Lagos
1,172 km²
Mexico City
1,485 km²
Nigeria
Mexico
Area Comparison
Lagos is 1.3x smaller than Mexico City
Population Comparison
Lagos has 1.7x more people than Mexico City
Yes — Mexico City is 1.3x larger than Lagos by area. Mexico City spans 1,485 km² (573 mi²) while Lagos covers 1,172 km² (453 mi²) — a difference of 313 km².
To put Lagos's size in perspective, its area of 1,172 km² is about 1.3x the size of Berlin. Meanwhile, Mexico City at 1,485 km² is roughly the same size as London.
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. For Mexico City, that's about 208,000 American football fields, 25 times the area of Manhattan, or 14 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.
Mexico City is the capital and most populous city of Mexico, as well as the most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and financial centers in the world, and is classified as an Alpha world city according to the Globalization and World Cities Research Network (GaWC) 2024 ranking. Mexico City is located in the Valley of Mexico within the high Mexican central plateau, at an altitude of 2,240 meters.
Also known as "CDMX", Mexico City has an area of 1,485 km² and is home to 9.2 million people. Its history stretches back to 1325. Visitors come for Zocalo square, Chapultepec Park, Frida Kahlo Museum, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Mexico City Metro.
Mexico City sits at an altitude of 2,240 meters in the Valley of Mexico on the high Mexican central plateau.
Looking beyond city limits, the Mexico City metropolitan area covers 7,854 km², which is 2.9x larger than greater Lagos at 2,706 km². The Mexico City metro area is also more populous, with 21.8 million people compared to 21.0 million.
Lagos has a population density of 13,131 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Mexico City, with 6,202 people per km², is a densely populated city. Lagos is noticeably denser, packing 2.1 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Lagos in Africa versus Mexico City 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 Mexico City experiences subtropical highland conditions. Summers are notably different: Lagos averages 27°C compared to 18°C in Mexico City. When it's noon in Lagos, it's 5:00 AM in Mexico City — a 7-hour time difference.
Density Gap
Lagos is 2.1x more densely populated
Time Difference
7 hours apart
History
Mexico City is ~147 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).
Mexico City covers 1,485 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Delhi (1,484 km²), São Paulo (1,521 km²), Bangkok (1,569 km²), London (1,572 km²), or Bogotá (1,578 km²).
The straight-line distance from Lagos to Mexico City is 11,065 km (6,875 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~13h 31m.
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