Loading map...
Loading map...
Nigeria
China
Area Comparison
Lagos is 5.4x smaller than Shanghai
Population Comparison
Lagos has 1.6x fewer people than Shanghai
Yes — Shanghai is 5.4x larger than Lagos by area. Shanghai spans 6,341 km² (2,448 mi²) while Lagos covers 1,172 km² (453 mi²) — a difference of 5,169 km². You could fit Lagos inside Shanghai 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, Shanghai at 6,341 km² is about 1.5x the size of Los Angeles metro.
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
China's largest city and a global financial hub. Nicknamed "The Pearl of the Orient", Shanghai has an area of 6,341 km² and is home to 24.9 million people. It was established in 1291. Visitors come for The Bund waterfront, Pudong skyline, Yuyuan Garden, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Shanghai Metro.
Shanghai's Maglev train reaches 431 km/h, the fastest commercial train in the world
Looking beyond city limits, the Shanghai metropolitan area covers 6,341 km², which is 2.3x larger than greater Lagos at 2,706 km². The Shanghai metro area is also more populous, with 28.5 million people compared to 21.0 million.
Lagos has a population density of 13,131 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Shanghai, with 3,922 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Lagos is dramatically more crowded, with 3.3x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Lagos in Africa versus Shanghai in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Lagos has a tropical savanna climate while Shanghai experiences humid subtropical conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Lagos stays around 27°C while Shanghai drops to 5°C. When it's noon in Shanghai, it's 5:00 AM in Lagos — a 7-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Lagos fits inside Shanghai ~5 times
Density Gap
Lagos is 3.3x more densely populated
Time Difference
7 hours apart
History
Shanghai is ~181 years older
The straight-line distance from Lagos to Shanghai is 12,226 km (7,597 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~14h 53m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.