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Chennai, India

Major city · Population 4.7M

Chennai is the 6th largest city in India with a population of approximately 4,681,087 people as of 2026. This makes it the 64th largest city in the world, accounting for 0.32% of India's total population of 1.45B. Chennai is classified as a major city and operates in the Asia/Kolkata timezone. The average annual temperature is 28.4°C with 1,612 mm of rainfall per year. The city sits at an elevation of 15 meters above sea level.

Population

4,681,087

Global Rank

#64

Country Rank

#6

% of India

0.32%

Avg Temperature

28.4°C

Annual Rainfall

1,612 mm

Elevation

15 m

Timezone

Asia/Kolkata

Chennai on the Map

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Climate in Chennai

Chennai's warmest month is May and the coldest is Jan. The wettest month is Nov with 395 mm of rainfall.

Average Monthly Temperature

25.6°C
Jan
26.8°C
Feb
28.2°C
Mar
30.3°C
Apr
31.1°C
May
30.4°C
Jun
29.8°C
Jul
28.9°C
Aug
29.3°C
Sep
27.6°C
Oct
26.4°C
Nov
25.9°C
Dec
25.6°C31.1°C

Monthly Rainfall

52 mm
Jan
6 mm
Feb
5 mm
Mar
1 mm
Apr
188 mm
May
165 mm
Jun
80 mm
Jul
146 mm
Aug
121 mm
Sep
253 mm
Oct
395 mm
Nov
200 mm
Dec

India at a Glance

Country Population

1,450,935,791

Capital

New Delhi

Region

Southern Asia

Major Cities

532

GDP per Capita

$2,695

Life Expectancy

72.0 years

Urban Population

35.4%

Growth Rate

0.01%

Nearest Major Cities

Closest cities to Chennai with over 100,000 people

Cities closest to Chennai by distance
CityPopulationDistance
Tiruvottiyūr249,4468 km
Madhavaram119,1058 km
Alandur164,43012 km
Ambattur466,20513 km
Avadi345,99619 km
Pallāvaram233,98419 km
Tambaram174,78724 km
Kanchipuram221,71569 km

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Chennai?

The population of Chennai, India is approximately 4,681,087 people, making it the 64th largest city in the world and the 6th largest in India.

Is Chennai the capital of India?

No, the capital of India is New Delhi. Chennai is the 6th largest city in the country.

What is the climate like in Chennai?

Chennai has an average annual temperature of 28.4°C and receives 1,612 mm of rainfall per year. The warmest month is May and the coldest is Jan.

What timezone is Chennai in?

Chennai is in the Asia/Kolkata timezone.