Nairobi
696 km²
Riyadh
1,798 km²
Kenya
Saudi Arabia
Area Comparison
Nairobi is 2.6x smaller than Riyadh
Population Comparison
Nairobi has 1.5x fewer people than Riyadh
In terms of area, Riyadh is 2.6x the size of Nairobi. Riyadh spans 1,798 km² (694 mi²) while Nairobi covers 696 km² (269 mi²) — a difference of 1,102 km². You could fit Nairobi inside Riyadh approximately 2 times.
To put Nairobi's size in perspective, its area of 696 km² is about 1.1x smaller than New York City. Meanwhile, Riyadh at 1,798 km² is about 1.1x the size of London.
Nairobi's footprint is roughly about 97,000 American football fields, 12 times the area of Manhattan, or 7 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Riyadh, by comparison, equals about 252,000 American football fields, 30 times the area of Manhattan, or 17 times the area of Paris.
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.
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of the Riyadh Province and the centre of the Riyadh Governorate. Located on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa, the current form of the metropolis largely emerged in the 1950s as an expansion of the 18th-century walled town, following the dismantling of its defensive fortifications.
Riyadh has an area of 1,798 km² and is home to 7.0 million people. The city dates back to 1746. Visitors come for Kingdom Centre Tower, Masmak Fortress, Al Faisaliah Tower, and much more.
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia, sitting on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa.
Nairobi has a population density of 6,796 people per km² — a densely populated city. Riyadh, with 3,899 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Nairobi is noticeably denser, packing 1.7 times more people per square kilometer.
Size Ratio
Nairobi fits inside Riyadh ~2 times
Density Gap
Nairobi is 1.7x more densely populated
History
Riyadh is ~153 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).
Riyadh covers 1,798 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Houston (1,725 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), Shenzhen (1,997 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), or London (1,572 km²).
The straight-line distance from Nairobi to Riyadh is 3,074 km (1,910 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~4h 7m.
Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.