Cairo, the highest-ranked African city in the report, came in 117th, reflecting ongoing challenges in infrastructure and affordable housing. Rabat was the second African city on the list (123rd), while Cape Town ranked 124th, indicating little progress but significant room for improvement.
Algiers ranked 128th, while Abuja improved slightly, moving up two places to 133rd. Lagos also moved up to 135th, showing some progress in its smart city development. However, Nairobi dropped to 136th – five places lower than last year. The decline highlights the growing challenges facing the city, including inadequate basic services, limited access to healthcare, safety concerns and high unemployment.
Accra (141) and Tunis (142) remained at the bottom of the rankings due to persistent housing affordability issues, infrastructure limitations and governance challenges. The rankings highlight critical issues such as affordable housing, transport infrastructure and managing urban density.
Housing costs and limited public transport pose significant barriers to quality of life and economic productivity in cities such as Nairobi, Lagos and Accra.
African cities that improved their rankings demonstrate that strategic actions in infrastructure and governance can deliver tangible benefits. Abuja and Lagos offer encouraging examples of incremental progress through ongoing urban development initiatives.
The Smart Cities Index assesses cities based on two main pillars: structure and technology. Each pillar assesses five key areas: health and safety, mobility, activities, opportunities, and governance. The rankings are based on survey data from 120 residents in each city, weighted over the past three years (2025, 2024, and 2023) to provide a comprehensive overview of progress.
