City Map Compare/Lagos vs Lisbon
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5 km
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Lagos

1,172 km²

Lisbon

100 km²

Lagos vs Lisbon - City Size Comparison

Lagos vs Lisbon - City Size Comparison

Lagos

Nigeria

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

Portugal

Area100 km²
Population0.55M
Density5,500 /km²
Elevation77 m
Metro Pop.2.9M
Founded1200 BC
ClimateMediterranean

Area Comparison

Lagos is 11.7x larger than Lisbon

Population Comparison

Lagos has 28.0x more people than Lisbon

Is Lagos Bigger Than Lisbon?

Yes — Lagos is 11.7x larger than Lisbon by area. Lagos spans 1,172 km² (453 mi²) while Lisbon covers 100 km² (39 mi²) — a difference of 1,072 km². You could fit Lisbon inside Lagos approximately 11 times.

To put Lagos's size in perspective, its area of 1,172 km² is about 1.3x the size of Berlin. Meanwhile, Lisbon at 100 km² is roughly the same size as Paris (city proper).

In more relatable units, Lagos's 1,172 km² is about 164,000 American football fields, 20 times the area of Manhattan, or 11 times the area of Paris. Lisbon, by comparison, equals about 14,000 American football fields, 50 times the area of Monaco, or 29 times the area of Central Park.

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 Lisbon

Lisbon is the capital and most populous city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 575,739 as of 2024, within its administrative limits and 3,028,000 within the metropolis, as of 2025. Lisbon is mainland Europe's westernmost capital city, and the only one along the Atlantic coast, the others being on islands. The city lies in the western portion of the Iberian Peninsula, on the northern shore of the River Tagus.

Nicknamed "City of Seven Hills", Lisbon has an area of 100 km² and is home to 0.6 million people. Its history stretches back to 1200 BC. Visitors come for Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery, Tram 28, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Lisbon Metro.

Lisbon is mainland Europe's westernmost capital city and the only European capital along the Atlantic coast.

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the Lisbon metropolitan area covers 3,015 km², which is 1.1x larger than greater Lagos at 2,706 km². The Lagos metro area is also more populous, with 21.0 million people compared to 2.9 million.

Population Density

Lagos has a population density of 13,131 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Lisbon, with 5,500 people per km², is a densely populated city. Lagos is noticeably denser, packing 2.4 times more people per square kilometer.

This comparison spans continents — Lagos in Africa versus Lisbon in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.

Climate & Time Zone

Lagos has a tropical savanna climate while Lisbon experiences Mediterranean conditions.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Lisbon fits inside Lagos ~11 times

Density Gap

Lagos is 2.4x more densely populated

History

Lisbon is ~2,672 years older

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 Lisbon

Lisbon covers 100 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Barcelona (101 km²), Paris (105 km²), Copenhagen (91 km²), Zurich (88 km²), or Vancouver (115 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lagos actually bigger than Lisbon?
Lagos is 11.7 times larger than Lisbon by area. Lagos covers 1,172 km² while Lisbon spans 100 km², a difference of 1,072 km².
How many times does Lisbon fit inside Lagos?
Lisbon (100 km²) fits inside Lagos (1,172 km²) approximately 11 times. That means Lagos is 11.7x the area of Lisbon.
What is the population difference between Lagos and Lisbon?
Lagos has approximately 15.4 million people, while Lisbon has about 0.6 million. Lagos has 14.8 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Lagos or Lisbon?
Lagos is more densely populated with 13,131 people per km², compared to 5,500 people per km².
Which city is older, Lagos or Lisbon?
Lisbon is older, founded around -1200, while Lagos was established around 1472 — a difference of about 2672 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 Lisbon

The straight-line distance from Lagos to Lisbon is 3,795 km (2,358 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~4h 58m.

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