Beijing
16,411 km²
Lagos
1,172 km²
China
Nigeria
Area Comparison
Beijing is 14.0x larger than Lagos
Population Comparison
Beijing has 1.4x more people than Lagos
Beijing is significantly larger, covering 14.0 times the area of Lagos. Beijing spans 16,411 km² (6,336 mi²) while Lagos covers 1,172 km² (453 mi²) — a difference of 15,239 km². You could fit Lagos inside Beijing approximately 14 times.
To put Beijing's size in perspective, its area of 16,411 km² is about 2.6x the size of Shanghai. Meanwhile, Lagos at 1,172 km² is about 1.3x the size of Berlin.
In more relatable units, Beijing's 16,411 km² is about 2,300,000 American football fields, 160 times the area of Paris, or 140 times the area of San Francisco. For Lagos, that's about 164,000 American football fields, 20 times the area of Manhattan, or 11 times the area of Paris.
Beijing, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's most populous national capital city, as well as China's second-largest city by urban area, after Shanghai. It is located in Northern China, and is governed as a municipality under the direct administration of the State Council with 16 urban districts.
Known as "Northern Capital", Beijing covers 16,411 km² with a population of 21.5 million. The city was founded around 1045 BC. Beijing is known for Forbidden City, Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Beijing Subway.
With over 22 million residents, Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city.
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.
Often called "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.
Looking beyond city limits, the Beijing metropolitan area covers 16,411 km², which is 6.1x larger than greater Lagos at 2,706 km². The Beijing metro area is also more populous, with 21.5 million people compared to 21.0 million.
Beijing has a population density of 1,313 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 10.0x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Beijing in Asia versus Lagos in Africa. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Beijing has a humid continental climate while Lagos experiences tropical savanna conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Lagos stays around 27°C while Beijing drops to -3°C. When it's noon in Beijing, it's 5:00 AM in Lagos — a 7-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Lagos fits inside Beijing ~14 times
Density Gap
Lagos is 10.0x more densely populated
Time Difference
7 hours apart
History
Beijing is ~2,517 years older
Beijing covers 16,411 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Hangzhou (16,854 km²), Brisbane (15,826 km²), Chengdu (14,378 km²), Sydney (12,368 km²), or Xi'an (10,097 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 Beijing to Lagos is 11,455 km (7,118 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~13h 59m.
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