Berlin
892 km²
Lagos
1,172 km²
Germany
Nigeria
Area Comparison
Berlin is 1.3x smaller than Lagos
Population Comparison
Berlin has 4.2x fewer people than Lagos
In terms of area, Lagos is 1.3x the size of Berlin. Lagos spans 1,172 km² (453 mi²) while Berlin covers 892 km² (344 mi²) — a difference of 280 km².
To put Berlin's size in perspective, its area of 892 km² is about 1.1x the size of New York City. Meanwhile, Lagos at 1,172 km² is about 1.3x the size of Berlin.
Picture Berlin another way: its area is large enough to fit about 125,000 American football fields, 15 times the area of Manhattan, or 8 times the area of Paris. Lagos works out to about 164,000 American football fields, 20 times the area of Manhattan, or 11 times the area of Paris.
Berlin is the capital of Germany, as well as its largest city by both area and population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the highest population within its city limits of any city in the European Union. The city is also one of the states of Germany, being the third-smallest state in the country by area. Berlin is surrounded by the state of Brandenburg, bordering Brandenburg's capital Potsdam to the southwest.
Berlin covers 892 km² with a population of 3.6 million. The city was established in 1237. Berlin is known for Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Wall, Reichstag Building, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the BVG (U-Bahn & S-Bahn).
Berlin holds the highest population within city limits of any city in the European Union, with 3.7 million inhabitants.
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. It was established in 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 Berlin metropolitan area covers 3,743 km², which is 1.4x larger than greater Lagos at 2,706 km². The Lagos metro area is also more populous, with 21.0 million people compared to 6.1 million.
Berlin has a population density of 4,092 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Lagos, with 13,131 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Lagos is dramatically more crowded, with 3.2x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Berlin in Europe versus Lagos in Africa. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Berlin has a oceanic climate while Lagos experiences tropical savanna conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Lagos stays around 27°C while Berlin drops to 1°C.
Density Gap
Lagos is 3.2x more densely populated
History
Berlin is ~235 years older
Berlin covers 892 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Santiago (838 km²), Kyoto (828 km²), San Diego (964 km²), Abu Dhabi (972 km²), or Dallas (997 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 Berlin to Lagos is 5,196 km (3,228 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~6h 37m.
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