City Map Compare/Buenos Aires vs Lagos
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5 km
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Buenos Aires

203 km²

Lagos

1,172 km²

Buenos Aires vs Lagos - City Size Comparison

Buenos Aires vs Lagos - City Size Comparison

Buenos Aires

Argentina

Area203 km²
Population3.06M
Density15,074 /km²
Elevation25 m
Metro Pop.15.2M
Founded1536
Climatehumid subtropical
Lagos

Nigeria

Area1,172 km²
Population15.39M
Density13,131 /km²
Elevation41 m
Metro Pop.21.0M
Founded1472
Climatetropical savanna

Area Comparison

Buenos Aires is 5.8x smaller than Lagos

Population Comparison

Buenos Aires has 5.0x fewer people than Lagos

Is Buenos Aires Bigger Than Lagos?

In terms of area, Lagos is 5.8x the size of Buenos Aires. Lagos spans 1,172 km² (453 mi²) while Buenos Aires covers 203 km² (78 mi²) — a difference of 969 km². You could fit Buenos Aires inside Lagos approximately 5 times.

To put Buenos Aires's size in perspective, its area of 203 km² is roughly the same size as Amsterdam. Meanwhile, Lagos at 1,172 km² is about 1.3x the size of Berlin.

In more relatable units, Buenos Aires's 203 km² is about 28,000 American football fields, 100 times the area of Monaco, or 60 times the area of Central Park. Lagos works out to about 164,000 American football fields, 20 times the area of Manhattan, or 11 times the area of Paris.

About Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires, officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is the capital and largest city of Argentina. It is located on the southwest of the Río de la Plata. Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− global city, according to the GaWC 2024 ranking. The city proper has a population of 3.1 million and its urban area has a population of 16.7 million, making it the 21st most populous metropolitan area in the world.

Known as "Paris of South America", Buenos Aires covers 203 km² with a population of 3.1 million. The city was established in 1536. Buenos Aires is known for La Boca's Caminito, Recoleta Cemetery, Teatro Colón, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Buenos Aires Subte.

Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− global city according to the GaWC 2024 ranking.

About Lagos

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.

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the Buenos Aires metropolitan area covers 4,758 km², which is 1.8x larger than greater Lagos at 2,706 km². The Lagos metro area is also more populous, with 21.0 million people compared to 15.2 million.

Population Density

Buenos Aires has a population density of 15,074 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Lagos, with 13,131 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Both cities have comparable density, though Buenos Aires is slightly more compact.

This comparison spans continents — Buenos Aires in South America versus Lagos in Africa. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.

Climate & Time Zone

Buenos Aires has a humid subtropical climate while Lagos experiences tropical savanna conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Lagos stays around 27°C while Buenos Aires drops to 11°C. When it's noon in Lagos, it's 8:00 AM in Buenos Aires — a 4-hour time difference.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Buenos Aires fits inside Lagos ~5 times

Time Difference

4 hours apart

Cities Similar in Size to Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires covers 203 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Helsinki (214 km²), Amsterdam (219 km²), Stockholm (188 km²), Osaka (225 km²), or Boston (232 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Lagos

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).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Buenos Aires or Lagos?
Lagos is 5.8 times larger than Buenos Aires by area. Lagos covers 1,172 km² while Buenos Aires spans 203 km², a difference of 969 km².
How many times does Buenos Aires fit inside Lagos?
Buenos Aires (203 km²) fits inside Lagos (1,172 km²) approximately 5 times. That means Lagos is 5.8x the area of Buenos Aires.
What is the population difference between Buenos Aires and Lagos?
Lagos has approximately 15.4 million people, while Buenos Aires has about 3.1 million. Lagos has 12.3 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Buenos Aires or Lagos?
Buenos Aires is more densely populated with 15,074 people per km², compared to 13,131 people per km².
What is the time difference between Buenos Aires and Lagos?
Buenos Aires is in the UTC-3 timezone while Lagos is UTC+1. There is a 4-hour time difference between the two cities.
Which city is older, Buenos Aires or Lagos?
Lagos is older, founded around 1472, while Buenos Aires was established around 1536 — a difference of about 64 years.
How does the map comparison work?
Our synchronized map comparison tool displays both cities at the same zoom level. When you zoom in or out on one map, the other automatically adjusts to maintain the same scale, allowing you to directly compare the relative sizes of both cities.
Can I compare other cities?
Yes! Use the city selectors at the top of the page to choose any two cities from our database of 50+ major cities worldwide, or enter custom coordinates for any location.

Distance Between Buenos Aires and Lagos

The straight-line distance from Buenos Aires to Lagos is 7,916 km (4,919 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~9h 49m.

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