City Map Compare/Phoenix vs Riyadh
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Phoenix

1,341 km²

Riyadh

1,798 km²

Phoenix vs Riyadh - City Size Comparison

Phoenix vs Riyadh - City Size Comparison

Phoenix

United States

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

Saudi Arabia

Area1,798 km²
Population7.01M
Density3,899 /km²
Elevation612 m
Founded1746

Area Comparison

Phoenix is 1.3x smaller than Riyadh

Population Comparison

Phoenix has 4.4x fewer people than Riyadh

Is Phoenix Bigger Than Riyadh?

In terms of area, Riyadh is 1.3x the size of Phoenix. Riyadh spans 1,798 km² (694 mi²) while Phoenix covers 1,341 km² (518 mi²) — a difference of 457 km².

To put Phoenix's size in perspective, its area of 1,341 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London. Meanwhile, Riyadh at 1,798 km² is about 1.1x the size of London.

Picture Phoenix another way: its area is large enough to fit about 188,000 American football fields, 23 times the area of Manhattan, or 13 times the area of Paris. Riyadh works out to about 252,000 American football fields, 30 times the area of Manhattan, or 17 times the area of Paris.

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.

Known as "Valley of the Sun", Phoenix covers 1,341 km² with a population of 1.6 million. The city was established in 1868. Phoenix is known for Camelback Mountain, Desert Botanical Garden, Heard Museum, among other attractions.

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

About Riyadh

Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of the Riyadh Province and the centre of the Riyadh Governorate. Located on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa, the current form of the metropolis largely emerged in the 1950s as an expansion of the 18th-century walled town, following the dismantling of its defensive fortifications.

Riyadh has an area of 1,798 km² and is home to 7.0 million people. Its history stretches back to 1746. Visitors come for Kingdom Centre Tower, Masmak Fortress, Al Faisaliah Tower, and much more.

Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia, sitting on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa.

Population Density

Phoenix has a population density of 1,201 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Riyadh, with 3,899 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Riyadh is dramatically more crowded, with 3.2x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Density Gap

Riyadh is 3.2x more densely populated

History

Riyadh is ~122 years older

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).

Cities Similar in Size to Riyadh

Riyadh covers 1,798 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Houston (1,725 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), Shenzhen (1,997 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), or London (1,572 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Phoenix actually bigger than Riyadh?
Riyadh is 1.3 times larger than Phoenix by area. Riyadh covers 1,798 km² while Phoenix spans 1,341 km², a difference of 457 km².
How many times does Phoenix fit inside Riyadh?
Phoenix (1,341 km²) fits inside Riyadh (1,798 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Riyadh is 1.3x the area of Phoenix.
What is the population difference between Phoenix and Riyadh?
Riyadh has approximately 7.0 million people, while Phoenix has about 1.6 million. Riyadh has 5.4 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Phoenix or Riyadh?
Riyadh is more densely populated with 3,899 people per km², compared to 1,201 people per km².
Which city is older, Phoenix or Riyadh?
Riyadh is older, founded around 1746, while Phoenix was established around 1868 — a difference of about 122 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 Phoenix and Riyadh

The straight-line distance from Phoenix to Riyadh is 13,178 km (8,188 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~16h.

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