City Map Compare/Chennai vs Rio de Janeiro
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5 km
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Chennai

427 km²

Rio de Janeiro

1,221 km²

Chennai vs Rio de Janeiro - City Size Comparison

Chennai vs Rio de Janeiro - City Size Comparison

Chennai

India

Area427 km²
Population6.60M
Density15,457 /km²
Elevation6 m
Founded1639
Rio de Janeiro

Brazil

Area1,221 km²
Population6.75M
Density5,528 /km²
Elevation11 m
Metro Pop.13.5M
Founded1565
Climatetropical savanna

Area Comparison

Chennai is 2.9x smaller than Rio de Janeiro

Population Comparison

Chennai has 1.0x fewer people than Rio de Janeiro

Is Chennai Bigger Than Rio de Janeiro?

Rio de Janeiro is significantly larger, covering 2.9 times the area of Chennai. Rio de Janeiro spans 1,221 km² (471 mi²) while Chennai covers 427 km² (165 mi²) — a difference of 794 km². You could fit Chennai inside Rio de Janeiro approximately 2 times.

To put Chennai's size in perspective, its area of 427 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Seoul. Meanwhile, Rio de Janeiro at 1,221 km² is about 1.3x smaller than London.

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. Rio de Janeiro, by comparison, equals about 171,000 American football fields, 21 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 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 Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro, also known simply as Rio, is the capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the second-most-populous city in Brazil after São Paulo and the sixth-most-populous city in the Americas.

Nicknamed "Cidade Maravilhosa", Rio de Janeiro has an area of 1,221 km² and is home to 6.8 million people. It was established in 1565. Visitors come for Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana beach, and much more. Getting around is easy with the MetrôRio.

Rio de Janeiro is the second-most-populous city in Brazil after São Paulo and the sixth-most-populous in the Americas.

Population Density

Chennai has a population density of 15,457 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Rio de Janeiro, with 5,528 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

Size Ratio

Chennai fits inside Rio de Janeiro ~2 times

Density Gap

Chennai is 2.8x more densely populated

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 Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro covers 1,221 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include San Antonio (1,209 km²), Lagos (1,172 km²), Rome (1,285 km²), Los Angeles (1,302 km²), or Hong Kong (1,114 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Chennai or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro is 2.9 times larger than Chennai by area. Rio de Janeiro covers 1,221 km² while Chennai spans 427 km², a difference of 794 km².
How many times does Chennai fit inside Rio de Janeiro?
Chennai (427 km²) fits inside Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²) approximately 2 times. That means Rio de Janeiro is 2.9x the area of Chennai.
What is the population difference between Chennai and Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro has approximately 6.8 million people, while Chennai has about 6.6 million. Rio de Janeiro has 0.2 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Chennai or Rio de Janeiro?
Chennai is more densely populated with 15,457 people per km², compared to 5,528 people per km².
Which city is older, Chennai or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro is older, founded around 1565, while Chennai was established around 1639 — a difference of about 74 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 Rio de Janeiro

The straight-line distance from Chennai to Rio de Janeiro is 13,970 km (8,681 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~16h 56m.

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