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Turkey
Nigeria
Area Comparison
Istanbul is 4.7x larger than Lagos
Population Comparison
Istanbul has 1.0x more people than Lagos
Istanbul is significantly larger, covering 4.7 times the area of Lagos. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while Lagos covers 1,172 km² (453 mi²) — a difference of 4,289 km². You could fit Lagos inside Istanbul approximately 4 times.
To put Istanbul's size in perspective, its area of 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai. Meanwhile, Lagos at 1,172 km² is about 1.3x the size of Berlin.
Turkey's largest city, spanning Europe and Asia. Known as "The City on Two Continents", Istanbul covers 5,461 km² with a population of 15.5 million. The city was founded around 660 BC. Istanbul is known for Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Istanbul Metro.
Istanbul is the only city in the world that spans two continents — Europe and Asia
Nigeria's largest city and economic hub of West Africa. Also known as "Eko", 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 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 Istanbul metropolitan area covers 5,461 km², which is 2.0x larger than greater Lagos at 2,706 km². The Lagos metro area is also more populous, with 21.0 million people compared to 15.5 million.
Istanbul has a population density of 2,831 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 4.6x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Istanbul in Europe versus Lagos in Africa. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Istanbul has a oceanic climate while Lagos experiences tropical savanna conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Lagos stays around 27°C while Istanbul drops to 6°C. When it's noon in Istanbul, it's 10:00 AM in Lagos — a 2-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Lagos fits inside Istanbul ~4 times
Density Gap
Lagos is 4.6x more densely populated
History
Istanbul is ~2,132 years older
The straight-line distance from Istanbul to Lagos is 4,598 km (2,857 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~5h 55m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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