Africa’s population in the urban is the fastest growing globally. It is estimated that in less than 20 years from now, every second person in Africa is likely to live in a town or a city. This will amount to about 926 million, or 438 million of the current population. The UN estimates that, by 2030, the African continent will have 18 cities with populations of more than five million people, up from eight in 2018. It is estimated that in 2030, six of the 41 megacities in the world will be in Africa. The existing largest cities in Africa, i.e. Cairo, Lagos, and Kinshasa will be joined by Johannesburg, Luanda, and Dar es Salaam.
Africa is an emerging continent with enormous economic potential, which financial analysts predict will have a nominal GDP of $2.9 trillion in the coming years. A remarkable economic surge is expected, as a gross domestic product of $29 trillion is projected by the year 2050. The continent’s urbanization has a lot of potentials if it’s executed appropriately due to the apparent capacity of cities to be a major facilitator of economic growth, particularly as the fast-growing cities in Africa aren’t solely the result of a massive population. They combine an active industrial revolution, a quickly rising population, and rapid economic development to provide a significant improvement in continental living standards over the last 200 years.
According to a report by Brahima Coulibaly, Director of Brookings Institution Africa Growth Initiative, about half of the world’s fastest-growing economies will be located on the continent, with 20 economies rising at an average rate of 5% or higher over the next five years, faster than the global economy’s 3.6 percent rate. The continental population is expected to reach around 2 billion people by 2050, as more economic activities are being carried out to counterbalance the growing population. The ten largest and fastest-growing cities on the African continent will be highlighted in this article.
#10. Alexandria, Egypt
We start with the 10th position, which is Alexandria, Egypt’s third-largest city by population. Alexandria which is also Egypt’s most important economic center current population is estimated at around 5,381,101, a great increase from 1 million estimates in 1950. The city has grown by 100,437 since 2015, which represents a 1.90% annual change. It is estimated that the city will have an estimated population of about 7.2 million people by 2035.
#9. Abidjan, Ivory Coast
On the 9th position is Abidjan, which is the business capital of the Ivory Coast located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Abidjan’s current population is now estimated at 5.3 million people. In 1950, the population of Abidjan was 65,000. Since 2015, the population of Abidjan has increased by 152,064 people or 2.92 percent. It is estimated that Abidjan will have about 8.4 million people by 2035, making it one of the largest cities by population in Africa.
#8. Khartoum, Sudan
Sudan’s capital and the country’s largest metropolitan area is Khartoum. With a present population of about 5.9 million people, the city is located at the confluence of the White Nile, which flows north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile, which flows west from Lake Tana in Ethiopia. In 1950, the population of Khartoum was 182,686. The city has grown by 160,166 since 2015, which represents a 2.75% annual change. It is projected that Khartoum will have a population of 9.6 million people by 2035.
#7. Johannesburg, South Africa
Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa and represents the financial hub not just in the country, but also in Africa. The city hosts a list of multinational facilities, from banks and other industrial edifices. Johannesburg’s current population is estimated at 5,926,668. In 1950, the population of Johannesburg was 910,550. The city has grown by 143,921 since 2015, which represents a 2.49% annual change. Current estimate projects that Johannesburg will have about 7.5 million people by 2035.
#6. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
On the 6th position is Dar es Salaam which is the largest city and business capital of Tanzania. With over six million people, it is the largest city in East Africa with many government agencies, offices, and embassies. Dar es Salaam port is a key generator of revenue to the city’s economy. Dar Es Salaam had 83,844 residents in 1950.
Since 2015, the city’s population has increased by 345,242, or 5.15 percent. Dar Es Salaam the fifth most populous city in Africa that has been projected to increase from six million people currently to 13.4 million by 2035, passing the megacity threshold (10 million people) before 2030.
#5. Luanda, Angola
Luanda is the capital of Angola and the largest city in the country. Its port is a significant revenue contributor to the city’s economy. it also houses several headquarters of the government and major companies. Luanda’s population is now estimated at 8,631,876. In 1950, the population of Luanda was 138,413. However, the city has grown by 302,078 since 2015, which represents a 3.63% annual change. The population of the city is expected to reach 14.5 million by 2035, passing a megacity status by before 2030.
#4. Giza, Egypt
Giza is with its 8.8 million population is the second-largest city in Egypt after Cairo and the fourth-largest city in Africa. The city which is the capital of Giza Governorate is located along the Nile River, very close to Cairo. The proximity of the city center to the ancient renders it an important tourist and commercial center. The current projection for the city’s population in 2035 is 9.8 million.
#3. Kinshasa, DR Congo
Kinshasa is located along the Congo River, facing Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. The city with its 14.4 million people is the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In 1950, the population of Kinshasa was 201,905. However, it has grown by 628,021 since 2015, which represents a 4.38% annual change. Kinshasa is the third-largest metropolitan area in Africa, as well as the largest French-speaking urban area in the world. The city is expected to have an estimated population of about 26 million people by 2035.
#2. Cairo, Egypt
Cairo is the capital of Egypt. It is the 2nd largest city in Africa, with more than 21.3 million people living in the urban vicinity. Cairo is located near the Nile Delta in central Egypt. The city is famous for its history and culture dating back to ancient Egypt. It is an important commercial, financial, and trade center. With a population of 21.3 million, the Cairo metropolitan area is the largest in the Arab world, the second-largest in Africa, and the sixth-largest in the world. In 1950, the population of Cairo was 2,493,514. Since 2015, Cairo has expanded by 422,146 people, a growth rate of 2.02 percent per year. It is estimated that the city will have a population of about 28 million people by 2035.
# 1. Lagos, Nigeria
First on our list is Lagos, which has grown tremendously from 1.4 million inhabitants in 1970 to over 22 million people today. The city now accounts for 25% of Nigeria’s overall GDP and is home to many millionaires. It is also Africa’s eighth-fastest-growing metropolis. By 2035, it is expected that Lagos would have a population of close to 30 million people, making it the continent’s largest megacity. At the same time, West Africa is predicted to house more than a third of Africa’s urban population.
