London
1,572 km²
Tehran
730 km²
UK
Iran
Area Comparison
London is 2.2x larger than Tehran
Population Comparison
London has 1.0x fewer people than Tehran
In terms of area, London is 2.2x the size of Tehran. London spans 1,572 km² (607 mi²) while Tehran covers 730 km² (282 mi²) — a difference of 842 km². You could fit Tehran inside London approximately 2 times.
To put London's size in perspective, its area of 1,572 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Tokyo (city proper). Meanwhile, Tehran at 730 km² is roughly the same size as New York City.
London's footprint is roughly about 220,000 American football fields, 27 times the area of Manhattan, or 15 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Tehran works out to about 102,000 American football fields, 12 times the area of Manhattan, or 7 times the area of Paris.
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of 9.1 million people in 2024. Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Western Europe, with a population of 15.1 million. London stands on the River Thames in southeast England, at the head of a 50-mile (80 km) tidal estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major settlement for nearly 2,000 years.
Known as "The Big Smoke", London covers 1,572 km² with a population of 9.0 million. The city was established in 43. London is known for Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the London Underground.
London has been a major settlement for nearly 2,000 years, tracing its roots back to Roman times around 47 AD.
Tehran is the capital and largest city of Iran. It is also the capital of Tehran province and the administrative center for Tehran County and its Central District. With a population of around 9 million in the city, and 16.8 million in the metropolitan area, Tehran is the most populous city in Iran and West Asia, the second-largest metropolitan area in the Middle East after Cairo, and the 24th-most-populous metropolitan area in the world.
Tehran has an area of 730 km² and is home to 9.1 million people. Its history stretches back to 1524. Visitors come for Azadi Tower, Milad Tower, Golestan Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Tehran Metro.
Tehran's metropolitan area holds 16.8 million people, making it the second-largest metropolitan area in the Middle East after Cairo.
Looking beyond city limits, the London metropolitan area covers 8,382 km², which is 3.8x larger than greater Tehran at 2,235 km². The Tehran metro area is also more populous, with 16.0 million people compared to 14.3 million.
London has a population density of 5,712 people per km² — a densely populated city. Tehran, with 12,507 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Tehran is noticeably denser, packing 2.2 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — London in Europe versus Tehran in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
London has a oceanic climate while Tehran experiences hot-summer Mediterranean conditions. Summers are notably different: Tehran averages 30°C compared to 19°C in London. When it's noon in Tehran, it's 8.5:00 AM in London — a 3.5-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Tehran fits inside London ~2 times
Density Gap
Tehran is 2.2x more densely populated
Time Difference
3.5 hours apart
History
London is ~1,481 years older
London covers 1,572 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Bangkok (1,569 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), São Paulo (1,521 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), or Mexico City (1,485 km²).
Tehran covers 730 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Singapore (733 km²), Bangalore (741 km²), Hamburg (755 km²), Nairobi (696 km²), or New York (783 km²).
The straight-line distance from London to Tehran is 4,397 km (2,732 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~5h 40m.
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