Istanbul
5,461 km²
Lagos
1,172 km²
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.
Picture Istanbul another way: its area is large enough to fit about 765,000 American football fields, 92 times the area of Manhattan, or 52 times the area of Paris. For Lagos, that's about 164,000 American football fields, 20 times the area of Manhattan, or 11 times the area of Paris.
Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical center. With a population of over 15 million, it is home to 18% of the population of Turkey. Istanbul is among the largest cities in Europe and in the world by population. It is a city on two continents; about two-thirds of its population live in Europe and the rest in Asia.
Known as "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 one of the only major cities to span two continents, with about two-thirds of its population living in Europe and the rest in Asia.
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.
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
Istanbul covers 5,461 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Shanghai (6,341 km²), Perth (6,417 km²), Dubai (4,114 km²), Guangzhou (7,434 km²), or Karachi (3,527 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 Istanbul to Lagos is 4,598 km (2,857 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~5h 55m.
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