chennai by area. London covers 1,572 km² while Chennai spans 427 km², a difference of 1,145 km².
How many times does Chennai fit inside London?
Chennai (427 km²) fits inside London (1,572 km²) approximately 3 times. That means London is 3.7x the area of Chennai.
What is the population difference between Chennai and London?
London has approximately 9.0 million people, while Chennai has about 6.6 million. London has 2.4 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Chennai or London?
Chennai is more densely populated with 15,457 people per km², compared to 5,712 people per km².
Which city is older, Chennai or London?
London is older, founded around 43, while Chennai was established around 1639 — a difference of about 1596 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 London

The straight-line distance from Chennai to London is 8,211 km (5,102 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~10h 10m.

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