Nairobi
696 km²
Zurich
88 km²
Kenya
Switzerland
Area Comparison
Nairobi is 7.9x larger than Zurich
Population Comparison
Nairobi has 11.0x more people than Zurich
Nairobi is significantly larger, covering 7.9 times the area of Zurich. Nairobi spans 696 km² (269 mi²) while Zurich covers 88 km² (34 mi²) — a difference of 608 km². You could fit Zurich inside Nairobi approximately 7 times.
To put Nairobi's size in perspective, its area of 696 km² is about 1.1x smaller than New York City. Meanwhile, Zurich at 88 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Paris (city proper).
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. For Zurich, that's about 12,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Vatican City, or 44 times the area of Monaco.
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.
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. As of the end of 2024, the municipality had a population of 436,551, while the urban area was home to 1.45 million people (2020), and the Zurich metropolitan area had a total population of 2.1 million (2020). Zurich is a hub for railways, roads, and air traffic.
Zurich has an area of 88 km² and is home to 0.4 million people. Its history stretches back to 15 BC. Visitors come for Lake Zurich, Bahnhofstrasse, Grossmünster, and much more. Getting around is easy with the ZVV (S-Bahn & Tram).
Zurich is Switzerland's largest city and sits at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich in north-central Switzerland.
Looking beyond city limits, the Zurich metropolitan area covers 1,334 km², which is 1.9x larger than greater Nairobi at 696 km². The Nairobi metro area is also more populous, with 4.7 million people compared to 1.4 million.
Nairobi has a population density of 6,796 people per km² — a densely populated city. Zurich, with 4,886 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Nairobi is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — Nairobi in Africa versus Zurich in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Nairobi has a subtropical highland climate while Zurich experiences oceanic conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Nairobi stays around 17°C while Zurich drops to 1°C. When it's noon in Nairobi, it's 10:00 AM in Zurich — a 2-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Zurich fits inside Nairobi ~7 times
Density Gap
Nairobi is 1.4x more densely populated
History
Zurich is ~1,914 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).
Zurich covers 88 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Copenhagen (91 km²), Lisbon (100 km²), Barcelona (101 km²), Paris (105 km²), or Vancouver (115 km²).
The straight-line distance from Nairobi to Zurich is 6,069 km (3,771 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~7h 38m.
Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.