Lima
2,672 km²
Nairobi
696 km²
Peru
Kenya
Area Comparison
Lima is 3.8x larger than Nairobi
Population Comparison
Lima has 2.1x more people than Nairobi
Yes — Lima is 3.8x larger than Nairobi by area. Lima spans 2,672 km² (1,032 mi²) while Nairobi covers 696 km² (269 mi²) — a difference of 1,976 km². You could fit Nairobi inside Lima approximately 3 times.
To put Lima's size in perspective, its area of 2,672 km² is roughly the same size as Luxembourg. Meanwhile, Nairobi at 696 km² is about 1.1x smaller than New York City.
In more relatable units, Lima's 2,672 km² is about 374,000 American football fields, 45 times the area of Manhattan, or 25 times the area of Paris. Nairobi, by comparison, equals about 97,000 American football fields, 12 times the area of Manhattan, or 7 times the area of Paris.
Lima is the capital and largest city of Peru, as well as a primate city. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of the central coastal part of the country, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The city is considered the political, cultural, financial and commercial center of Peru. Due to its geostrategic importance, the Globalization and World Cities Research Network has categorized it as a "beta" tier city.
Known as "City of Kings", Lima covers 2,672 km² with a population of 9.9 million. The city was established in 1535. Lima is known for Plaza Mayor de Lima, Miraflores district, Larco Museum, among other attractions.
Lima sprawls across the desert valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers along Peru's Pacific coast.
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".
Also known as "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.
Lima has a population density of 3,720 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Nairobi, with 6,796 people per km², is a densely populated city. Nairobi is noticeably denser, packing 1.8 times more people per square kilometer.
Lima has a desert climate climate while Nairobi experiences subtropical highland conditions.
Size Ratio
Nairobi fits inside Lima ~3 times
Density Gap
Nairobi is 1.8x more densely populated
History
Lima is ~364 years older
Lima covers 2,672 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Moscow (2,511 km²), Cape Town (2,455 km²), Cairo (3,085 km²), Tokyo (2,194 km²), or Hanoi (3,359 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 Lima to Nairobi is 12,565 km (7,808 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~15h 17m.
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