City Map Compare/Madrid vs Phoenix
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Madrid

604 km²

Phoenix

1,341 km²

Madrid vs Phoenix - City Size Comparison

Madrid vs Phoenix - City Size Comparison

Madrid

Spain

Area604 km²
Population3.33M
Density5,513 /km²
Elevation650 m
Metro Pop.6.8M
Founded852
Climatehot-summer Mediterranean
Phoenix

United States

Area1,341 km²
Population1.61M
Density1,201 /km²
Elevation331 m
Founded1868

Area Comparison

Madrid is 2.2x smaller than Phoenix

Population Comparison

Madrid has 2.1x more people than Phoenix

Is Madrid Bigger Than Phoenix?

Phoenix is significantly larger, covering 2.2 times the area of Madrid. Phoenix spans 1,341 km² (518 mi²) while Madrid covers 604 km² (233 mi²) — a difference of 737 km². You could fit Madrid inside Phoenix approximately 2 times.

To put Madrid's size in perspective, its area of 604 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, Phoenix at 1,341 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London.

Madrid's footprint is roughly about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Phoenix, by comparison, equals about 188,000 American football fields, 23 times the area of Manhattan, or 13 times the area of Paris.

About Madrid

Madrid is the capital and most populous city of Spain. It had a population of over 3.4 million in the city proper in 2025, and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.8 million. Madrid is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), after Berlin, and its metropolitan area is the second-largest in the EU, after Paris. The municipality covers an area of 605.77 square kilometres (233.89 sq mi).

Known as "La Villa y Corte", Madrid covers 604 km² with a population of 3.3 million. The city was established in 852. Madrid is known for Royal Palace of Madrid, Prado Museum, Plaza Mayor, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Madrid Metro.

Madrid is the second-largest city in the European Union after Berlin, with over 3.4 million residents in the city proper

About Phoenix

Phoenix is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, Phoenix is the fifth-most populous city in the United States and the most populous state capital. The Phoenix metropolitan area, with an estimated 5.19 million residents, is the tenth-most populous metropolitan area in the U.S. and the most populous in the Mountain states and Southwest.

Often called "Valley of the Sun", Phoenix has an area of 1,341 km² and is home to 1.6 million people. It was established in 1868. Visitors come for Camelback Mountain, Desert Botanical Garden, Heard Museum, and much more.

Phoenix is the most populous U.S. state capital and the fifth-largest city in the country with 1.6 million residents.

Population Density

Madrid has a population density of 5,513 people per km² — a densely populated city. Phoenix, with 1,201 people per km², is a relatively spread-out city. Madrid is dramatically more crowded, with 4.6x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Madrid fits inside Phoenix ~2 times

Density Gap

Madrid is 4.6x more densely populated

History

Madrid is ~1,016 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Madrid

Madrid covers 604 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Seoul (605 km²), Mumbai (603 km²), Chicago (606 km²), Toronto (630 km²), or Hyderabad (650 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Phoenix

Phoenix covers 1,341 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Los Angeles (1,302 km²), Rome (1,285 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), Delhi (1,484 km²), or Mexico City (1,485 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Madrid actually bigger than Phoenix?
Phoenix is 2.2 times larger than Madrid by area. Phoenix covers 1,341 km² while Madrid spans 604 km², a difference of 737 km².
How many times does Madrid fit inside Phoenix?
Madrid (604 km²) fits inside Phoenix (1,341 km²) approximately 2 times. That means Phoenix is 2.2x the area of Madrid.
What is the population difference between Madrid and Phoenix?
Madrid has approximately 3.3 million people, while Phoenix has about 1.6 million. Madrid has 1.7 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Madrid or Phoenix?
Madrid is more densely populated with 5,513 people per km², compared to 1,201 people per km².
Which city is older, Madrid or Phoenix?
Madrid is older, founded around 852, while Phoenix was established around 1868 — a difference of about 1016 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 Madrid and Phoenix

The straight-line distance from Madrid to Phoenix is 9,002 km (5,594 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~11h 5m.

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