Lagos vs Rio de Janeiro - City Size Comparison

Is Lagos Bigger 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.

About Lagos

Nigeria's largest city and economic hub of West Africa. Known as "Eko", Lagos covers 1,172 km² with a population of 15.4 million. The city was established in 1472. Lagos is known for Afrobeats music scene, Lekki Conservation Centre, Lagos Island, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Lagos Rail (Blue & Red Lines).

Lagos is projected to become the world's largest city by population by 2100

About Rio de Janeiro

Brazil's iconic coastal city known for Carnival. Often called "The Marvelous City", 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, Copacabana Beach, Carnival, and much more. Getting around is easy with the MetrôRio.

Rio's Christ the Redeemer statue is struck by lightning an average of 6 times per year

Metropolitan Area Comparison

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.

Population Density

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.

Climate & Time Zone

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.