City Map Compare/Lagos vs Osaka
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5 km
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Lagos

1,172 km²

Osaka

225 km²

Lagos vs Osaka - City Size Comparison

Lagos vs Osaka - City Size Comparison

Lagos

Nigeria

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

Japan

Area225 km²
Population2.75M
Density12,222 /km²
Elevation3 m
Metro Pop.19.3M
Founded645
Climatehumid subtropical

Area Comparison

Lagos is 5.2x larger than Osaka

Population Comparison

Lagos has 5.6x more people than Osaka

Is Lagos Bigger Than Osaka?

Lagos is significantly larger, covering 5.2 times the area of Osaka. Lagos spans 1,172 km² (453 mi²) while Osaka covers 225 km² (87 mi²) — a difference of 947 km². You could fit Osaka inside Lagos approximately 5 times.

To put Lagos's size in perspective, its area of 1,172 km² is about 1.3x the size of Berlin. Meanwhile, Osaka at 225 km² is roughly the same size as Amsterdam.

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. Osaka works out to about 32,000 American football fields, 110 times the area of Monaco, or 66 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 Osaka

Osaka is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third-most populous city in Japan, following the special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With an estimated population of 2,816,247 as of October 1, 2025 and a population density of about 12,505 people per square kilometer, it is the largest component of the Keihanshin Metropolitan Area, the second-largest metropolitan area in Japan and the 10th-largest urban…

Often called "Nation's Kitchen", Osaka has an area of 225 km² and is home to 2.8 million people. The city dates back to 645. Visitors come for Osaka Castle, Dotonbori district, Universal Studios Japan, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Osaka Metro.

Osaka is the third-most populous city in Japan, following the special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama.

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the Osaka metropolitan area covers 13,228 km², which is 4.9x larger than greater Lagos at 2,706 km². The Lagos metro area is also more populous, with 21.0 million people compared to 19.3 million.

Population Density

Lagos has a population density of 13,131 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Osaka, with 12,222 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Both cities have comparable density, though Lagos is slightly more compact.

This comparison spans continents — Lagos in Africa versus Osaka in Asia. 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 Osaka experiences humid subtropical conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Lagos stays around 27°C while Osaka drops to 5°C. When it's noon in Osaka, it's 4:00 AM in Lagos — a 8-hour time difference.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Osaka fits inside Lagos ~5 times

Time Difference

8 hours apart

History

Osaka is ~827 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 Osaka

Osaka covers 225 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Amsterdam (219 km²), Boston (232 km²), Helsinki (214 km²), Kuala Lumpur (243 km²), or Buenos Aires (203 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lagos actually bigger than Osaka?
Lagos is 5.2 times larger than Osaka by area. Lagos covers 1,172 km² while Osaka spans 225 km², a difference of 947 km².
How many times does Osaka fit inside Lagos?
Osaka (225 km²) fits inside Lagos (1,172 km²) approximately 5 times. That means Lagos is 5.2x the area of Osaka.
What is the population difference between Lagos and Osaka?
Lagos has approximately 15.4 million people, while Osaka has about 2.8 million. Lagos has 12.6 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Lagos or Osaka?
Lagos is more densely populated with 13,131 people per km², compared to 12,222 people per km².
What is the time difference between Lagos and Osaka?
Lagos is in the UTC+1 timezone while Osaka is UTC+9. There is a 8-hour time difference between the two cities.
Which city is older, Lagos or Osaka?
Osaka is older, founded around 645, while Lagos was established around 1472 — a difference of about 827 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 Osaka

The straight-line distance from Lagos to Osaka is 13,221 km (8,215 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~16h 3m.

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