Delhi
1,484 km²
Lagos
1,172 km²
India
Nigeria
Area Comparison
Delhi is 1.3x larger than Lagos
Population Comparison
Delhi has 1.1x more people than Lagos
Delhi is significantly larger, covering 1.3 times the area of Lagos. Delhi spans 1,484 km² (573 mi²) while Lagos covers 1,172 km² (453 mi²) — a difference of 312 km².
To put Delhi's size in perspective, its area of 1,484 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, Lagos at 1,172 km² is about 1.3x the size of Berlin.
Delhi's footprint is roughly about 208,000 American football fields, 25 times the area of Manhattan, or 14 times the area of Paris — 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.
Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a megacity and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, but spread chiefly to the west, or beyond its right bank, Delhi shares borders with the state of Uttar Pradesh in the east and with the state of Haryana in the remaining directions. Delhi became a union territory on 1 November 1956 and the NCT in 1995. The NCT covers an area of 1,484 square kilometres (573 sq mi).
Known as "City of Djinns", Delhi covers 1,484 km² with a population of 16.8 million. The city was founded around 1500 BC. Delhi is known for Red Fort, India Gate, Qutub Minar, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Delhi Metro.
Delhi is a megacity and union territory of India, containing New Delhi, the capital of the country.
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 Delhi metropolitan area covers 46,208 km², which is 17.1x larger than greater Lagos at 2,706 km². The Delhi metro area is also more populous, with 32.9 million people compared to 21.0 million.
Delhi has a population density of 11,314 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 Lagos is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — Delhi in Asia versus Lagos in Africa. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Delhi has a humid subtropical climate while Lagos experiences tropical savanna conditions. When it's noon in Delhi, it's 7.5:00 AM in Lagos — a 4.5-hour time difference.
Time Difference
4.5 hours apart
History
Delhi is ~2,972 years older
Delhi covers 1,484 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Mexico City (1,485 km²), São Paulo (1,521 km²), Bangkok (1,569 km²), London (1,572 km²), or Bogotá (1,578 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 Delhi to Lagos is 8,074 km (5,017 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~9h 60m.
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