Madrid
604 km²
Tehran
730 km²
Spain
Iran
Area Comparison
Madrid is 1.2x smaller than Tehran
Population Comparison
Madrid has 2.7x fewer people than Tehran
Tehran is significantly larger, covering 1.2 times the area of Madrid. Tehran spans 730 km² (282 mi²) while Madrid covers 604 km² (233 mi²) — a difference of 126 km².
To put Madrid's size in perspective, its area of 604 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, Tehran at 730 km² is roughly the same size as New York City.
In more relatable units, Madrid's 604 km² is about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan. For Tehran, that's about 102,000 American football fields, 12 times the area of Manhattan, or 7 times the area of Paris.
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
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. The city dates 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 Madrid metropolitan area covers 8,028 km², which is 3.6x larger than greater Tehran at 2,235 km². The Tehran metro area is also more populous, with 16.0 million people compared to 6.8 million.
Madrid has a population density of 5,513 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 2.3 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Madrid in Europe versus Tehran in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Both cities share a hot-summer Mediterranean climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each. When it's noon in Tehran, it's 9.5:00 AM in Madrid — a 2.5-hour time difference.
Density Gap
Tehran is 2.3x more densely populated
History
Madrid is ~672 years older
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).
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 Madrid to Tehran is 4,774 km (2,967 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~6h 7m.
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