Istanbul
5,461 km²
Nairobi
696 km²
Turkey
Kenya
Area Comparison
Istanbul is 7.8x larger than Nairobi
Population Comparison
Istanbul has 3.3x more people than Nairobi
Yes — Istanbul is 7.8x larger than Nairobi by area. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while Nairobi covers 696 km² (269 mi²) — a difference of 4,765 km². You could fit Nairobi inside Istanbul approximately 7 times.
To put Istanbul's size in perspective, its area of 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai. Meanwhile, Nairobi at 696 km² is about 1.1x smaller than New York City.
In more relatable units, Istanbul's 5,461 km² is about 765,000 American football fields, 92 times the area of Manhattan, or 52 times the area of Paris. Nairobi works out to about 97,000 American football fields, 12 times the area of Manhattan, or 7 times the area of Paris.
Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical center. With a population of over 15 million, it is home to 18% of the population of Turkey. Istanbul is among the largest cities in Europe and in the world by population. It is a city on two continents; about two-thirds of its population live in Europe and the rest in Asia.
Known as "City on Two Continents", Istanbul covers 5,461 km² with a population of 15.5 million. The city was founded around 660 BC. Istanbul is known for Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Istanbul Metro.
Istanbul is one of the only major cities to span two continents, with about two-thirds of its population living in Europe and the rest in Asia.
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. 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.
Looking beyond city limits, the Istanbul metropolitan area covers 5,461 km², which is 7.8x larger than greater Nairobi at 696 km². The Istanbul metro area is also more populous, with 15.5 million people compared to 4.7 million.
Istanbul has a population density of 2,831 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Nairobi, with 6,796 people per km², is a densely populated city. Nairobi is noticeably denser, packing 2.4 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Istanbul in Europe versus Nairobi in Africa. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Istanbul has a oceanic climate while Nairobi experiences subtropical highland conditions.
Size Ratio
Nairobi fits inside Istanbul ~7 times
Density Gap
Nairobi is 2.4x more densely populated
History
Istanbul is ~2,559 years older
Istanbul covers 5,461 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Shanghai (6,341 km²), Perth (6,417 km²), Dubai (4,114 km²), Guangzhou (7,434 km²), or Karachi (3,527 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 Istanbul to Nairobi is 4,770 km (2,964 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~6h 7m.
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