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.
Luanda, the capital of Angola, has a population of 10,027,900 in 2025, up from just 138,413 in 1950. Over the past year, the city added approximately 376,870 residents, reflecting a 3.9% annual growth rate, according to the UN World Urbanization Prospects.
These figures include the broader urban agglomeration, encompassing surrounding suburban areas. Despite rapid urban expansion, Luanda remains one of the most expensive cities globally for expatriates.
Angola’s estimated GDP stands at US$189.5 billion in 2024, with a GDP per capita of approximately US$7,400, highlighting both the city’s economic importance and the nation’s developing economy.
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