Quick facts
Nairobi overview
Nairobi (orange) and the other large cities of Kenya
Nairobi lies in Nairobi County in Kenya at 1.28°S, 36.82°E, about 1,684 m above sea level. The local time zone is Africa/Nairobi (UTC+3); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of Kenya: the next largest cities are Kakamega (1,867,579), Mombasa (1,208,333), Nakuru (570,674). Together, the three largest cities hold 12.7% of the national population.
The nearest large city is Kiambu, about 13 km away, followed by Karuri (14 km).
Kenya as a whole has a live population of 58,963,111 (+1.9% a year) and ranks #26 of 238 countries — see the Kenya population page for the full statistics and the Kenya atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Nairobi
Largest cities in Kenya
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NairobiCapital | Nairobi County | 4,397,073 |
| 2 | Kakamega | Kakamega County | 1,867,579 |
| 3 | Mombasa | Mombasa County | 1,208,333 |
| 4 | Nakuru | Nakuru County | 570,674 |
| 5 | Ruiru | Kiambu County | 490,120 |
| 6 | Eldoret | Uasin Gishu County | 475,716 |
| 7 | Kisumu | Kisumu County | 397,957 |
| 8 | Kikuyu | Kiambu County | 323,881 |
| 9 | Thika | Nairobi County | 251,407 |
| 10 | Naivasha | Nakuru County | 198,444 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Nairobi?
Nairobi has about 4,397,073 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Nairobi the capital of Kenya?
Yes — Nairobi is the national capital of Kenya.
How big is Nairobi compared with the rest of Kenya?
Its 4,397,073 residents are 7.5% of the 58,963,111 people living in Kenya today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Nairobi?
In Nairobi County, Kenya, at latitude -1.28 and longitude 36.82, 1,684 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Kiambu (13 km), Karuri (14 km), Ongata Rongai (14 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Nairobi Population 2026 — Kenya. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/kenya/nairobi/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/kenya/nairobi/">Nairobi Population 2026 — Kenya</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.