Nairobi
696 km²
Tokyo
2,194 km²
Kenya
Japan
Area Comparison
Nairobi is 3.2x smaller than Tokyo
Population Comparison
Nairobi has 3.0x fewer people than Tokyo
Yes — Tokyo is 3.2x larger than Nairobi by area. Tokyo spans 2,194 km² (847 mi²) while Nairobi covers 696 km² (269 mi²) — a difference of 1,498 km². You could fit Nairobi inside Tokyo 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, Tokyo at 2,194 km² is about 1.1x smaller than Moscow.
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. Tokyo works out to about 307,000 American football fields, 37 times the area of Manhattan, or 21 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.
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital and most populous city of Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is one of the most populous urban areas in the world. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes Tokyo and parts of six neighboring prefectures, is the most populous metropolitan area in the world, with 41 million residents as of 2024.
Often called "Eastern Capital", Tokyo has an area of 2,194 km² and is home to 14.0 million people. It was established in 1457. Visitors come for Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Tower, Imperial Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Tokyo Metro & JR East.
Greater Tokyo holds 41 million residents as of 2024, making it the most populous metropolitan area on Earth.
Looking beyond city limits, the Tokyo metropolitan area covers 13,572 km², which is 19.5x larger than greater Nairobi at 696 km². The Tokyo metro area is also more populous, with 37.4 million people compared to 4.7 million.
Nairobi has a population density of 6,796 people per km² — a densely populated city. Tokyo, with 6,363 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 Tokyo in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Nairobi has a subtropical highland climate while Tokyo experiences humid subtropical conditions. When it's noon in Tokyo, it's 6:00 AM in Nairobi — a 6-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Nairobi fits inside Tokyo ~3 times
Time Difference
6 hours apart
History
Tokyo is ~442 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).
Tokyo covers 2,194 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Ho Chi Minh City (2,061 km²), Shenzhen (1,997 km²), Cape Town (2,455 km²), Moscow (2,511 km²), or Lima (2,672 km²).
The straight-line distance from Nairobi to Tokyo is 11,248 km (6,989 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~13h 44m.
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