City Map Compare/Nairobi vs Singapore
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5 km
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Nairobi

696 km²

Singapore

733 km²

Nairobi vs Singapore - City Size Comparison

Nairobi vs Singapore - City Size Comparison

Nairobi

Kenya

Area696 km²
Population4.73M
Density6,796 /km²
Elevation1,661 m
Metro Pop.4.7M
Founded1899
Climatesubtropical highland
Singapore

Singapore

Area733 km²
Population5.45M
Density7,435 /km²
Elevation15 m
Founded1819
Climatetropical rainforest

Area Comparison

Nairobi is 1.1x smaller than Singapore

Population Comparison

Nairobi has 1.2x fewer people than Singapore

Is Nairobi Bigger Than Singapore?

In terms of area, Singapore is 1.1x the size of Nairobi. Singapore spans 733 km² (283 mi²) while Nairobi covers 696 km² (269 mi²) — a difference of 37 km².

To put Nairobi's size in perspective, its area of 696 km² is about 1.1x smaller than New York City. Meanwhile, Singapore at 733 km² is roughly the same size as New York City.

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. Singapore works out to about 103,000 American football fields, 12 times the area of Manhattan, or 7 times the area of Paris.

About Nairobi

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.

About Singapore

Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. Its territory comprises a main island, over 60 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. The country is about one degree of latitude north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bordering the Strait of Malacca to the west, the Singapore Strait to the south along with the Riau Islands in Indonesia, the South China Sea to the east and the Straits of Johor along…

Often called "Lion City", Singapore has an area of 733 km² and is home to 5.5 million people. The city dates back to 1819. Visitors come for Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, Merlion statue, and much more. Getting around is easy with the MRT Singapore.

Singapore is a city-state made up of one main island plus over 60 satellite islands and islets.

Population Density

Nairobi has a population density of 6,796 people per km² — a densely populated city. Singapore, with 7,435 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though Singapore is slightly more compact.

This comparison spans continents — Nairobi in Africa versus Singapore in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.

Climate & Time Zone

Nairobi has a subtropical highland climate while Singapore experiences tropical rainforest conditions. When it's noon in Singapore, it's 7:00 AM in Nairobi — a 5-hour time difference.

Key Differences at a Glance

Time Difference

5 hours apart

Cities Similar in Size to Nairobi

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).

Cities Similar in Size to Singapore

Singapore covers 733 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Tehran (730 km²), Bangalore (741 km²), Hamburg (755 km²), Nairobi (696 km²), or New York (783 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nairobi actually bigger than Singapore?
Singapore is 1.1 times larger than Nairobi by area. Singapore covers 733 km² while Nairobi spans 696 km², a difference of 37 km².
How many times does Nairobi fit inside Singapore?
Nairobi (696 km²) fits inside Singapore (733 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Singapore is 1.1x the area of Nairobi.
What is the population difference between Nairobi and Singapore?
Singapore has approximately 5.5 million people, while Nairobi has about 4.7 million. Singapore has 0.7 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Nairobi or Singapore?
Singapore is more densely populated with 7,435 people per km², compared to 6,796 people per km².
What is the time difference between Nairobi and Singapore?
Nairobi is in the UTC+3 timezone while Singapore is UTC+8. There is a 5-hour time difference between the two cities.
Which city is older, Nairobi or Singapore?
Singapore is older, founded around 1819, while Nairobi was established around 1899 — a difference of about 80 years.
How does the map comparison work?
Our synchronized map comparison tool displays both cities at the same zoom level. When you zoom in or out on one map, the other automatically adjusts to maintain the same scale, allowing you to directly compare the relative sizes of both cities.
Can I compare other cities?
Yes! Use the city selectors at the top of the page to choose any two cities from our database of 50+ major cities worldwide, or enter custom coordinates for any location.

Distance Between Nairobi and Singapore

The straight-line distance from Nairobi to Singapore is 7,455 km (4,632 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~9h 16m.

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