Lagos
1,172 km²
Los Angeles
1,302 km²
Nigeria
USA
Area Comparison
Lagos is 1.1x smaller than Los Angeles
Population Comparison
Lagos has 3.9x more people than Los Angeles
Los Angeles is significantly larger, covering 1.1 times the area of Lagos. Los Angeles spans 1,302 km² (503 mi²) while Lagos covers 1,172 km² (453 mi²) — a difference of 130 km².
To put Lagos's size in perspective, its area of 1,172 km² is about 1.3x the size of Berlin. Meanwhile, Los Angeles at 1,302 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London.
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. For Los Angeles, that's about 182,000 American football fields, 22 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 times the area of Paris.
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.
Los Angeles (LA) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Southern California. With an estimated 3.88 million residents within the city limits as of 2024, it is the second-most populous city in the United States, behind New York City, and the largest city in the Western United States. The city has an ethnically and culturally diverse population, and is the principal city of a metropolitan area of 12.9 million people (2024).
Often called "The City of Angels", Los Angeles has an area of 1,302 km² and is home to 4.0 million people. The city dates back to 1781. Visitors come for Hollywood Sign, Santa Monica Pier, Beverly Hills, and much more. Getting around is easy with the LA Metro.
Los Angeles is the second-most populous city in the United States, home to 3.88 million residents within city limits as of 2024.
Looking beyond city limits, the Los Angeles metropolitan area covers 12,562 km², which is 4.6x larger than greater Lagos at 2,706 km². The Lagos metro area is also more populous, with 21.0 million people compared to 13.2 million.
Lagos has a population density of 13,131 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Los Angeles, with 3,049 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Lagos is dramatically more crowded, with 4.3x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Lagos in Africa versus Los Angeles in North America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Lagos has a tropical savanna climate while Los Angeles experiences Mediterranean conditions. When it's noon in Lagos, it's 3:00 AM in Los Angeles — a 9-hour time difference.
Density Gap
Lagos is 4.3x more densely populated
Time Difference
9 hours apart
History
Lagos is ~309 years older
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).
Los Angeles covers 1,302 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Rome (1,285 km²), Phoenix (1,341 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), San Antonio (1,209 km²), or Lagos (1,172 km²).
The straight-line distance from Lagos to Los Angeles is 12,408 km (7,710 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~15h 6m.
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