City Map Compare/Lagos vs Lima
vs
5 km
|

Lagos

1,172 km²

Lima

2,672 km²

Lagos vs Lima - City Size Comparison

Lagos vs Lima - City Size Comparison

Lagos

Nigeria

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

Peru

Area2,672 km²
Population9.94M
Density3,720 /km²
Elevation154 m
Founded1535
Climatedesert climate

Area Comparison

Lagos is 2.3x smaller than Lima

Population Comparison

Lagos has 1.5x more people than Lima

Is Lagos Bigger Than Lima?

Yes — Lima is 2.3x larger than Lagos by area. Lima spans 2,672 km² (1,032 mi²) while Lagos covers 1,172 km² (453 mi²) — a difference of 1,500 km². You could fit Lagos inside Lima approximately 2 times.

To put Lagos's size in perspective, its area of 1,172 km² is about 1.3x the size of Berlin. Meanwhile, Lima at 2,672 km² is roughly the same size as Luxembourg.

Lagos's footprint is roughly about 164,000 American football fields, 20 times the area of Manhattan, or 11 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Lima, by comparison, equals about 374,000 American football fields, 45 times the area of Manhattan, or 25 times the area of Paris.

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.

Known as "Lasgidi", Lagos covers 1,172 km² with a population of 15.4 million. The city was established in 1472. Lagos is known for Victoria Island, Lekki Conservation Centre, Nike Art Gallery, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is 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.

About Lima

Lima is the capital and largest city of Peru, as well as a primate city. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of the central coastal part of the country, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The city is considered the political, cultural, financial and commercial center of Peru. Due to its geostrategic importance, the Globalization and World Cities Research Network has categorized it as a "beta" tier city.

Often called "City of Kings", Lima has an area of 2,672 km² and is home to 9.9 million people. It was established in 1535. Visitors come for Plaza Mayor de Lima, Miraflores district, Larco Museum, and much more.

Lima sprawls across the desert valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers along Peru's Pacific coast.

Population Density

Lagos has a population density of 13,131 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Lima, with 3,720 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Lagos is dramatically more crowded, with 3.5x the population density.

Climate & Time Zone

Lagos has a tropical savanna climate while Lima experiences desert climate conditions.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Lagos fits inside Lima ~2 times

Density Gap

Lagos is 3.5x more densely populated

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).

Cities Similar in Size to Lima

Lima covers 2,672 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Moscow (2,511 km²), Cape Town (2,455 km²), Cairo (3,085 km²), Tokyo (2,194 km²), or Hanoi (3,359 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Lagos or Lima?
Lima is 2.3 times larger than Lagos by area. Lima covers 2,672 km² while Lagos spans 1,172 km², a difference of 1,500 km².
How many times does Lagos fit inside Lima?
Lagos (1,172 km²) fits inside Lima (2,672 km²) approximately 2 times. That means Lima is 2.3x the area of Lagos.
What is the population difference between Lagos and Lima?
Lagos has approximately 15.4 million people, while Lima has about 9.9 million. Lagos has 5.5 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Lagos or Lima?
Lagos is more densely populated with 13,131 people per km², compared to 3,720 people per km².
Which city is older, Lagos or Lima?
Lagos is older, founded around 1472, while Lima was established around 1535 — a difference of about 63 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 Lagos and Lima

The straight-line distance from Lagos to Lima is 9,125 km (5,670 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~11h 14m.

Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.