City Map Compare/Dhaka vs Lagos
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5 km
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Dhaka

368 km²

Lagos

1,172 km²

Dhaka vs Lagos - City Size Comparison

Dhaka vs Lagos - City Size Comparison

Dhaka

Bangladesh

Area368 km²
Population16.80M
Density45,652 /km²
Elevation4 m
Lagos

Nigeria

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

Area Comparison

Dhaka is 3.2x smaller than Lagos

Population Comparison

Dhaka has 1.1x more people than Lagos

Is Dhaka Bigger Than Lagos?

In terms of area, Lagos is 3.2x the size of Dhaka. Lagos spans 1,172 km² (453 mi²) while Dhaka covers 368 km² (142 mi²) — a difference of 804 km². You could fit Dhaka inside Lagos approximately 3 times.

To put Dhaka's size in perspective, its area of 368 km² is about 1.6x smaller than Seoul. Meanwhile, Lagos at 1,172 km² is about 1.3x the size of Berlin.

Picture Dhaka another way: its area is large enough to fit about 52,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Monaco, or 110 times the area of Central Park. For Lagos, that's about 164,000 American football fields, 20 times the area of Manhattan, or 11 times the area of Paris.

About Dhaka

Dhaka, formerly known as Dacca, is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. With an estimated population of 36.6 million, Dhaka is the second largest city by population in the world, and is widely considered to be the most densely populated built-up urban area in the world. Dhaka is an important cultural, economic, and scientific hub of Eastern South Asia with its most affluent neighborhood Gulshan being among the most posh neighborhoods in South Asia.

Known as "Dacca", Dhaka covers 368 km² with a population of 16.8 million. Dhaka is known for Lalbagh Fort, Ahsan Manzil, Gulshan neighborhood, among other attractions.

Dhaka is the second-largest city in the world by population, with an estimated 36.6 million residents.

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.

Also known as "Lasgidi", Lagos has an area of 1,172 km² and is home to 15.4 million people. Its history stretches 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.

Population Density

Dhaka has a population density of 45,652 people per km² — one of the most densely packed urban areas on Earth. Lagos, with 13,131 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Dhaka is dramatically more crowded, with 3.5x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Dhaka fits inside Lagos ~3 times

Density Gap

Dhaka is 3.5x more densely populated

Cities Similar in Size to Dhaka

Dhaka covers 368 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Seattle (369 km²), Philadelphia (370 km²), Portland (376 km²), Atlanta (348 km²), or Denver (401 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

Is Dhaka bigger than Lagos?
Lagos is 3.2 times larger than Dhaka by area. Lagos covers 1,172 km² while Dhaka spans 368 km², a difference of 804 km².
How many times does Dhaka fit inside Lagos?
Dhaka (368 km²) fits inside Lagos (1,172 km²) approximately 3 times. That means Lagos is 3.2x the area of Dhaka.
What is the population difference between Dhaka and Lagos?
Dhaka has approximately 16.8 million people, while Lagos has about 15.4 million. Dhaka has 1.4 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Dhaka or Lagos?
Dhaka is more densely populated with 45,652 people per km², compared to 13,131 people per km².
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 Dhaka and Lagos

The straight-line distance from Dhaka to Lagos is 9,413 km (5,849 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~11h 34m.

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