Nairobi vs Washington D.C. - City Size Comparison

Is Nairobi Bigger Than Washington D.C.?

In terms of area, Nairobi is 3.9x the size of Washington D.C.. Nairobi spans 696 km² (269 mi²) while Washington D.C. covers 177 km² (68 mi²) — a difference of 519 km². You could fit Washington D.C. inside Nairobi approximately 3 times.

About Nairobi

Kenya's capital and East Africa's largest city. Known as "The Green City in 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, Safari tourism, 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 with a national park within its borders — you can see lions with skyscrapers in the background

About Washington D.C.

Capital of the United States. Often called "D.C.", Washington D.C. has an area of 177 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. Its history stretches back to 1790. Visitors come for The White House, Lincoln Memorial, Smithsonian museums, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Washington Metro.

D.C. has more free museums than any other city in the US — all 19 Smithsonian museums charge no admission

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the Washington D.C. metropolitan area covers 14,412 km², which is 20.7x larger than greater Nairobi at 696 km². The Washington D.C. metro area is also more populous, with 6.3 million people compared to 4.7 million.

Population Density

Nairobi has a population density of 6,796 people per km² — a densely populated city. Washington D.C., with 3,898 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Nairobi is noticeably denser, packing 1.7 times more people per square kilometer.

Climate & Time Zone

Nairobi has a subtropical highland climate while Washington D.C. experiences humid subtropical conditions. When it's noon in Nairobi, it's 4:00 AM in Washington D.C. — a 8-hour time difference.