Africa is on the cusp of a historic population boom, one that is already reshaping its urban centers and redefining its global significance.
With a total population of 1.5 billion as of 2024, growing by 100 million every three years, the continent has become the focal point for the next wave of global innovation, business, and finance.
This article highlights the most likely hotspots for population bursts across Africa, its largest and fastest-growing cities.
Initial projections showed that by 2025, each of the top 10 cities will be home to millions, with the top cities already exceeding 4 million residents.
These urban centers are absorbing the lion’s share of the continent’s growth, signaling where infrastructure, investment, and innovation will be most urgently needed.
By 2050, Africa’s population is expected to reach 2.5 billion, with 80% of that growth concentrated in cities. Countries like Nigeria, projected to have an urban population of 250 million, and Egypt, with 147 million, will rank among the most urbanized nations globally.
The population of Abidjan has climbed to an estimated 6,056,880 in 2025, marking a 3.24 percent increase over the past year, according to newly released figures from the United Nations’ World Urbanization Prospects. The city added approximately 190,180 residents in just 12 months, underscoring its position as one of West Africa’s fastest-growing urban centers.
Once a modest settlement with a population of just 65,000 in 1950, Abidjan has undergone a dramatic demographic transformation. The city now forms a sprawling metropolitan area that encompasses not only the core urban district but also adjacent suburban zones that have become increasingly interlinked through economic activity and infrastructure expansion.
As Côte d’Ivoire’s economic capital and largest city, Abidjan plays a central role in regional trade, finance, and cultural exchange. Its accelerating growth, while a signal of economic opportunity and urban vitality, also presents ongoing challenges in housing, transportation, and public service delivery.
This is not true, Kano Nigeria also has more than 10 million people and it is not in the list
This is not true, Kano Nigeria also has more than 10 million people and it is not on the list