City Map Compare/Chennai vs Nairobi
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Chennai

426,830,040 km²

Nairobi

696 km²

Chennai vs Nairobi - City Size Comparison

Chennai vs Nairobi - City Size Comparison

Chennai

India

Area426,830,040 km²
Population6.60M
Density0 /km²
Elevation6 m
Founded1639
Nairobi

Kenya

Area696 km²
Population4.73M
Density6,796 /km²
Elevation1,661 m
Metro Pop.4.7M
Founded1899
Climatesubtropical highland

Area Comparison

Chennai is 613261.6x larger than Nairobi

Population Comparison

Chennai has 1.4x more people than Nairobi

Is Chennai Bigger Than Nairobi?

Yes — Chennai is 613261.6x larger than Nairobi by area. Chennai spans 426,830,040 km² (164,799,932 mi²) while Nairobi covers 696 km² (269 mi²) — a difference of 426,829,344 km². You could fit Nairobi inside Chennai approximately 613261 times.

Meanwhile, Nairobi at 696 km² is about 1.1x smaller than New York City.

In more relatable units, Chennai's 426,830,040 km² is about 59,780,100,000 American football fields. For Nairobi, that's about 97,000 American football fields, 12 times the area of Manhattan, or 7 times the area of Paris.

About Chennai

Chennai, also known as Madras, is the capital and largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India. It is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. As per the 2011 Indian census, Chennai is the sixth-most-populous city in India and forms the fourth-most-populous urban agglomeration. The city is coterminous with Chennai district, which together with the adjoining suburbs constitutes the Chennai Metropolitan Area, one of the largest metropolitan areas of India.

Known as "Madras", Chennai covers 426,830,040 km² with a population of 6.6 million. The city was established in 1639. Chennai is known for Marina Beach, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Fort St. George, among other attractions.

Chennai, formerly Madras, is the capital of Tamil Nadu and the sixth-most-populous city in India.

About Nairobi

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".

Nicknamed "Green City under the Sun", Nairobi has an area of 696 km² and is home to 4.7 million people. The city dates back to 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.

Population Density

Chennai has a population density of 0 people per km² — a low-density, sprawling urban area. Nairobi, with 6,796 people per km², is a densely populated city. Nairobi is dramatically more crowded, with Infinityx the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Nairobi fits inside Chennai ~613261 times

Density Gap

Nairobi is Infinityx more densely populated

History

Chennai is ~260 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Chennai

Chennai covers 426,830,040 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Doha (132,000,000 km²), Dublin (114,990,000 km²), Hangzhou (16,854 km²), Beijing (16,411 km²), or Brisbane (15,826 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Nairobi

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).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Chennai or Nairobi?
Chennai is 613261.6 times larger than Nairobi by area. Chennai covers 426,830,040 km² while Nairobi spans 696 km², a difference of 426,829,344 km².
How many times does Nairobi fit inside Chennai?
Nairobi (696 km²) fits inside Chennai (426,830,040 km²) approximately 613261 times. That means Chennai is 613261.6x the area of Nairobi.
What is the population difference between Chennai and Nairobi?
Chennai has approximately 6.6 million people, while Nairobi has about 4.7 million. Chennai has 1.9 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Chennai or Nairobi?
Nairobi is more densely populated with 6,796 people per km², compared to 0 people per km².
Which city is older, Chennai or Nairobi?
Chennai is older, founded around 1639, while Nairobi was established around 1899 — a difference of about 260 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 Chennai and Nairobi

The straight-line distance from Chennai to Nairobi is 5,051 km (3,139 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~6h 27m.

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