Lagos
1,172 km²
Rio de Janeiro
1,221 km²
Nigeria
Brazil
Area Comparison
Lagos is 1.0x smaller than Rio de Janeiro
Population Comparison
Lagos has 2.3x more people than Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is significantly larger, covering 1.0 times the area of Lagos. Rio de Janeiro spans 1,221 km² (471 mi²) while Lagos covers 1,172 km² (453 mi²) — a difference of 49 km².
To put Lagos's size in perspective, its area of 1,172 km² is about 1.3x the size of Berlin. Meanwhile, Rio de Janeiro at 1,221 km² is about 1.3x smaller than 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. Rio de Janeiro works out to about 171,000 American football fields, 21 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.
Rio de Janeiro, also known simply as Rio, is the capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the second-most-populous city in Brazil after São Paulo and the sixth-most-populous city in the Americas.
Often called "Cidade Maravilhosa", Rio de Janeiro has an area of 1,221 km² and is home to 6.8 million people. It was established in 1565. Visitors come for Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana beach, and much more. Getting around is easy with the MetrôRio.
Rio de Janeiro is the second-most-populous city in Brazil after São Paulo and the sixth-most-populous in the Americas.
Looking beyond city limits, the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area covers 6,744 km², which is 2.5x larger than greater Lagos at 2,706 km². The Lagos metro area is also more populous, with 21.0 million people compared to 13.5 million.
Lagos has a population density of 13,131 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Rio de Janeiro, with 5,528 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 Rio de Janeiro in South America. 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 Lagos, it's 8:00 AM in Rio de Janeiro — a 4-hour time difference.
Density Gap
Lagos is 2.4x more densely populated
Time Difference
4 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).
Rio de Janeiro covers 1,221 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include San Antonio (1,209 km²), Lagos (1,172 km²), Rome (1,285 km²), Los Angeles (1,302 km²), or Hong Kong (1,114 km²).
The straight-line distance from Lagos to Rio de Janeiro is 6,025 km (3,744 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~7h 35m.
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