Chicago
606 km²
Stockholm
188 km²
USA
Sweden
Area Comparison
Chicago is 3.2x larger than Stockholm
Population Comparison
Chicago has 2.8x more people than Stockholm
Yes — Chicago is 3.2x larger than Stockholm by area. Chicago spans 606 km² (234 mi²) while Stockholm covers 188 km² (73 mi²) — a difference of 418 km². You could fit Stockholm inside Chicago approximately 3 times.
To put Chicago's size in perspective, its area of 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, Stockholm at 188 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C..
Picture Chicago another way: its area is large enough to fit about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan. For Stockholm, that's about 26,000 American football fields, 93 times the area of Monaco, or 55 times the area of Central Park.
Chicago is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the third-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 2.74 million at the 2020 census. The Chicago metropolitan area has 9.41 million residents and is the third-largest metropolitan area in the country. Chicago is the seat of Cook County, the second-most populous county in the U.S.
Known as "The Windy City", Chicago covers 606 km² with a population of 2.7 million. The city was established in 1833. Chicago is known for Willis Tower, Millennium Park Bean, Navy Pier, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the CTA (L train).
Chicago is the third-most populous city in the United States with 2.74 million residents at the 2020 census.
Stockholm is the capital and most populous city of Sweden, as well as the largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately 1 million people live in the municipality, with 1.6 million in the urban area, and 2.5 million in the metropolitan area. The city stretches across fourteen islands where Lake Mälaren flows into the Baltic Sea. Outside the city to the east, and along the coast, is the island chain of the Stockholm archipelago.
Nicknamed "Venice of the North", Stockholm has an area of 188 km² and is home to 1.0 million people. Its history stretches back to 1252. Visitors come for Gamla Stan, Vasa Museum, Royal Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Stockholm Metro (Tunnelbana).
Stockholm stretches across fourteen islands where Lake Mälaren flows into the Baltic Sea, forming the Nordic countries' largest urban area.
Looking beyond city limits, the Chicago metropolitan area covers 28,160 km², which is 4.3x larger than greater Stockholm at 6,519 km². The Chicago metro area is also more populous, with 9.5 million people compared to 2.4 million.
Chicago has a population density of 4,455 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Stockholm, with 5,213 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though Stockholm is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — Chicago in North America versus Stockholm in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Both cities share a humid continental climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each. When it's noon in Stockholm, it's 5:00 AM in Chicago — a 7-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Stockholm fits inside Chicago ~3 times
Time Difference
7 hours apart
History
Stockholm is ~581 years older
Chicago covers 606 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Seoul (605 km²), Madrid (604 km²), Mumbai (603 km²), Toronto (630 km²), or Hyderabad (650 km²).
Stockholm covers 188 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Washington D.C. (177 km²), Buenos Aires (203 km²), Helsinki (214 km²), Amsterdam (219 km²), or Brussels (161 km²).
The straight-line distance from Chicago to Stockholm is 6,880 km (4,275 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~8h 36m.
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