Atlanta
348 km²
Lagos
1,172 km²
United States
Nigeria
Area Comparison
Atlanta is 3.4x smaller than Lagos
Population Comparison
Atlanta has 30.8x fewer people than Lagos
Lagos is significantly larger, covering 3.4 times the area of Atlanta. Lagos spans 1,172 km² (453 mi²) while Atlanta covers 348 km² (134 mi²) — a difference of 824 km². You could fit Atlanta inside Lagos approximately 3 times.
To put Atlanta's size in perspective, its area of 348 km² is about 1.6x the size of Amsterdam. Meanwhile, Lagos at 1,172 km² is about 1.3x the size of Berlin.
Atlanta's footprint is roughly about 49,000 American football fields, 170 times the area of Monaco, or 100 times the area of Central Park — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Lagos, by comparison, equals about 164,000 American football fields, 20 times the area of Manhattan, or 11 times the area of Paris.
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the county seat of Fulton County and extends into neighboring DeKalb County. With a population of 498,715 at the 2020 census and an estimated 520,070 in 2024, Atlanta is the eighth-most populous city in the Southeast and the 36th-most populous city in the United States. Atlanta is classified as a Beta+ global city.
Known as "The ATL", Atlanta covers 348 km² with a population of 0.5 million. The city was established in 1845. Atlanta is known for Coca-Cola headquarters, Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, Georgia Aquarium, among other attractions.
Atlanta is Georgia's capital and most populous city, with around 520,070 residents estimated in 2024.
Lagos, or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan port city in southwestern Nigeria. As of November 2025, the size of the city's population has been estimated to be between 17 and 21 million residents, making Lagos the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and one of the fastest-growing megacities in the world.
Also known as "Lasgidi", Lagos has an area of 1,172 km² and is home to 15.4 million people. The city dates back to 1472. Visitors come for Victoria Island, Lekki Conservation Centre, Nike Art Gallery, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Lagos Rail (Blue & Red Lines).
Lagos is the most populous urban area on the African continent, with an estimated 17 to 21 million residents as of 2025.
Atlanta has a population density of 1,437 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Lagos, with 13,131 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Lagos is dramatically more crowded, with 9.1x the population density.
Size Ratio
Atlanta fits inside Lagos ~3 times
Density Gap
Lagos is 9.1x more densely populated
History
Lagos is ~373 years older
Atlanta covers 348 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Dhaka (368 km²), Seattle (369 km²), Philadelphia (370 km²), Portland (376 km²), or Munich (311 km²).
Lagos covers 1,172 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include San Antonio (1,209 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), Hong Kong (1,114 km²), Rome (1,285 km²), or Los Angeles (1,302 km²).
The straight-line distance from Atlanta to Lagos is 9,400 km (5,841 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~11h 34m.
Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.