Quick answerLagos is the largest city of Nigeria, with 8,048,430 people inside the city limits in 2006. The wider metropolitan area had about 21.0 million people in 2006. It is best known for the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, the National Theatre and the Nollywood and Afrobeats. Its official language is English, and its currency is the Nigerian naira.
Lagos is Nigeria's largest city, with about 8 million people counted in the 2006 census and about 21 million in the metropolitan area. It stands on islands and lagoons on the Gulf of Guinea and is home to the National Theatre and the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge.
Key facts
| Country | Nigeria |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 8,048,430 (2006) |
| Population (metro) | 21,000,000 (2006) · Lagos metropolitan area (estimate) |
| Elevation | 41 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Africa/Lagos |
| Language | English |
| Currency | Nigerian naira (NGN, ₦) |
| Coordinates | 6.456° N, 3.394° E |
Overview
Lagos is Nigeria's largest city and its commercial capital, on the lagoons and barrier islands of the south-west coast. The metropolitan area counted 8,048,430 people in the 2006 census, while the wider metropolitan area is estimated at about 21 million, making Lagos one of the largest urban areas in Africa. The city covers 1,171 square kilometres of islands, lagoons and mainland, and its port is the busiest in West Africa.
Lagos began as a Yoruba fishing settlement in the 15th century, grew as a port under Portuguese and then British rule, and was Nigeria's capital from independence in 1960 until 1991, when the seat of government moved to Abuja. Its landmarks include the National Theatre, the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge and Tafawa Balewa Square, and its markets, from Balogun to Alaba, are among the busiest in Africa.
Today Lagos is the centre of Nigerian finance, film and music: Nollywood and Afrobeats both grew up here, and the city's tech start-ups have earned it the nickname Silicon Lagoon. Its beaches, art galleries and nightlife draw visitors from across the continent.
What Lagos is known for
- Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge
- National Theatre
- Nollywood and Afrobeats
- Balogun Market
- Atlantic beaches
- Silicon Lagoon tech scene
Landmarks
- National Theatre
- Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge
- Tafawa Balewa Square
- National Museum Lagos
- Freedom Park
- Cathedral Church of Christ
- Nike Art Gallery
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Lagos?
About 8 million people were counted in metropolitan Lagos in the 2006 census (8,048,430), while the wider metropolitan area is estimated at about 21 million. That makes Lagos by far Nigeria's largest city and one of the largest urban areas in Africa.
What is Lagos famous for?
Lagos is famous as Nigeria's commercial capital and the home of Nollywood and Afrobeats. It is known for the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, the National Theatre, its busy markets such as Balogun, its beaches on the Atlantic, and a tech scene nicknamed Silicon Lagoon.
Where is Lagos located?
Lagos is in south-western Nigeria, on the Gulf of Guinea, at the western end of the Niger Delta. It stands on a set of islands and lagoons joined by bridges to the mainland, about 500 kilometres south-west of Abuja. Its coordinates are 6.46° N, 3.39° E.
Quick quiz
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Keep exploring
- Nigeria — the country Lagos is in
- Kano — another city in Nigeria
- Ibadan — another city in Nigeria
- Abuja — another city in Nigeria
- All cities in Nigeria
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.