Largest cities in Africa as of 2025, by number of inhabitants

Nairobi ranks 11th, with a population of 5.8 million.

by WILLIAM WANYOIKE

Infographics27 August 2025 - 12:28

In Summary

Africa’s urban population is expanding rapidly, with major cities continuing to attract millions of residents due to economic opportunities, infrastructure growth, and migration from rural areas.

According to Statista (July 2025), Cairo, Egypt, leads as the continent’s most populous city with 23.1 million people, followed by Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (17.8 million) and Lagos, Nigeria (17.2 million).

Other cities ranking in the top 10 include Luanda, Angola (10 million), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (8.6 million), Khartoum, Sudan (6.8 million), Johannesburg, South Africa (6.4 million), Abidjan, Ivory Coast (6.1 million), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (6 million) and Alexandria, Egypt (5.8 million).

Notably, Nairobi ranks 11th, with a population of 5.8 million, highlighting its growing role as East Africa’s economic and innovation hub.

This trend reflects Africa’s ongoing demographic shift, where cities are becoming centers of economic activity, governance, and culture.

However, the rapid growth also presents challenges, including urban planning, infrastructure development, and delivery of essential services.