Lagos
1,172 km²
Tokyo
2,194 km²
Nigeria
Japan
Area Comparison
Lagos is 1.9x smaller than Tokyo
Population Comparison
Lagos has 1.1x more people than Tokyo
Tokyo is significantly larger, covering 1.9 times the area of Lagos. Tokyo spans 2,194 km² (847 mi²) while Lagos covers 1,172 km² (453 mi²) — a difference of 1,022 km².
To put Lagos's size in perspective, its area of 1,172 km² is about 1.3x the size of Berlin. Meanwhile, Tokyo at 2,194 km² is about 1.1x smaller than Moscow.
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. Tokyo works out to about 307,000 American football fields, 37 times the area of Manhattan, or 21 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.
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital and most populous city of Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is one of the most populous urban areas in the world. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes Tokyo and parts of six neighboring prefectures, is the most populous metropolitan area in the world, with 41 million residents as of 2024.
Often called "Eastern Capital", Tokyo has an area of 2,194 km² and is home to 14.0 million people. The city dates back to 1457. Visitors come for Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Tower, Imperial Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Tokyo Metro & JR East.
Greater Tokyo holds 41 million residents as of 2024, making it the most populous metropolitan area on Earth.
Looking beyond city limits, the Tokyo metropolitan area covers 13,572 km², which is 5.0x larger than greater Lagos at 2,706 km². The Tokyo metro area is also more populous, with 37.4 million people compared to 21.0 million.
Lagos has a population density of 13,131 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Tokyo, with 6,363 people per km², is a densely populated city. Lagos is noticeably denser, packing 2.1 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Lagos in Africa versus Tokyo in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Lagos has a tropical savanna climate while Tokyo experiences humid subtropical conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Lagos stays around 27°C while Tokyo drops to 6°C. When it's noon in Tokyo, it's 4:00 AM in Lagos — a 8-hour time difference.
Density Gap
Lagos is 2.1x more densely populated
Time Difference
8 hours apart
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).
Tokyo covers 2,194 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Ho Chi Minh City (2,061 km²), Shenzhen (1,997 km²), Cape Town (2,455 km²), Moscow (2,511 km²), or Lima (2,672 km²).
The straight-line distance from Lagos to Tokyo is 13,469 km (8,369 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~16h 21m.
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