Lagos
1,172 km²
Riyadh
1,798 km²
Nigeria
Saudi Arabia
Area Comparison
Lagos is 1.5x smaller than Riyadh
Population Comparison
Lagos has 2.2x more people than Riyadh
Yes — Riyadh is 1.5x larger than Lagos by area. Riyadh spans 1,798 km² (694 mi²) while Lagos covers 1,172 km² (453 mi²) — a difference of 626 km².
To put Lagos's size in perspective, its area of 1,172 km² is about 1.3x the size of Berlin. Meanwhile, Riyadh at 1,798 km² is about 1.1x the size of 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. Riyadh, by comparison, equals about 252,000 American football fields, 30 times the area of Manhattan, or 17 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.
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of the Riyadh Province and the centre of the Riyadh Governorate. Located on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa, the current form of the metropolis largely emerged in the 1950s as an expansion of the 18th-century walled town, following the dismantling of its defensive fortifications.
Riyadh has an area of 1,798 km² and is home to 7.0 million people. Its history stretches back to 1746. Visitors come for Kingdom Centre Tower, Masmak Fortress, Al Faisaliah Tower, and much more.
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia, sitting on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa.
Lagos has a population density of 13,131 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Riyadh, with 3,899 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Lagos is dramatically more crowded, with 3.4x the population density.
Density Gap
Lagos is 3.4x more densely populated
History
Lagos is ~274 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).
Riyadh covers 1,798 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Houston (1,725 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), Shenzhen (1,997 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), or London (1,572 km²).
The straight-line distance from Lagos to Riyadh is 5,030 km (3,125 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~6h 25m.
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