Top 10 Africa cities with more than one million inhabitants

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:

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.

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.

To meet the needs of their young and mobile populations, policymakers are being urged to invest in sustainable infrastructure, affordable housing, and inclusive governance to turn Africa’s urban centres into engines of growth and innovation.