City Map Compare/Chennai vs Madrid
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5 km
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Chennai

427 km²

Madrid

604 km²

Chennai vs Madrid - City Size Comparison

Chennai vs Madrid - City Size Comparison

Chennai

India

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

Spain

Area604 km²
Population3.33M
Density5,513 /km²
Elevation650 m
Metro Pop.6.8M
Founded852
Climatehot-summer Mediterranean

Area Comparison

Chennai is 1.4x smaller than Madrid

Population Comparison

Chennai has 2.0x more people than Madrid

Is Chennai Bigger Than Madrid?

Madrid is significantly larger, covering 1.4 times the area of Chennai. Madrid spans 604 km² (233 mi²) while Chennai covers 427 km² (165 mi²) — a difference of 177 km².

To put Chennai's size in perspective, its area of 427 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Seoul. Meanwhile, Madrid at 604 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul.

Chennai's footprint is roughly about 60,000 American football fields, 130 times the area of Central Park, or 7 times the area of Manhattan — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Madrid, by comparison, equals about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan.

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 Madrid

Madrid is the capital and most populous city of Spain. It had a population of over 3.4 million in the city proper in 2025, and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.8 million. Madrid is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), after Berlin, and its metropolitan area is the second-largest in the EU, after Paris. The municipality covers an area of 605.77 square kilometres (233.89 sq mi).

Often called "La Villa y Corte", Madrid has an area of 604 km² and is home to 3.3 million people. It was established in 852. Visitors come for Royal Palace of Madrid, Prado Museum, Plaza Mayor, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Madrid Metro.

Madrid is the second-largest city in the European Union after Berlin, with over 3.4 million residents in the city proper

Population Density

Chennai has a population density of 15,457 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Madrid, with 5,513 people per km², is a densely populated city. Chennai is noticeably denser, packing 2.8 times more people per square kilometer.

Key Differences at a Glance

Density Gap

Chennai is 2.8x more densely populated

History

Madrid is ~787 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 Madrid

Madrid covers 604 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Seoul (605 km²), Mumbai (603 km²), Chicago (606 km²), Toronto (630 km²), or Hyderabad (650 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chennai actually bigger than Madrid?
Madrid is 1.4 times larger than Chennai by area. Madrid covers 604 km² while Chennai spans 427 km², a difference of 177 km².
How many times does Chennai fit inside Madrid?
Chennai (427 km²) fits inside Madrid (604 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Madrid is 1.4x the area of Chennai.
What is the population difference between Chennai and Madrid?
Chennai has approximately 6.6 million people, while Madrid has about 3.3 million. Chennai has 3.3 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Chennai or Madrid?
Chennai is more densely populated with 15,457 people per km², compared to 5,513 people per km².
Which city is older, Chennai or Madrid?
Madrid is older, founded around 852, while Chennai was established around 1639 — a difference of about 787 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 Madrid

The straight-line distance from Chennai to Madrid is 8,565 km (5,322 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~10h 35m.

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