Top 10 Fastest Growing Cities In Africa

Though Africa has a couple of urban cities that attract foreigners, visitors and investors, these cities rapid rate of urbanization does come with its challenges. However the focus of this article is to showcase the top 10 fastest growing cities in Africa and what makes them tick.

There are indeed grey areas that need to be looked into, as regards the African cities that continue to grow rapidly with reckless abandon. Cities such as Bamako, Ouagadougou, Abidjan, Kinshasa, Luanda and Lagos, need to be well structured to attain their full potentials. A critical assessment of the bottlenecks will also serve as a panacea towards improving environmental standards within urban settings.

Here are the top 10 fastest growing cities in Africa

10. Bamako, Mali

Bamako is the capital city of Mali and also the largest.  In 2006, it was estimated to be the fastest growing city in Africa and sixth-fastest in the world. Currently it has a growth rate of 19 people per hour.

9. Johannesburg, Abidjan, Khartoum

Three cities are tied on our ninth spot of fastest growing African cities. In ninth position, we have South Africa’s largest city and one of the most beautiful cities in Africa, Johannesburg, Ivory Coast’s Abidjan and Khartoum the Sudanese capital. All cities account for a growth rate of 21 people per hour. Johannesburg is the most beautiful and most organized of the lot. It is in fact the second largest city in Africa and one of the 50 largest urban areas in the world.

6. Nairobi, Kenya

Known as the safari capital of Africa, Nairobi is an energetic, modern city that serves as a fascinating introduction to both wildlife and nightlife. It records a growth rate of about 22 people per hour.

5. Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Often shortened to Ouaga, Ouagadougou is Burkina Faso’s capital city, it is also the largest city in the West African country. Ouaga is the economic, administrative, communications and cultural centre of Burkina Faso.

4. Luanda, Angola

Luanda, formerly named São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda, is the capital and largest city in Angola, and the country’s most populous and important city. Luanda is a port city on the southern coast of Angola. Luanda is the most expensive city in the world for expatriates. It has a growth spurt of 34 people per hour.

3. Cairo, Egypt

Egypt’s capital is the third fastest growing city in Africa. Cairo is set on the River Nile and has a growth rate of 44 people per hour.

2. Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

DRC’s Kinshasa set on the Congo River comes in second with a growth record of 61 people per hour. Once a site of fishing villages, Kinshasa is now an urban area with a 2014 population of over 11 million

1. Lagos, Nigeria

Unlike most cities on this list, Lagos is Nigeria’s commercial hub, not the capital. The small coastal city has an amazing growth rate of 77 people per hour, hence it is the fastest growing city in Africa. Strong economic growth, led by an oil boom, has driven the rural poor towards the city, and the population surge is also being driven by high birth rates and the return of Nigerians living abroad.

The city of excellence is often referred to by a section of his populace as, ‘No man’s land’. Others call it, “LASGIDI – CITY OF HUSTLERS”

Conclusively, a thriving urban city without affordable housing, portable water supply, energy, transportation, security, sewage disposal and drainage is like a ship without a rudder.

These cities need to up their game to stand the heat of their ever growing population.