Lagos vs San Francisco - City Size Comparison

Is Lagos Bigger Than San Francisco?

Lagos is significantly larger, covering 9.7 times the area of San Francisco. Lagos spans 1,172 km² (453 mi²) while San Francisco covers 121 km² (47 mi²) — a difference of 1,051 km². You could fit San Francisco inside Lagos approximately 9 times.

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 San Francisco

A cultural and financial center in Northern California. Also known as "SF", San Francisco has an area of 121 km² and is home to 0.9 million people. The city dates back to 1776. Visitors come for Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Cable cars, and much more. Getting around is easy with the BART & Muni.

San Francisco's 121 km² makes it one of the smallest major US cities by area

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the San Francisco metropolitan area covers 6,984 km², which is 2.6x larger than greater Lagos at 2,706 km². The Lagos metro area is also more populous, with 21.0 million people compared to 4.7 million.

Population Density

Lagos has a population density of 13,131 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. San Francisco, with 7,190 people per km², is a densely populated city. Lagos is noticeably denser, packing 1.8 times more people per square kilometer.

Climate & Time Zone

Lagos has a tropical savanna climate while San Francisco experiences Mediterranean conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Lagos stays around 27°C while San Francisco drops to 10°C. When it's noon in Lagos, it's 3:00 AM in San Francisco — a 9-hour time difference.