Lagos
1,172 km²
Stockholm
188 km²
Nigeria
Sweden
Area Comparison
Lagos is 6.2x larger than Stockholm
Population Comparison
Lagos has 15.7x more people than Stockholm
Lagos is significantly larger, covering 6.2 times the area of Stockholm. Lagos spans 1,172 km² (453 mi²) while Stockholm covers 188 km² (73 mi²) — a difference of 984 km². You could fit Stockholm inside Lagos approximately 6 times.
To put Lagos's size in perspective, its area of 1,172 km² is about 1.3x the size of Berlin. Meanwhile, Stockholm at 188 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C..
Lagos's footprint is roughly about 164,000 American football fields, 20 times the area of Manhattan, or 11 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Stockholm, by comparison, equals about 26,000 American football fields, 93 times the area of Monaco, or 55 times the area of Central Park.
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.
Stockholm is the capital and most populous city of Sweden, as well as the largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately 1 million people live in the municipality, with 1.6 million in the urban area, and 2.5 million in the metropolitan area. The city stretches across fourteen islands where Lake Mälaren flows into the Baltic Sea. Outside the city to the east, and along the coast, is the island chain of the Stockholm archipelago.
Often called "Venice of the North", Stockholm has an area of 188 km² and is home to 1.0 million people. Its history stretches back to 1252. Visitors come for Gamla Stan, Vasa Museum, Royal Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Stockholm Metro (Tunnelbana).
Stockholm stretches across fourteen islands where Lake Mälaren flows into the Baltic Sea, forming the Nordic countries' largest urban area.
Looking beyond city limits, the Stockholm metropolitan area covers 6,519 km², which is 2.4x larger than greater Lagos at 2,706 km². The Lagos metro area is also more populous, with 21.0 million people compared to 2.4 million.
Lagos has a population density of 13,131 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Stockholm, with 5,213 people per km², is a densely populated city. Lagos is noticeably denser, packing 2.5 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Lagos in Africa versus Stockholm in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Lagos has a tropical savanna climate while Stockholm experiences humid continental conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Lagos stays around 27°C while Stockholm drops to -2°C.
Size Ratio
Stockholm fits inside Lagos ~6 times
Density Gap
Lagos is 2.5x more densely populated
History
Stockholm is ~220 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).
Stockholm covers 188 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Washington D.C. (177 km²), Buenos Aires (203 km²), Helsinki (214 km²), Amsterdam (219 km²), or Brussels (161 km²).
The straight-line distance from Lagos to Stockholm is 6,003 km (3,730 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~7h 34m.
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