By the end of this century, the heartbeat of the world’s biggest cities will no longer echo through New York, Beijing, or London, it will pulse through the streets of Lagos, Kinshasa, and Dar es Salaam.
For most of human history, cities were small, struggling to sustain even a million people. It wasn’t until the 19th century that metropolises like London and Beijing consistently crossed that threshold. Today, with over 100 Chinese cities boasting populations of a million or more, the definition of a “big city” has shifted dramatically.
According to projections by the Global Cities Institute, the future belongs to Africa. By 2100, 13 of the world’s largest megacities will be on the continent, while India will claim three.
Lagos, Nigeria, is on track to become the world’s most populous city, growing at an explosive rate that defies accurate estimates. With over 2,000 new residents arriving daily, its true population is already difficult to pin down, estimated anywhere between 11 and 21 million. By 2100, that number is projected to skyrocket to 88 million.
Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital, won’t be far behind, expected to house 83 million people. As urban migration accelerates, Africa’s cities will redefine the very essence of the megacity, marking a historic shift in the global urban landscape.
Below are the top 10 African cities among projected megacities by 2100:
| Rank | Country | Country | Population by 2100 | Global Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Lagos |
Nigeria |
88.3 million |
1st |
|
2 |
Kinshasa |
DRC |
83.5 million |
2nd |
|
3 |
Dar Es Salaam |
Tanzania |
73.7 million |
3rd |
|
4 |
Khartoum |
Sudan |
56.6 million |
6th |
|
5 |
Niamey |
Niger |
56.1 million |
7th |
|
6 |
Nairobi |
Kenya |
46.7 million |
12th |
|
7 |
Lilongwe |
Malawi |
41.4 million |
13th |
|
8 |
Blantyre City |
Malawi |
40.9 million |
14th |
|
9 |
Cairo |
Egypt |
40.5 million |
15th |
|
10 |
Kampala |
Uganda |
40.1 million |
16th |
