Nairobi
696 km²
Stockholm
188 km²
Kenya
Sweden
Area Comparison
Nairobi is 3.7x larger than Stockholm
Population Comparison
Nairobi has 4.8x more people than Stockholm
Nairobi is significantly larger, covering 3.7 times the area of Stockholm. Nairobi spans 696 km² (269 mi²) while Stockholm covers 188 km² (73 mi²) — a difference of 508 km². You could fit Stockholm inside Nairobi approximately 3 times.
To put Nairobi's size in perspective, its area of 696 km² is about 1.1x smaller than New York City. Meanwhile, Stockholm at 188 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C..
In more relatable units, Nairobi's 696 km² is about 97,000 American football fields, 12 times the area of Manhattan, or 7 times the area of Paris. Stockholm, by comparison, equals about 26,000 American football fields, 93 times the area of Monaco, or 55 times the area of Central Park.
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.
Stockholm is the capital and most populous city of Sweden, as well as the largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately 1 million people live in the municipality, with 1.6 million in the urban area, and 2.5 million in the metropolitan area. The city stretches across fourteen islands where Lake Mälaren flows into the Baltic Sea. Outside the city to the east, and along the coast, is the island chain of the Stockholm archipelago.
Also known as "Venice of the North", Stockholm has an area of 188 km² and is home to 1.0 million people. The city dates back to 1252. Visitors come for Gamla Stan, Vasa Museum, Royal Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Stockholm Metro (Tunnelbana).
Stockholm stretches across fourteen islands where Lake Mälaren flows into the Baltic Sea, forming the Nordic countries' largest urban area.
Looking beyond city limits, the Stockholm metropolitan area covers 6,519 km², which is 9.4x larger than greater Nairobi at 696 km². The Nairobi metro area is also more populous, with 4.7 million people compared to 2.4 million.
Nairobi has a population density of 6,796 people per km² — a densely populated city. Stockholm, with 5,213 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though Nairobi is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — Nairobi in Africa versus Stockholm in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Nairobi has a subtropical highland climate while Stockholm experiences humid continental conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Nairobi stays around 17°C while Stockholm drops to -2°C. When it's noon in Nairobi, it's 10:00 AM in Stockholm — a 2-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Stockholm fits inside Nairobi ~3 times
Density Gap
Nairobi is 1.3x more densely populated
History
Stockholm is ~647 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).
Stockholm covers 188 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Washington D.C. (177 km²), Buenos Aires (203 km²), Helsinki (214 km²), Amsterdam (219 km²), or Brussels (161 km²).
The straight-line distance from Nairobi to Stockholm is 6,937 km (4,310 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~8h 40m.
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