Top 10 Africa cities with more than one million inhabitants
Many African cities now exceed one million residents due to rapid urbanisation.
Lagos, Cairo, and Kinshasa are among Africa's largest cities, with Lagos having nearly 16 million residents.
Policymakers face challenges like infrastructure gaps and housing shortages due to accelerated population growth.
From the sprawling energy of Lagos to the organised chaos of Kinshasa, Africa's largest cities are now home to tens of millions; but what qualifies as a 'city' in population statistics depends heavily on how the term is defined.
Recent global data (2023) reveals that at least 10 African cities boast populations exceeding 1 million, with some surpassing 15 million. Each city's classification varies depending on administrative boundaries, governance models, and geographic footprint.
These definitions have significant implications for funding, infrastructure planning, and urban policy and international recognition, particularly when distinguishing between metropolises and province-level cities.
The ranking, compiled by Visual Capitalist and based on 2023 projections, utilizes three key definitions to measure urban population: city proper, urban area, and metropolitan area. Each definition captures distinct aspects of urban life, governance, and density.
Here are Africa's most populous cities, all surpassing the one million mark, along with their respective classifications:
Ranking City Country Inhabitants City Defintion
1 Lagos Nigeria 15,946,000 Metropolis
2 Kinshasa DR Congo 14,565,700 Province-Level City
3 Cairo Egypt 9,801,536 City
4 Luanda Angola 9,079,800 Province
5 Abidjan Cote d'voire 5,616,633 City (ville)
6 Johannesburg South Africa 4,803,262 Metropolitan municipality
7 Cape Town South Africa 4,772,846 Metropolitan municipality
8 Nairobi Kenya 4,750,100 Consolidated city-county
9 Kano Nigeria 4,648,400 Metropolis
10 Giza Egypt 4,458,135 City
The table highlights some of Africa's most populous cities, each with well over a million inhabitants. Leading the list is Lagos, Nigeria, with nearly 16 million people, followed closely by Kinshasa, DR Congo, and Cairo, Egypt.
These cities exemplify the rapid urban growth seen across the continent. Luanda in Angola and Abidjan in Côte d'Ivoire also reflect this trend, each hosting millions of residents.
These population figures underscore the increasing importance of African megacities as economic, cultural, and political hubs in their respective regions.
The rising tide of urbanisation
These rapidly growing African cities reflect a wider demographic shift, with urban populations projected to double by 2050, according to the UN.
Over half of all Africans will live in cities, driven by migration, population growth, and economic change.
However, urban expansion has often outpaced infrastructure, leading to housing shortages, congestion, and weak service delivery in cities like Lagos, Kinshasa, and Nairobi.
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Founded on the principle that geographic location should not determine healthcare outcomes, the company specializes in developing and manufacturing affordable, high-quality monoclonal antibodies targeting cancer, diabetes complications, infectious diseases, and autoimmune conditions. Bio Usawa's leadership team brings decades of experience from leading global biotech companies and international regulatory agencies. For more information, visit: About Sartorius Stedim Biotech Sartorius Stedim Biotech is a leading international partner to the biopharmaceutical industry. As a provider of innovative solutions, the company based in Aubagne, France, helps its customers to manufacture biotech medications, such as cell and gene therapies, more safely, rapidly, and sustainably. The shares of Sartorius Stedim Biotech S.A. are listed on the Euronext Paris. The company has a strong global reach with manufacturing and R&D sites as well as sales entities in Europe, North America, and Asia. Sartorius Stedim Biotech regularly expands its portfolio through acquisitions of complementary technologies. In 2024, the company generated sales revenue of around 2.8 billion euros. More than 9,900 employees work for customers around the globe. Visit our Newsroom or follow us on LinkedIn. Media Contacts: Contact Bio UsawaDaniel LevineLevine Media Group+1 510-280-5405danny@ Contact Sartorius Stedim Biotech GmbHLars HanfHead of BPS Marketing Communications+ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
