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2 clusters · 3 sources · 4 days · First seen · Last updated

Sub-Saharan Africa urban population projections

Overview

A World Bank report titled “Sub-Saharan Africa’s Urban Awakening: Catalyzing Economic Growth and Job Creation” forecasts significant demographic shifts across the region. By 2050, the urban and peri-urban population of sub-Saharan Africa is expected to reach approximately 1.7 billion, up from 913 million in 2025.

The report highlights the emergence of several megacities with populations exceeding 10 million. Notably, Luanda, Angola, is projected to reach 20.3 million people, potentially overtaking Lagos, Nigeria, as the region’s most populous city. Other cities expected to surpass the 10 million threshold include Kinshasa, Dar es Salaam, and Addis Ababa.

Additional rapid growth is anticipated in Bamako, Mali, and Mogadishu, Somalia. The report emphasizes that for this urbanization to drive economic growth and job creation, governments must invest in infrastructure, transport systems, and affordable housing to transform these expanding urban centers into productive hubs.

Entities

World Bank · Luanda · Lagos · Johannesburg · Sub-Saharan Africa

Timeline

  1. [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    World Bank report predicts massive urban growth in sub-Saharan Africa

    A World Bank report forecasts sub-Saharan Africa's urban population will reach 1.7 billion by 2050, with Luanda projected to overtake Lagos as the region's largest city.

  2. [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    World Bank: Luanda projected to overtake Lagos as sub-Saharan Africa's largest city by 2050

    A World Bank report predicts Luanda will overtake Lagos as sub-Saharan Africa's largest city by 2050, amid a massive regional urban population surge.

Sources

africa.businessinsider.com · africapresse.com · businessday.ng