Lagos
1,172 km²
Manila
43 km²
Nigeria
Philippines
Area Comparison
Lagos is 27.3x larger than Manila
Population Comparison
Lagos has 8.3x more people than Manila
Yes — Lagos is 27.3x larger than Manila by area. Lagos spans 1,172 km² (453 mi²) while Manila covers 43 km² (17 mi²) — a difference of 1,129 km². You could fit Manila inside Lagos approximately 27 times.
To put Lagos's size in perspective, its area of 1,172 km² is about 1.3x the size of Berlin. Meanwhile, Manila at 43 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Manhattan.
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. Manila, by comparison, equals about 6,000 American football fields, 88 times the area of Vatican City, or 21 times the area of Monaco.
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.
Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 1,902,590 people. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on the island of Luzon, it is classified as a highly urbanized city. With 44,935 inhabitants per square kilometer (116,380/sq mi), Manila is one of the world's most densely populated cities proper.
Nicknamed "Pearl of the Orient", Manila has an area of 43 km² and is home to 1.9 million people. Its history stretches back to 1571. Visitors come for Intramuros walled city, Rizal Park, Manila Bay, and much more. Getting around is easy with the LRT & MRT Manila.
Manila has 44,935 inhabitants per square kilometer, making it one of the world's most densely populated cities proper.
Looking beyond city limits, the Lagos metropolitan area covers 2,706 km², which is 4.4x larger than greater Manila at 620 km². The Lagos metro area is also more populous, with 21.0 million people compared to 13.9 million.
Lagos has a population density of 13,131 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Manila, with 43,023 people per km², is one of the most densely packed urban areas on Earth. Manila is dramatically more crowded, with 3.3x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Lagos in Africa versus Manila in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Both cities share a tropical savanna climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each. When it's noon in Manila, it's 5:00 AM in Lagos — a 7-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Manila fits inside Lagos ~27 times
Density Gap
Manila is 3.3x more densely populated
Time Difference
7 hours apart
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).
Manila covers 43 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Athens (39 km²), Tel Aviv (52 km²), Zurich (88 km²), Copenhagen (91 km²), or Lisbon (100 km²).
The straight-line distance from Lagos to Manila is 12,747 km (7,921 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~15h 30m.
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