The total area covered by the city is 71 sq miles or 185 km2.

The metropolitan region of the city covers an area of 728.45 sq miles or 1,886.67 km2. According to the census conducted in 2011, the population of the city is 4,486,679, making it the 7th most populated city in India. The metropolitan region of the city houses a population of 14,112,536 and the metropolitan region of the city ranks as the third most populated metropolitan region of the country. The density of population of Kolkata is 63,200/sq miles or 24,250/km2. The city of Kolkata forms a part of Eastern India. The coordinates of the city are 22.82 North and 88.20 east. The mean altitude of the city is 17 feet over sea surface. The shoreline of the Bay of Bengal lies at a distance of 60 km in the south. The Sundarbans National Park is located at a distance of 100 km from the city. The city of Kolkata can be broadly categorized into the following areas: North Kolkata - Shobhabazar, Shyambazar, Cossipore, Chitpur, Sinthee, Baranagar, and Dum Dum Central Kolkata - BBD Bagh, Esplanade, Free School Street (Mirza Ghalib Street), Park Street, Chandni Chowk, Dalhousie Square, Sudder Street and Burra Bazaar. It is also known as the central business district (CBD) of the city. South Kolkata - Alipore, Ballygunge, Lansdowne, New Alipore, Tollygunge, Bhowanipore, Lake Gardens, Jodhpur Park, Jadavpur, Golf Green, and Kasba. The suburbs of the city are Behala, Garden Reach, Kudghat, Thakurpukur, Bansdroni, Ranikuthi, Garia, and Baghajatin.