Nairobi
696 km²
Tehran
730 km²
Kenya
Iran
Area Comparison
Nairobi is 1.0x smaller than Tehran
Population Comparison
Nairobi has 1.9x fewer people than Tehran
Yes — Tehran is 1.0x larger than Nairobi by area. Tehran spans 730 km² (282 mi²) while Nairobi covers 696 km² (269 mi²) — a difference of 34 km².
To put Nairobi's size in perspective, its area of 696 km² is about 1.1x smaller than New York City. Meanwhile, Tehran at 730 km² is roughly the same size as New York City.
Picture Nairobi another way: its area is large enough to fit about 97,000 American football fields, 12 times the area of Manhattan, or 7 times the area of Paris. Tehran works out to about 102,000 American football fields, 12 times the area of Manhattan, or 7 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.
Tehran is the capital and largest city of Iran. It is also the capital of Tehran province and the administrative center for Tehran County and its Central District. With a population of around 9 million in the city, and 16.8 million in the metropolitan area, Tehran is the most populous city in Iran and West Asia, the second-largest metropolitan area in the Middle East after Cairo, and the 24th-most-populous metropolitan area in the world.
Tehran has an area of 730 km² and is home to 9.1 million people. It was established in 1524. Visitors come for Azadi Tower, Milad Tower, Golestan Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Tehran Metro.
Tehran's metropolitan area holds 16.8 million people, making it the second-largest metropolitan area in the Middle East after Cairo.
Looking beyond city limits, the Tehran metropolitan area covers 2,235 km², which is 3.2x larger than greater Nairobi at 696 km². The Tehran metro area is also more populous, with 16.0 million people compared to 4.7 million.
Nairobi has a population density of 6,796 people per km² — a densely populated city. Tehran, with 12,507 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Tehran is noticeably denser, packing 1.8 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Nairobi in Africa versus Tehran in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Nairobi has a subtropical highland climate while Tehran experiences hot-summer Mediterranean conditions. Summers are notably different: Tehran averages 30°C compared to 20°C in Nairobi.
Density Gap
Tehran is 1.8x more densely populated
History
Tehran is ~375 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).
Tehran covers 730 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Singapore (733 km²), Bangalore (741 km²), Hamburg (755 km²), Nairobi (696 km²), or New York (783 km²).
The straight-line distance from Nairobi to Tehran is 4,381 km (2,722 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~5h 39m.
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