City Map Compare/Chennai vs Riyadh
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5 km
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Chennai

427 km²

Riyadh

1,798 km²

Chennai vs Riyadh - City Size Comparison

Chennai vs Riyadh - City Size Comparison

Chennai

India

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

Saudi Arabia

Area1,798 km²
Population7.01M
Density3,899 /km²
Elevation612 m
Founded1746

Area Comparison

Chennai is 4.2x smaller than Riyadh

Population Comparison

Chennai has 1.1x fewer people than Riyadh

Is Chennai Bigger Than Riyadh?

Yes — Riyadh is 4.2x larger than Chennai by area. Riyadh spans 1,798 km² (694 mi²) while Chennai covers 427 km² (165 mi²) — a difference of 1,371 km². You could fit Chennai inside Riyadh approximately 4 times.

To put Chennai's size in perspective, its area of 427 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Seoul. Meanwhile, Riyadh at 1,798 km² is about 1.1x the size of 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. Riyadh works out to about 252,000 American football fields, 30 times the area of Manhattan, or 17 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 Riyadh

Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of the Riyadh Province and the centre of the Riyadh Governorate. Located on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa, the current form of the metropolis largely emerged in the 1950s as an expansion of the 18th-century walled town, following the dismantling of its defensive fortifications.

Riyadh has an area of 1,798 km² and is home to 7.0 million people. The city dates back to 1746. Visitors come for Kingdom Centre Tower, Masmak Fortress, Al Faisaliah Tower, and much more.

Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia, sitting on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa.

Population Density

Chennai has a population density of 15,457 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Riyadh, with 3,899 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Chennai is dramatically more crowded, with 4.0x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Chennai fits inside Riyadh ~4 times

Density Gap

Chennai is 4.0x more densely populated

History

Chennai is ~107 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 Riyadh

Riyadh covers 1,798 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Houston (1,725 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), Shenzhen (1,997 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), or London (1,572 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chennai bigger than Riyadh?
Riyadh is 4.2 times larger than Chennai by area. Riyadh covers 1,798 km² while Chennai spans 427 km², a difference of 1,371 km².
How many times does Chennai fit inside Riyadh?
Chennai (427 km²) fits inside Riyadh (1,798 km²) approximately 4 times. That means Riyadh is 4.2x the area of Chennai.
What is the population difference between Chennai and Riyadh?
Riyadh has approximately 7.0 million people, while Chennai has about 6.6 million. Riyadh has 0.4 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Chennai or Riyadh?
Chennai is more densely populated with 15,457 people per km², compared to 3,899 people per km².
Which city is older, Chennai or Riyadh?
Chennai is older, founded around 1639, while Riyadh was established around 1746 — a difference of about 107 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 Riyadh

The straight-line distance from Chennai to Riyadh is 3,745 km (2,327 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~4h 54m.

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