City Map Compare/Nairobi vs Vancouver
vs
5 km
|

Nairobi

696 km²

Vancouver

115 km²

Nairobi vs Vancouver - City Size Comparison

Nairobi vs Vancouver - City Size Comparison

Nairobi

Kenya

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

Canada

Area115 km²
Population0.66M
Density5,739 /km²
Elevation2 m
Founded1886
ClimateMarine west coast climate

Area Comparison

Nairobi is 6.1x larger than Vancouver

Population Comparison

Nairobi has 7.2x more people than Vancouver

Is Nairobi Bigger Than Vancouver?

In terms of area, Nairobi is 6.1x the size of Vancouver. Nairobi spans 696 km² (269 mi²) while Vancouver covers 115 km² (44 mi²) — a difference of 581 km². You could fit Vancouver inside Nairobi approximately 6 times.

To put Nairobi's size in perspective, its area of 696 km² is about 1.1x smaller than New York City. Meanwhile, Vancouver at 115 km² is roughly the same size as San Francisco.

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. Vancouver, by comparison, equals about 16,000 American football fields, 57 times the area of Monaco, or 34 times the area of Central Park.

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 Vancouver

Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the city, up from 631,486 in 2016. The Metro Vancouver area had a population of 2.6 million in 2021, making it the third-largest metropolitan area in Canada. Greater Vancouver, along with the Fraser Valley, comprises the Lower Mainland with a regional population of over 3 million.

Nicknamed "Hollywood North", Vancouver has an area of 115 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. It was established in 1886. Visitors come for Stanley Park, Granville Island, Capilano Suspension Bridge, and much more.

Vancouver grew from 631,486 residents in 2016 to 662,248 by the 2021 census, leading all of British Columbia.

Population Density

Nairobi has a population density of 6,796 people per km² — a densely populated city. Vancouver, with 5,739 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though Nairobi is slightly more compact.

Climate & Time Zone

Nairobi has a subtropical highland climate while Vancouver experiences Marine west coast climate conditions.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Vancouver fits inside Nairobi ~6 times

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 Vancouver

Vancouver covers 115 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include San Francisco (121 km²), Paris (105 km²), Barcelona (101 km²), Lisbon (100 km²), or Miami (143 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nairobi actually bigger than Vancouver?
Nairobi is 6.1 times larger than Vancouver by area. Nairobi covers 696 km² while Vancouver spans 115 km², a difference of 581 km².
How many times does Vancouver fit inside Nairobi?
Vancouver (115 km²) fits inside Nairobi (696 km²) approximately 6 times. That means Nairobi is 6.1x the area of Vancouver.
What is the population difference between Nairobi and Vancouver?
Nairobi has approximately 4.7 million people, while Vancouver has about 0.7 million. Nairobi has 4.1 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Nairobi or Vancouver?
Nairobi is more densely populated with 6,796 people per km², compared to 5,739 people per km².
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 Vancouver

The straight-line distance from Nairobi to Vancouver is 14,349 km (8,916 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~17h 23m.

Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.