City Map Compare/Chennai vs Tokyo
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5 km
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Chennai

427 km²

Tokyo

2,194 km²

Chennai vs Tokyo - City Size Comparison

Chennai vs Tokyo - City Size Comparison

Chennai

India

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

Japan

Area2,194 km²
Population13.96M
Density6,363 /km²
Elevation40 m
Metro Pop.37.4M
Founded1457
Climatehumid subtropical

Area Comparison

Chennai is 5.1x smaller than Tokyo

Population Comparison

Chennai has 2.1x fewer people than Tokyo

Is Chennai Bigger Than Tokyo?

Tokyo is significantly larger, covering 5.1 times the area of Chennai. Tokyo spans 2,194 km² (847 mi²) while Chennai covers 427 km² (165 mi²) — a difference of 1,767 km². You could fit Chennai inside Tokyo approximately 5 times.

To put Chennai's size in perspective, its area of 427 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Seoul. Meanwhile, Tokyo at 2,194 km² is about 1.1x smaller than Moscow.

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. Tokyo, by comparison, equals about 307,000 American football fields, 37 times the area of Manhattan, or 21 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 Tokyo

Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital and most populous city of Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is one of the most populous urban areas in the world. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes Tokyo and parts of six neighboring prefectures, is the most populous metropolitan area in the world, with 41 million residents as of 2024.

Also known as "Eastern Capital", Tokyo has an area of 2,194 km² and is home to 14.0 million people. The city dates back to 1457. Visitors come for Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Tower, Imperial Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Tokyo Metro & JR East.

Greater Tokyo holds 41 million residents as of 2024, making it the most populous metropolitan area on Earth.

Population Density

Chennai has a population density of 15,457 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Tokyo, with 6,363 people per km², is a densely populated city. Chennai is noticeably denser, packing 2.4 times more people per square kilometer.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Chennai fits inside Tokyo ~5 times

Density Gap

Chennai is 2.4x more densely populated

History

Tokyo is ~182 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 Tokyo

Tokyo covers 2,194 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Ho Chi Minh City (2,061 km²), Shenzhen (1,997 km²), Cape Town (2,455 km²), Moscow (2,511 km²), or Lima (2,672 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chennai actually bigger than Tokyo?
Tokyo is 5.1 times larger than Chennai by area. Tokyo covers 2,194 km² while Chennai spans 427 km², a difference of 1,767 km².
How many times does Chennai fit inside Tokyo?
Chennai (427 km²) fits inside Tokyo (2,194 km²) approximately 5 times. That means Tokyo is 5.1x the area of Chennai.
What is the population difference between Chennai and Tokyo?
Tokyo has approximately 14.0 million people, while Chennai has about 6.6 million. Tokyo has 7.4 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Chennai or Tokyo?
Chennai is more densely populated with 15,457 people per km², compared to 6,363 people per km².
Which city is older, Chennai or Tokyo?
Tokyo is older, founded around 1457, while Chennai was established around 1639 — a difference of about 182 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 Tokyo

The straight-line distance from Chennai to Tokyo is 6,410 km (3,983 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~8h 3m.

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