Berlin
892 km²
Nairobi
696 km²
Germany
Kenya
Area Comparison
Berlin is 1.3x larger than Nairobi
Population Comparison
Berlin has 1.3x fewer people than Nairobi
Berlin is significantly larger, covering 1.3 times the area of Nairobi. Berlin spans 892 km² (344 mi²) while Nairobi covers 696 km² (269 mi²) — a difference of 196 km².
To put Berlin's size in perspective, its area of 892 km² is about 1.1x the size of New York City. Meanwhile, Nairobi at 696 km² is about 1.1x smaller than New York City.
Berlin's footprint is roughly about 125,000 American football fields, 15 times the area of Manhattan, or 8 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Nairobi, by comparison, equals about 97,000 American football fields, 12 times the area of Manhattan, or 7 times the area of Paris.
Berlin is the capital of Germany, as well as its largest city by both area and population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the highest population within its city limits of any city in the European Union. The city is also one of the states of Germany, being the third-smallest state in the country by area. Berlin is surrounded by the state of Brandenburg, bordering Brandenburg's capital Potsdam to the southwest.
Berlin covers 892 km² with a population of 3.6 million. The city was established in 1237. Berlin is known for Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Wall, Reichstag Building, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the BVG (U-Bahn & S-Bahn).
Berlin holds the highest population within city limits of any city in the European Union, with 3.7 million inhabitants.
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya, located in the south-central part of the country. As of 2024, it has a population of 4.8 million and a metropolitan population of 5.7 million, making it the 11th most populous city in Africa. Nicknamed the "Green City under the Sun", Nairobi is uniquely notable for being the only capital city in the world that hosts a national park within its boundaries. Its name originates from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, meaning "place of cool waters".
Often called "Green City under the Sun", Nairobi has an area of 696 km² and is home to 4.7 million people. It was established in 1899. Visitors come for Nairobi National Park, Giraffe Centre, Karen Blixen Museum, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Nairobi Commuter Rail.
Nairobi is the only capital city in the world that hosts a national park within its boundaries.
Looking beyond city limits, the Berlin metropolitan area covers 3,743 km², which is 5.4x larger than greater Nairobi at 696 km². The Berlin metro area is also more populous, with 6.1 million people compared to 4.7 million.
Berlin has a population density of 4,092 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Nairobi, with 6,796 people per km², is a densely populated city. Nairobi is noticeably denser, packing 1.7 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Berlin in Europe versus Nairobi in Africa. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Berlin has a oceanic climate while Nairobi experiences subtropical highland conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Nairobi stays around 17°C while Berlin drops to 1°C. When it's noon in Nairobi, it's 10:00 AM in Berlin — a 2-hour time difference.
Density Gap
Nairobi is 1.7x more densely populated
History
Berlin is ~662 years older
Berlin covers 892 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Santiago (838 km²), Kyoto (828 km²), San Diego (964 km²), Abu Dhabi (972 km²), or Dallas (997 km²).
Nairobi covers 696 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Tehran (730 km²), Jakarta (662 km²), Singapore (733 km²), Bangalore (741 km²), or Hyderabad (650 km²).
The straight-line distance from Berlin to Nairobi is 6,371 km (3,959 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~7h 60m.
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