Nairobi, abbreviated as NBO, NBI or NRB, 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. As the capital of the country, Nairobi is home to the Kenyan Parliament Buildings, the State House and the Supreme Court Building.
Nairobi is situated between the cities of Kampala and Mombasa. The city is centred on the City Square, which is located in the Central Business District. Nairobi’s western suburbs stretch all the way from the Kenyatta National Hospital in the south to the UN headquarters at Gigiri suburb in the north, a distance of about 20 kilometres (12 mi).
The geographic coordinate system enables any place in the world to be located using its latitude and longitude. The latitude is the position relative to the equator, specifying the north-south position. The longitude specifies the east-west position measured from a reference meridian (usually the Greenwich Prime Meridian). The latitude and longitude of Nairobi have been calculated based on the geodetic datum WGS84.
Nairobi is located at latitude -1.28333 and longitude 36.81667. It is part of Africa and the southern hemisphere. As Nairobi is situated close to the equator, the differences between the seasons are minimal. The seasons are referred to as the wet season and dry season.
Here's a breakdown of Nairobi's coordinates in various formats:
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- Simple decimal standard: -1.28333, 36.81667
- Decimal Degrees (DD): 1.2833° S, 36.8167° E
- Degrees, Minutes and Seconds (DMS): 1°16'60'' S, 36°49'0'' E
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There are many systems and formats to represent geographic coordinates. The following table matches the equivalence between the most common formats:
| System | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Simple decimal standard | -1.28333 | 36.81667 |
| Decimal Degrees (DD) | 1.2833° S | 36.8167° E |
| Degrees and Decimal Minutes (DDM) | 1°17' S | 36°49' E |
| Degrees, Minutes and Seconds (DMS) | 1°16'60'' S | 36°49'0'' E |
As Nairobi is adjacent to the eastern edge of the Rift Valley, minor earthquakes and tremors occasionally occur. The Ngong Hills, located to the west of the city, are the most prominent geographical feature of the Nairobi area.
Under the Köppen climate classification, Nairobi has a subtropical highland climate (Cwb). At 1,795 metres (5,889 ft) above sea level, evenings may be cool, especially in the June/July season, when the temperature can drop to 9 °C (48 °F). The sunniest and warmest part of the year is from December to March, when temperatures average in the high-twenties Celsius during the day. There are rainy seasons, but rainfall can be moderate. The cloudiest part of the year is just after the first rainy season, when, until September, conditions are usually overcast with drizzle.
Nairobi has many parks and open spaces throughout the city. Much of the city has dense tree-cover and plenty of green spaces. The most famous park in Nairobi is Uhuru Park. The park borders the central business district and the neighbourhood Upper Hill. Uhuru (Freedom in Swahili) Park is a centre for outdoor speeches, services, and rallies. The John Michuki Memorial Park is situated along the Nairobi River, stretching from Globe Cinema Roundabout to Museum Bridge. Nairobi Arboretum, founded in 1907 by E.
Karura Forest, the city-based nature reserve, features nature trails, picnic spots, caves and waterfalls. It is an excellent destination for birdwatching as the area is home to over 200 documented bird species. Nairobi City Park, is located between Forest Road and Limuru Road. As one of Nairobi's oldest and most expansive urban green spaces, spanning over 60 hectares, City Park holds considerable ecological value. It preserves one of the last remaining patches of indigenous forest that once blanketed the region. Oloolua Nature Trail is situated in Oloolua Forest in the Karen area of Nairobi.
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Ngong Road Forest Santuary contains winding walking and jogging paths that pass through tall trees inhabited by various bird species, with occasional sightings of Sykes monkeys. The area also includes a picnic site and a playground for children. Langata Botanical Gardens is a private recreational garden located along Langata South Road. Nairobi Botanical Gardens is located within the National Museum of Kenya. The Nairobi Botanical Gardens are organized into themed sections, each highlighting a particular conservation topic. For example, the Children's Garden focuses on botany and habitat, providing a space where visitors can learn about indigenous and exotic plants while enjoying open lawns and an outdoor amphitheater.
Cities at the Same Latitude as Nairobi
- Belém, Brazil: -1.45583, -48.50444
- Ambato, Ecuador: -1.24908, -78.61675
- Kigali, Rwanda: -1.94995, 30.05885
- Portoviejo, Ecuador: -1.05764, -80.45145
- Riobamba, Ecuador: -1.66506, -78.65887
Cities at the Same Longitude as Nairobi
- Kharkiv, Ukraine: 49.98177, 36.25475
- Damascus, Syria: 33.5102, 36.29128
- Kursk, Russia: 51.73758, 36.18712
- Belgorod, Russia: 50.61074, 36.58015
- Kaluga, Russia: 54.5293, 36.27542
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