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Africa’s urban population is set to double by 2050, soaring from 700 million to 1.4 billion, making it the world’s second-most urbanised continent after Asia, according to a new report released on March 6, 2025.
The report, Africa’s Urbanisation Dynamics 2025, warned that without urgent government intervention, rapid urban expansion could overwhelm infrastructure, deepen inequalities, and hinder sustainable development.
By mid-century, Africa will have the world’s second-largest urban population after Asia, which is projected to reach 3.5 billion. Nigeria, with an estimated 250 million urban residents, will become the world’s fourth-largest urban centre, while Egypt (147 million) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (111 million) will rank as Africa’s second- and third-largest urban hubs. Together, these three countries will account for over a third of the continent’s total urban population, according to the report, jointly released by the OECD, African Development Bank, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), Africa and Cities Alliance.
West Africa will remain the continent’s most populous urban region, reaching 436 million by 2050, while Central Africa is expected to experience the fastest growth, with its urban population increasing 2.4 times to reach 199 million, the report projected.
The report highlighted an urgent need for strategic planning, governance reforms, and innovative financing to ensure sustainable urbanisation. Without decisive action, African cities face the risk of severe infrastructure deficits, housing shortages, and widening social inequalities. However, if managed effectively, urbanisation could become a powerful engine for economic growth and social progress, it said.
Between 2020 and 2050, urban areas will absorb 80 per cent of Africa’s total population growth, expanding nearly four times faster than rural ones. The continent’s urbanisation rate is expected to rise from 54 per cent in 2020 to 65 per cent by 2050. This means that two out of three Africans will be living in cities within the next three decades, projected the report.
By 2050, at least half the population in 42 of Africa’s 54 countries will reside in cities, and in 28 countries, more than two-thirds will be urban dwellers.
The number of urban centres with over 10,000 residents will increase from 9,000 in 2020 to more than 11,000 by mid-century. By then, Africa will host 159 cities with populations exceeding one million and 17 megacities—each home to more than 10 million people.
More than two-thirds of Africa’s urban growth will be concentrated in large cities. The number of people living in cities with over one million residents is expected to surge from 325 million to 836 million by 2050, increasing their share of the urban population from 46 per cent to 59 per cent. In contrast, while smaller urban centres (with populations between 10,000 and 100,000) will see absolute growth, their share of the urban population will decline from 29 per cent to 19 per cent.
One of the most pressing concerns is that urban land expansion is outpacing population growth. While Africa’s urban population is projected to grow at 2.3 per cent annually, built-up urban areas are expanding even faster—at a rate of 3.2 per cent per year. By 2050, Africa’s total urban footprint will swell from 175,000 square kilometres to 450,000 square kilometres, demanding massive investments in infrastructure, land-use planning, and environmental safeguards.
Many governments are already struggling to keep pace with the demand for housing, water, sanitation, and public transport. Without proactive planning, this gap will widen, leading to overcrowded slums, rising pollution, and weakened economic productivity. The report warned that if African cities are not designed for resilience, they risk becoming hubs of poverty and environmental degradation rather than engines of progress.
Despite these challenges, the report views Africa’s urban transformation as a unique opportunity. With much of the continent’s urban infrastructure yet to be developed, policymakers can embed sustainability, climate resilience, and efficient transport systems into future city planning. Experts at the 12th World Urban Forum (WUF12) in Cairo too had discussed similar issues about the megacity boom and the escalating impact of extreme weather events.
Urban planning will play a crucial role in shaping economic opportunities, quality of life, and environmental sustainability. Poorly managed urbanisation could worsen inequalities, but well-planned cities can drive job creation, improve access to housing and public services, and enhance economic productivity.
The report urged African urban planners to adopt innovative, locally driven solutions while learning from successful global examples.
“Urban planning must be adaptive, creative and local. The main challenge facing Africa’s cities is how to make room for growing populations. Central and local governments will need to create the right policy incentives that can support higher levels of investment in infrastructure, notably housing, and basic services, to keep pace with urban expansion,” said Mathias Cormann, Secretary General Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and Solomon Quaynor, Vice-President, Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization, African Development Bank in the report.
The report calls for a paradigm shift in urban development—one that integrates climate resilience, energy efficiency, and environmental sustainability into planning. By leveraging technology, digital data, and smart city innovations, Africa can create urban spaces that are more resilient, inclusive, and efficient.
Strong governance and community participation will be essential in ensuring cities grow in a sustainable and inclusive manner. Without decisive action, Africa risks missing a critical opportunity to turn its urban boom into a foundation for long-term prosperity. So, the continent must act now to plan for sustainable cities in the next three decades, the report said.