City Map Compare/Chennai vs Washington D.C.
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Chennai

427 km²

Washington D.C.

177 km²

Chennai vs Washington D.C. - City Size Comparison

Chennai vs Washington D.C. - City Size Comparison

Chennai

India

Area427 km²
Population6.60M
Density15,457 /km²
Elevation6 m
Founded1639
Washington D.C.

United States

Area177 km²
Population0.69M
Density3,898 /km²
Elevation22 m
Metro Pop.6.3M
Founded1790
Climatehumid subtropical

Area Comparison

Chennai is 2.4x larger than Washington D.C.

Population Comparison

Chennai has 9.6x more people than Washington D.C.

Is Chennai Bigger Than Washington D.C.?

In terms of area, Chennai is 2.4x the size of Washington D.C.. Chennai spans 427 km² (165 mi²) while Washington D.C. covers 177 km² (68 mi²) — a difference of 250 km². You could fit Washington D.C. inside Chennai approximately 2 times.

To put Chennai's size in perspective, its area of 427 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Seoul. Meanwhile, Washington D.C. at 177 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C..

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. For Washington D.C., that's about 25,000 American football fields, 88 times the area of Monaco, or 52 times the area of Central Park.

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 Washington D.C.

Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia and commonly known as simply Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River across from Virginia and shares land borders with Maryland to its north and east. It was named after George Washington, a Founding Father and the first president of the United States.

Often called "D.C.", Washington D.C. has an area of 177 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. Its history stretches back to 1790. Visitors come for White House, U.S. Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Washington Metro.

Washington D.C. sits on the Potomac River across from Virginia and is bordered by Maryland to its north and east

Population Density

Chennai has a population density of 15,457 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Washington D.C., with 3,898 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

Washington D.C. fits inside Chennai ~2 times

Density Gap

Chennai is 4.0x more densely populated

History

Chennai is ~151 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 Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. covers 177 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Stockholm (188 km²), Brussels (161 km²), Buenos Aires (203 km²), Minneapolis (149 km²), or Helsinki (214 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chennai bigger than Washington D.C.?
Chennai is 2.4 times larger than Washington D.C. by area. Chennai covers 427 km² while Washington D.C. spans 177 km², a difference of 250 km².
How many times does Washington D.C. fit inside Chennai?
Washington D.C. (177 km²) fits inside Chennai (427 km²) approximately 2 times. That means Chennai is 2.4x the area of Washington D.C..
What is the population difference between Chennai and Washington D.C.?
Chennai has approximately 6.6 million people, while Washington D.C. has about 0.7 million. Chennai has 5.9 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Chennai or Washington D.C.?
Chennai is more densely populated with 15,457 people per km², compared to 3,898 people per km².
Which city is older, Chennai or Washington D.C.?
Chennai is older, founded around 1639, while Washington D.C. was established around 1790 — a difference of about 151 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 Washington D.C.

The straight-line distance from Chennai to Washington D.C. is 13,772 km (8,558 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~16h 42m.

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