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Kenya
China
Area Comparison
Nairobi is 9.1x smaller than Shanghai
Population Comparison
Nairobi has 5.3x fewer people than Shanghai
In terms of area, Shanghai is 9.1x the size of Nairobi. Shanghai spans 6,341 km² (2,448 mi²) while Nairobi covers 696 km² (269 mi²) — a difference of 5,645 km². You could fit Nairobi inside Shanghai approximately 9 times.
To put Nairobi's size in perspective, its area of 696 km² is about 1.1x smaller than New York City. Meanwhile, Shanghai at 6,341 km² is about 1.5x the size of Los Angeles metro.
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
China's largest city and a global financial hub. Also known as "The Pearl of the Orient", Shanghai has an area of 6,341 km² and is home to 24.9 million people. The city dates back to 1291. Visitors come for The Bund waterfront, Pudong skyline, Yuyuan Garden, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Shanghai Metro.
Shanghai's Maglev train reaches 431 km/h, the fastest commercial train in the world
Looking beyond city limits, the Shanghai metropolitan area covers 6,341 km², which is 9.1x larger than greater Nairobi at 696 km². The Shanghai metro area is also more populous, with 28.5 million people compared to 4.7 million.
Nairobi has a population density of 6,796 people per km² — a densely populated city. Shanghai, with 3,922 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Nairobi is noticeably denser, packing 1.7 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Nairobi in Africa versus Shanghai in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Nairobi has a subtropical highland climate while Shanghai experiences humid subtropical conditions. When it's noon in Shanghai, it's 7:00 AM in Nairobi — a 5-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Nairobi fits inside Shanghai ~9 times
Density Gap
Nairobi is 1.7x more densely populated
Time Difference
5 hours apart
History
Shanghai is ~608 years older
The straight-line distance from Nairobi to Shanghai is 9,574 km (5,949 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~11h 46m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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