Jakarta
662 km²
Nairobi
696 km²
Indonesia
Kenya
Area Comparison
Jakarta is 1.1x smaller than Nairobi
Population Comparison
Jakarta has 2.2x more people than Nairobi
Nairobi is significantly larger, covering 1.1 times the area of Jakarta. Nairobi spans 696 km² (269 mi²) while Jakarta covers 662 km² (256 mi²) — a difference of 34 km².
To put Jakarta's size in perspective, its area of 662 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, Nairobi at 696 km² is about 1.1x smaller than New York City.
Jakarta's footprint is roughly about 93,000 American football fields, 190 times the area of Central Park, or 11 times the area of Manhattan — 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.
Jakarta, officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta, is the de facto capital and largest city of Indonesia, with administrative status equivalent to a province. It lies on the northwestern coast of Java, borders the provinces of West Java and Banten, and faces the Java Sea to the north. Jakarta itself covers about 662 square kilometres, but the wider Jakarta metropolitan area—locally known as Jabodetabek—is among the largest urban agglomerations in the world.
Known as "Big Durian", Jakarta covers 662 km² with a population of 10.6 million. The city was established in 1527. Jakarta is known for National Monument Monas, Istiqlal Mosque, Kota Tua old town, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Jakarta MRT.
Jakarta has administrative status equivalent to a province as the Special Capital Region of Indonesia.
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. Its history stretches 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 Jakarta metropolitan area covers 6,392 km², which is 9.2x larger than greater Nairobi at 696 km². The Jakarta metro area is also more populous, with 34.5 million people compared to 4.7 million.
Jakarta has a population density of 15,952 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Nairobi, with 6,796 people per km², is a densely populated city. Jakarta is noticeably denser, packing 2.3 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Jakarta in Asia versus Nairobi in Africa. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Jakarta has a tropical monsoon climate while Nairobi experiences subtropical highland conditions. When it's noon in Jakarta, it's 8:00 AM in Nairobi — a 4-hour time difference.
Density Gap
Jakarta is 2.3x more densely populated
Time Difference
4 hours apart
History
Jakarta is ~372 years older
Jakarta covers 662 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Hyderabad (650 km²), Toronto (630 km²), Nairobi (696 km²), Chicago (606 km²), or Seoul (605 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 Jakarta to Nairobi is 7,784 km (4,837 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~9h 39m.
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