Nairobi
696 km²
Rome
1,285 km²
Kenya
Italy
Area Comparison
Nairobi is 1.8x smaller than Rome
Population Comparison
Nairobi has 1.6x more people than Rome
In terms of area, Rome is 1.8x the size of Nairobi. Rome spans 1,285 km² (496 mi²) while Nairobi covers 696 km² (269 mi²) — a difference of 589 km².
To put Nairobi's size in perspective, its area of 696 km² is about 1.1x smaller than New York City. Meanwhile, Rome at 1,285 km² is about 1.2x smaller than 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. For Rome, that's about 180,000 American football fields, 22 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 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.
Rome is the capital city and most populated comune (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special comune named Roma Capitale with a population of 2.7 million in an area of 1,287.36 km2 (497.1 mi2), Rome is the third most populous city in the European Union by population within city limits. The Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, with a population of 4.2 million, is the most populous metropolitan city in Italy.
Nicknamed "The Eternal City", Rome has an area of 1,285 km² and is home to 2.9 million people. The city dates back to 753 BC. Visitors come for Colosseum, Vatican City, Trevi Fountain, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Rome Metro.
Rome's special comune Roma Capitale spans 1,287 km2, making it the third most populous city in the EU within city limits
Looking beyond city limits, the Rome metropolitan area covers 5,352 km², which is 7.7x larger than greater Nairobi at 696 km². The Nairobi metro area is also more populous, with 4.7 million people compared to 4.3 million.
Nairobi has a population density of 6,796 people per km² — a densely populated city. Rome, with 2,233 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Nairobi is dramatically more crowded, with 3.0x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Nairobi in Africa versus Rome in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Nairobi has a subtropical highland climate while Rome experiences Mediterranean conditions. When it's noon in Nairobi, it's 10:00 AM in Rome — a 2-hour time difference.
Density Gap
Nairobi is 3.0x more densely populated
History
Rome is ~2,652 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).
Rome covers 1,285 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Los Angeles (1,302 km²), Phoenix (1,341 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), San Antonio (1,209 km²), or Lagos (1,172 km²).
The straight-line distance from Nairobi to Rome is 5,390 km (3,349 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~6h 50m.
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