Nairobi vs Lagos - City Size Comparison

Is Nairobi Bigger Than Lagos?

Lagos is significantly larger, covering 1.7 times the area of Nairobi. Lagos spans 1,172 km² (453 mi²) while Nairobi covers 696 km² (269 mi²) — a difference of 476 km².

About Nairobi

Kenya's capital and East Africa's largest city. Known as "The Green City in the Sun", Nairobi covers 696 km² with a population of 4.7 million. The city was established in 1899. Nairobi is known for Nairobi National Park, Safari tourism, Karen Blixen Museum, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Nairobi Commuter Rail.

Nairobi is the only capital city in the world with a national park within its borders — you can see lions with skyscrapers in the background

About Lagos

Nigeria's largest city and economic hub of West Africa. Also known as "Eko", Lagos has an area of 1,172 km² and is home to 15.4 million people. The city dates back to 1472. Visitors come for Afrobeats music scene, Lekki Conservation Centre, Lagos Island, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Lagos Rail (Blue & Red Lines).

Lagos is projected to become the world's largest city by population by 2100

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the Lagos metropolitan area covers 2,706 km², which is 3.9x larger than greater Nairobi at 696 km². The Lagos metro area is also more populous, with 21.0 million people compared to 4.7 million.

Population Density

Nairobi has a population density of 6,796 people per km² — a densely populated city. Lagos, with 13,131 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Lagos is noticeably denser, packing 1.9 times more people per square kilometer.

Climate & Time Zone

Nairobi has a subtropical highland climate while Lagos experiences tropical savanna conditions. When it's noon in Nairobi, it's 10:00 AM in Lagos — a 2-hour time difference.