Nairobi vs Seoul - City Size Comparison

Is Nairobi Bigger Than Seoul?

Nairobi is significantly larger, covering 1.2 times the area of Seoul. Nairobi spans 696 km² (269 mi²) while Seoul covers 605 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 91 km².

About Nairobi

Kenya's capital and East Africa's largest city. Known as "The Green City in 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, Safari tourism, 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 with a national park within its borders — you can see lions with skyscrapers in the background

About Seoul

Capital of South Korea and a major tech hub. Also known as "The Soul of Asia", Seoul has an area of 605 km² and is home to 9.8 million people. The city dates back to 18 BC. Visitors come for Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gangnam district, K-pop culture, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Seoul Metro.

Seoul's metro area contains nearly half of South Korea's entire population

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the Seoul metropolitan area covers 11,704 km², which is 16.8x larger than greater Nairobi at 696 km². The Seoul metro area is also more populous, with 25.5 million people compared to 4.7 million.

Population Density

Nairobi has a population density of 6,796 people per km² — a densely populated city. Seoul, with 16,149 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Seoul is noticeably denser, packing 2.4 times more people per square kilometer.

Climate & Time Zone

Nairobi has a subtropical highland climate while Seoul experiences humid continental conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Nairobi stays around 17°C while Seoul drops to -3°C. When it's noon in Seoul, it's 6:00 AM in Nairobi — a 6-hour time difference.