Nairobi
696 km²
Paris
105 km²
Kenya
France
Area Comparison
Nairobi is 6.6x larger than Paris
Population Comparison
Nairobi has 2.2x more people than Paris
Nairobi is significantly larger, covering 6.6 times the area of Paris. Nairobi spans 696 km² (269 mi²) while Paris covers 105 km² (41 mi²) — a difference of 591 km². You could fit Paris inside Nairobi approximately 6 times.
To put Nairobi's size in perspective, its area of 696 km² is about 1.1x smaller than New York City. Meanwhile, Paris at 105 km² is about 1.2x smaller than San Francisco.
Picture Nairobi another way: its area is large enough to fit about 97,000 American football fields, 12 times the area of Manhattan, or 7 times the area of Paris. Paris, by comparison, equals about 15,000 American football fields, 52 times the area of Monaco, or 31 times the area of Central Park.
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".
Known as "Green City under the Sun", Nairobi covers 696 km² with a population of 4.7 million. The city was established in 1899. Nairobi is known for Nairobi National Park, Giraffe Centre, Karen Blixen Museum, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Nairobi Commuter Rail.
Nairobi is the only capital city in the world that hosts a national park within its boundaries.
Paris is the capital and largest city of France, with an estimated city population of 2.04 million in an area of 105.4 km2 (40.7 sq mi), and a metropolitan population of 13.2 million as of January 2026. Located on the river Seine in the centre of the Île-de-France region, it is the largest metropolitan area and fourth-most populous city in the European Union (EU).
Also known as "City of Light", Paris has an area of 105 km² and is home to 2.2 million people. The city dates back to 250 BC. Visitors come for Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Paris Métro.
Paris packs 2.04 million people into just 105 km2, giving it one of the highest urban densities in Europe.
Looking beyond city limits, the Paris metropolitan area covers 17,174 km², which is 24.7x larger than greater Nairobi at 696 km². The Paris metro area is also more populous, with 12.3 million people compared to 4.7 million.
Nairobi has a population density of 6,796 people per km² — a densely populated city. Paris, with 20,571 people per km², is one of the most densely packed urban areas on Earth. Paris is dramatically more crowded, with 3.0x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Nairobi in Africa versus Paris in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Nairobi has a subtropical highland climate while Paris experiences oceanic conditions. When it's noon in Nairobi, it's 10:00 AM in Paris — a 2-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Paris fits inside Nairobi ~6 times
Density Gap
Paris is 3.0x more densely populated
History
Paris is ~2,149 years older
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).
Paris covers 105 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Barcelona (101 km²), Lisbon (100 km²), Vancouver (115 km²), San Francisco (121 km²), or Copenhagen (91 km²).
The straight-line distance from Nairobi to Paris is 6,484 km (4,029 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~8h 8m.
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