Africa’s urban footprint has expanded at a record pace since 1975, with its most populated cities such as Cairo, Kinshasa, Lagos, and Luanda leading the surge, transforming economies and reshaping regional dynamics in ways that support foreign trade and investment.
- Africa’s urban footprint has grown rapidly since 1975, transforming economies and enhancing foreign trade.
- Major cities, such as Cairo, Lagos, and Kinshasa, have transitioned into megacities with populations exceeding 17 million residents.
- Urbanization is driven by migration to cities offering economic opportunities and strategic locations.
- Effective urban planning will be critical to harnessing the benefits and mitigating the risks of Africa’s urban growth.
From Cairo to Lagos, African cities are swelling into megacities that rival global urban centres such as Mumbai, Jakarta and Mexico City.
According to data from the Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL), urban areas across the continent have expanded sharply in both population and built-up land over the past five decades.
In 1975, only a handful of African cities exceeded six million residents. By 2025, Cairo alone is projected to surpass 23 million, while Kinshasa and Lagos are each expected to host more than 17 million people.
The Rise of Africa’s Megacities
Cairo, Kinshasa and Lagos are Africa’s dominant urban centres, each with populations exceeding 17 million, while Cairo surpasses 23 million. These megacities attract migrants from rural areas and smaller towns, driving demand for housing, employment and infrastructure.
Other major hubs such as Luanda, Dar es Salaam and Johannesburg reflect economic opportunities and strategic geographic positioning. The expansion of these cities aligns with broader economic trends, with Egypt and Nigeria drawing more both domestic and foreign investments as two of Africa’s largest economies.
Kinshasa’s rapid growth further underscores the Democratic Republic of Congo’s demographic weight, supported by its extensive mineral resource base
Geographic Limits to Urbanization
The connection between geography, climate and urbanisation is clearly evident in Africa. Coastal and riverine cities continue to attract large populations, while vast regions such as the Sahara Desert and Congo Basin remain sparsely inhabited.
Urban growth is concentrated in areas where natural advantages converge like coastal zones, river valleys and resource-rich regions, drawing migrants and supporting commerce. This uneven pattern of development has produced marked disparities between densely populated megacities and underdeveloped areas.
Why This Matters for Business
Africa’s rapid urbanisation is reshaping both the continent and global demographics and economics. Megacities attract investment through their large consumer markets, expanding labour forces and strategic positions as logistics hubs.
At the same time, this growth places significant pressure on housing, infrastructure, transportation and energy systems.
Without effective planning, cities such as Lagos face the risk of severe congestion, environmental degradation and rising social inequality.
The capacity of governments and businesses to manage this expansion will play a central role in determining Africa’s economic trajectory in the decades ahead.
Olamilekan Okebiorun
