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USA
Nigeria
Area Comparison
Boston is 5.1x smaller than Lagos
Population Comparison
Boston has 22.6x fewer people than Lagos
In terms of area, Lagos is 5.1x the size of Boston. Lagos spans 1,172 km² (453 mi²) while Boston covers 232 km² (90 mi²) — a difference of 940 km². You could fit Boston inside Lagos approximately 5 times.
To put Boston's size in perspective, its area of 232 km² is roughly the same size as Amsterdam. Meanwhile, Lagos at 1,172 km² is about 1.3x the size of Berlin.
A historic city and academic center in the northeastern US. Known as "Beantown", Boston covers 232 km² with a population of 0.7 million. The city was established in 1630. Boston is known for Harvard & MIT, Freedom Trail, Fenway Park, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the MBTA (The T).
Boston's subway system (the T) opened in 1897, making it the oldest subway in North America
Nigeria's largest city and economic hub of West Africa. Often called "Eko", 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 Afrobeats music scene, Lekki Conservation Centre, Lagos Island, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Lagos Rail (Blue & Red Lines).
Lagos is projected to become the world's largest city by population by 2100
Looking beyond city limits, the Boston metropolitan area covers 11,700 km², which is 4.3x larger than greater Lagos at 2,706 km². The Lagos metro area is also more populous, with 21.0 million people compared to 4.9 million.
Boston has a population density of 2,931 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 4.5x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Boston in North America versus Lagos in Africa. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Boston has a humid continental climate while Lagos experiences tropical savanna conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Lagos stays around 27°C while Boston drops to -1°C. When it's noon in Lagos, it's 6:00 AM in Boston — a 6-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Boston fits inside Lagos ~5 times
Density Gap
Lagos is 4.5x more densely populated
Time Difference
6 hours apart
History
Lagos is ~158 years older
The straight-line distance from Boston to Lagos is 8,242 km (5,122 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~10h 12m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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